Akira Toriyama has died
News of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama’s death at 68 has prompted widespread reflection on his outsized influence on manga, anime, video games, and global pop culture. Commenters recall Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump, Dragon Quest, and Chrono Trigger as formative works that introduced them to Japanese culture, inspired careers in art and technology, and helped popularize anime across Europe, the Americas, and online communities in the 1990s and 2000s. Several also note the demanding, often unhealthy working conditions for manga artists and remark on how deeply Toriyama’s distinctive art style and themes of growth, friendship, and perseverance shaped a generation.
Shock, grief, and personal tributes
- Many express genuine shock at his death at 68, calling it “too soon.”
- Dragon Ball / DBZ is described as a cornerstone of childhood and adolescence worldwide.
- Several recall watching after school or at lunch, taping episodes on VHS, learning to program VCRs, and sharing pirated RealPlayer clips.
- Some say his work influenced careers in programming, game development, art, Japanese study, fitness, and even life philosophy.
Cultural impact and legacy
- Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump, Dragon Quest, and Chrono Trigger are cited as core works.
- Posters stress his instantly recognizable art style and character design.
- Dragon Ball is framed as a gateway to anime, manga, Japanese culture, and early internet communities in the US, Europe, Latin America, and elsewhere.
- Comparisons are made to broad heroic myths and to Sun Wukong / Journey to the West.
Role in anime’s global spread (with disagreement)
- Many credit Dragon Ball/DBZ as the show that popularized anime in “the West.”
- Others push back, citing earlier waves: robot anime, Lupin III, Sailor Moon, Saint Seiya, Pokémon, Robotech, etc., and stressing strong regional differences and timelines.
- Consensus: Dragon Ball was among the most globally ubiquitous and formative franchises, especially 90s–2010s.
HN meta: ranking and topicality
- Multiple users notice the post dropping on the front page despite high votes.
- Explanations offered: flamewar detector (comments rising too fast), time-of-day effects, off-topic flags by readers who don’t see anime as relevant, and URL issues.
Translation, cause of death, and industry conditions
- Discussion of an English statement about him dying “with much work left to do”; native/advanced speakers say the Japanese nuance is more about his passion and unfulfilled personal projects, not cold obligation.
- Cause (subdural hematoma, possibly from a fall) prompts reflection on fall prevention in older people.
- Several note that manga artists often die early due to brutal workloads and stress.
Views on Dragon Ball’s quality and evolution
- Many love both Dragon Ball and DBZ; some prefer the original’s adventure/comedy over DBZ’s power escalation.
- Some argue the series became formulaic and “enshittified” (dragged-out fights, filler), possibly driven by commercial pressures.
- A minority say they never liked the art or story but still respect the cultural importance.
How people plan to honor him
- Rewatching or rereading Dragon Ball/DBZ, Dr. Slump, Dragon Quest, or Chrono Trigger.
- Recommendations include DB Super, DBZ Abridged, classic manga (e.g., Akira, Trigun), and analyses of his paneling/composition.