News culture “He’s not dead” For the creator of Bleach, Akira Toriyama is immortal. Dragon Ball will be remembered forever
The news had a bombshell effect in all communities surrounding Dragon Ball, Manga and Japanimation. Mangaka Akira Toriyama died on March 1, 2024 at the age of 68. Not surprisingly, messages have multiplied on social networks and other means of communication to pay tribute to one of the most influential Japanese authors in pop culture. For the author of Bleach, Akira Toriyama is not dead… because his work will outlive him.
An exceptional mangaka
Akira Toriyama is not an artist like any other. The sensei behind Dragon Ball, Doctor Slump, Sand Land, as well as the designs for Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger, left his indelible mark on Japanese comics before venturing west. He has undoubtedly influenced dozens, if not hundreds, of authors and universes.
Tite Kubo pays tribute to Akira Toriyama
Heads of state (President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron) and the states themselves (El Salvador) expressed their condolences to the family and loved ones of Akira Toriyama. Mangakas are not left out and speak out, each in their own way and with their own sensitivity. “Bleach” creator Tite Kubo posted a note about it on the website Club outside. He talks about the death of a mangaka who influenced the Big Four writers, including Titu Kubo himself, and who will somehow stay alive through a timeless work… Dragon Ball.
Personally, I feel neither loneliness nor pain. I’m not saying there aren’t any at all, but there aren’t as many as I thought. It’s about the death of someone I’ve read since I was a child, who worked for the same magazine as me, and who had a profound influence on me. So it’s a different feeling than death in general, but that’s why I feel like it doesn’t exist.
I’ve never really talked to anyone about it, but I’ve always thought that creating things is about expanding one’s sensibility and one’s life. Because I believe that the author is not dead as long as the work exists. And I believe that the ability to properly get used to this feeling is a testament to how great the existence of the work that remains in my heart. -Tite Kubo (bleach)
Dragon Ball on Crunchyroll
ADN scored a major blow when it acquired the broadcast rights for the first “Dragon Ball” animated series (Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Kai, Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball Super) in the territory. However, the main competitor does not want to be left behind. In early February 2024, anime-focused simulcast platform Crunchyroll confirmed the arrival of the aforementioned DB animated series in March. The 153 episodes of Dragon Ball are already available in France, while the rest will be posted online at a yet unknown date. Dragon Ball Daima, Toei Animation’s future original series, will air on Crunchyroll from November 2024.
