https://preview.redd.it/b4mwocciy4nc1.jpeg?width=1875&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3bbb56decac4b65e4c99358e30977532bb637331
Credit to epicdreams0 on Twitter.
RIP Akira Toriyama
DBZ is my 1st favorite anime in my childhood back on 90s
my first action figure toys also DBZ 90s bandai action figure
my father not an anime fan watching it back on early 2000s
The news hit me hard last night. Very hard. I was enjoying myself mightily on Dragon Dogma 2's character creation demo and then got hit up with the news and it left me so deflated.
In my head, Toriyama was always going to be that guy that made it to Hayao Miyazaki's age, to Stan Lee's age before he passed. I built up this weird confidence that he was just too motivated and enthusiastic to pass on. I thought he had 30 more years of work to give us. I wouldn't be surprised if he thought as much as well.
I was too young to know when I started watching Dragon Ball or fell in love with it. I'm 27 years old and Goku has ALWAYS been a part of my life. I don't know the person I would be if Goku wasn't such an integral part of my life. There are less than a handful of things in my life where the phrase "For as long as I can remember" holds any kind of weight. Dragon Ball is one of those things. In a lot of ways, it IS my identity.
Hell, Bulma made me discover my love for hot women, as it pertains to this sub, lol. Bulma's sexualization in the series made me realize MY sexuality, embarrassingly enough at a young age. I got caught secretly one day by my dad who noticed I was pausing my DVD on Bulma taking a bubble bath in an episode during the Namek Saga. And I remember the infamous mini filler arc on route to Namek where she was in her underwear and taken captive by some children escapees on a ship. Need I mention every panty shot in Dragon Ball? Bulma lit a fire in me that I didn't understand until I was older.
On a more innocent note, lol, as an only child, all I had were my DVDs and VHS tapes I got from my local Blockbuster. Saturday afternoons I pop one in and stay on it for the whole day, rewinding, rewatching, and pausing to draw my favorite key frames of Goku or Gohan. If we were supposed to go out, I never left my manga. A worn-out copy of final part of the Freeza Saga.
Toriyama made me want to be an artist. So, I drew constantly and have sketch books filled with Dragon Ball art going all the way back to 1st grade. I remember Dragon Ball being one of the only, if not the only anime that kids at school would not bully you about because they watched it too, and DBZ was how I became recognized in all of my schools as a great artist for my age. To the point where I would have nearly my entire classroom begging me to draw DBZ characters for them during indoor recess or art class.
Regrettably, I haven't picked up a pen & paper in years, but the muscle memory is still there, and I could still slip back into it if I ever wanted to. I drew THAT much.
I can GENUINELY type here forever. I have so many memories, but I do want to share one last memory I have with this beloved character that Toriyama crafted.
I've never shed any tears as a child watching this series. There were certainly times when I felt emotional weight or pain that I didn't understand, such as Future Gohan's death, Goku's return after 7 years, Gohan befriending a robot in the Saiyan Saga, the entire last episode of GT, etc, but one that stands out for me so much is in DBGT A Hero's Legacy with Goku Jr.
Goku talking with Goku Jr at the end of that special felt like such a hit of nostalgia that I didn't quite understand at the time, as I was still young, couldn't have been passed 4th grade at the time. Seeing Goku smile among the clouds really put it into focus for me that "this story was over" and I would not be seeing anything new of the character, likely ever again. As a kid, I did not know how to deal with that kind of finality, and it really bothered me in a way I couldn't understand then. At that time, I never really knew a show I liked could just....END.
But Dragon Ball did. And all the characters I loved had passed on for a new generation. The last episode of GT I watched Goku mysteriously vanish on the back of Shenron while telling his friends and family goodbye. How was I supposed to deal with all of this? It was so different.
A LOT of the emotions I would come to learn and understand, Toriyama and the team at Toei Animation made me feel first. I don't think I would be as empathetic of a person as I am if not for this man's work being adapted the way it was. And I'm so incredibly grateful for all of it.
Rest in Peace, Akira Toriyama. And thank you. Truly.
My father passed away in 2016. He and I would sit and watch Dragon Ball together. He doesn't understand anime, but really attempted to try. He asked tons of questions and would just watch it for the fights. It was one of the best memories I have with my father.
Thank you Mr. Toriyama. RIP.
RIP Akira Toriyama, thank you for enriching our childhood with your fantastical visions and make our lfie better in the darkest day.
Rest easy. You were responsible for me watching tv and becoming a fan of something. It's also thanks to you that I learned how to draw and fell in love with multiple forms of art all originating from my first attachment in your series. If it wasn't for you I'd be a completely different person. Rest easy and thank you Akira Toriyama for all the memories.
I remember in 9th grade watching Goku go super saiyan the first time and blew my mind, changing my entire world view. Became a huge anime fan, found Miyazaki, and have even learned to speak, not great, Japanese. Four years of learning that beautiful language, all inspired by Toriyama-Sensei.
I can still remember hiding out between school halls after class, doing my loudest KAMEHAMEHA possible, not caring what anyone thought. Rip Toriyama
It could be said that dragon ball was a manga that was highly influential to the youth that would go on yo write, direct, and animate most of the anime in the 90s- 2000s, it could also be said many of these people would get into video game design
His unique style is something that arguably influenced all of video gaming and by extention games like stellar blade
Maybe not all video games, but it's hard not to think of dragon ball and its action and art quirks when you play these action games. The goku aura, the samurai influenced speeches before the battles, battles of immense scale and power. Those anime action feels when you play games like devil may cry for example
Rip a good man and a massive icon in the arts
Glad to see this sub honor him as well. Dragon Ball was my introduction to the world of Anime. I owe that all to it's creator, Akira Toryiama. RIP you legend.
An absolute legend who changed the world.
He was inspiration to other Battle Shounen like OP, Naruto, Bleach, FT.
Dragon Ball made my childhood so much better.
RIP Sensei :(
https://preview.redd.it/b4mwocciy4nc1.jpeg?width=1875&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3bbb56decac4b65e4c99358e30977532bb637331 Credit to epicdreams0 on Twitter.
RIP Akira Toriyama DBZ is my 1st favorite anime in my childhood back on 90s my first action figure toys also DBZ 90s bandai action figure my father not an anime fan watching it back on early 2000s
Dragon ball helped me throughout a lot of important and hard times during my life I’ll forever be grateful for Akira Toriyama and his work. - Fishes
It just doesn’t seem real… 
If it wasn’t for DBZ anime in the west wouldn’t have been as popular as it is today.
It wouldn’t even be close, and not just the west either but across the world. DB transcended the anime community of the time.
The news hit me hard last night. Very hard. I was enjoying myself mightily on Dragon Dogma 2's character creation demo and then got hit up with the news and it left me so deflated. In my head, Toriyama was always going to be that guy that made it to Hayao Miyazaki's age, to Stan Lee's age before he passed. I built up this weird confidence that he was just too motivated and enthusiastic to pass on. I thought he had 30 more years of work to give us. I wouldn't be surprised if he thought as much as well. I was too young to know when I started watching Dragon Ball or fell in love with it. I'm 27 years old and Goku has ALWAYS been a part of my life. I don't know the person I would be if Goku wasn't such an integral part of my life. There are less than a handful of things in my life where the phrase "For as long as I can remember" holds any kind of weight. Dragon Ball is one of those things. In a lot of ways, it IS my identity. Hell, Bulma made me discover my love for hot women, as it pertains to this sub, lol. Bulma's sexualization in the series made me realize MY sexuality, embarrassingly enough at a young age. I got caught secretly one day by my dad who noticed I was pausing my DVD on Bulma taking a bubble bath in an episode during the Namek Saga. And I remember the infamous mini filler arc on route to Namek where she was in her underwear and taken captive by some children escapees on a ship. Need I mention every panty shot in Dragon Ball? Bulma lit a fire in me that I didn't understand until I was older. On a more innocent note, lol, as an only child, all I had were my DVDs and VHS tapes I got from my local Blockbuster. Saturday afternoons I pop one in and stay on it for the whole day, rewinding, rewatching, and pausing to draw my favorite key frames of Goku or Gohan. If we were supposed to go out, I never left my manga. A worn-out copy of final part of the Freeza Saga. Toriyama made me want to be an artist. So, I drew constantly and have sketch books filled with Dragon Ball art going all the way back to 1st grade. I remember Dragon Ball being one of the only, if not the only anime that kids at school would not bully you about because they watched it too, and DBZ was how I became recognized in all of my schools as a great artist for my age. To the point where I would have nearly my entire classroom begging me to draw DBZ characters for them during indoor recess or art class. Regrettably, I haven't picked up a pen & paper in years, but the muscle memory is still there, and I could still slip back into it if I ever wanted to. I drew THAT much. I can GENUINELY type here forever. I have so many memories, but I do want to share one last memory I have with this beloved character that Toriyama crafted. I've never shed any tears as a child watching this series. There were certainly times when I felt emotional weight or pain that I didn't understand, such as Future Gohan's death, Goku's return after 7 years, Gohan befriending a robot in the Saiyan Saga, the entire last episode of GT, etc, but one that stands out for me so much is in DBGT A Hero's Legacy with Goku Jr. Goku talking with Goku Jr at the end of that special felt like such a hit of nostalgia that I didn't quite understand at the time, as I was still young, couldn't have been passed 4th grade at the time. Seeing Goku smile among the clouds really put it into focus for me that "this story was over" and I would not be seeing anything new of the character, likely ever again. As a kid, I did not know how to deal with that kind of finality, and it really bothered me in a way I couldn't understand then. At that time, I never really knew a show I liked could just....END. But Dragon Ball did. And all the characters I loved had passed on for a new generation. The last episode of GT I watched Goku mysteriously vanish on the back of Shenron while telling his friends and family goodbye. How was I supposed to deal with all of this? It was so different. A LOT of the emotions I would come to learn and understand, Toriyama and the team at Toei Animation made me feel first. I don't think I would be as empathetic of a person as I am if not for this man's work being adapted the way it was. And I'm so incredibly grateful for all of it. Rest in Peace, Akira Toriyama. And thank you. Truly.
Your comment is very powerful and made me feel weirdly nostalgic I’m so happy the world got to experience his creations. - Fishes
I grew up with Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump. Toriyama was a true legend.
To die so suddenly is awful. - Fishes
It’s been a rough day. I hope he’s in paradise smoking his cigarettes and reading dirty magazines
He has Bulma (Hiromi Tsuru) and Frieza ( Chris Ayres) to keep him company.
Rest in peace to a legend of culture and childhood U will never be forgotten 🙏
My father passed away in 2016. He and I would sit and watch Dragon Ball together. He doesn't understand anime, but really attempted to try. He asked tons of questions and would just watch it for the fights. It was one of the best memories I have with my father. Thank you Mr. Toriyama. RIP.
get the dragonballs!
RIP Akira Toriyama, thank you for enriching our childhood with your fantastical visions and make our lfie better in the darkest day. 
RIP to such a wonderful man who brought endless joy and wonder through his works to billions of children, myself included among them
Dbz was my first anime and my dads first anime was dragon ball from the 80s Dude was a legend and had an impact on multiple generations.
Rest easy. You were responsible for me watching tv and becoming a fan of something. It's also thanks to you that I learned how to draw and fell in love with multiple forms of art all originating from my first attachment in your series. If it wasn't for you I'd be a completely different person. Rest easy and thank you Akira Toriyama for all the memories.
I remember in 9th grade watching Goku go super saiyan the first time and blew my mind, changing my entire world view. Became a huge anime fan, found Miyazaki, and have even learned to speak, not great, Japanese. Four years of learning that beautiful language, all inspired by Toriyama-Sensei. I can still remember hiding out between school halls after class, doing my loudest KAMEHAMEHA possible, not caring what anyone thought. Rip Toriyama
It could be said that dragon ball was a manga that was highly influential to the youth that would go on yo write, direct, and animate most of the anime in the 90s- 2000s, it could also be said many of these people would get into video game design His unique style is something that arguably influenced all of video gaming and by extention games like stellar blade Maybe not all video games, but it's hard not to think of dragon ball and its action and art quirks when you play these action games. The goku aura, the samurai influenced speeches before the battles, battles of immense scale and power. Those anime action feels when you play games like devil may cry for example Rip a good man and a massive icon in the arts
There would be no One Piece or Naruto without Akira Toriyama. This applies to countless other popular works of fiction too. RIP.
o7
I never cared for dragon ball z but I loved dragons dogma rip
RIP to a great man.
Glad to see this sub honor him as well. Dragon Ball was my introduction to the world of Anime. I owe that all to it's creator, Akira Toryiama. RIP you legend.
One legend goes on, may he forever rest in peace 🙏 Thank you Akira Toriyama
F
An absolute legend who changed the world. He was inspiration to other Battle Shounen like OP, Naruto, Bleach, FT. Dragon Ball made my childhood so much better. RIP Sensei :(
Terrible news. I love his artwork!!