Japan has produced many legendary manga artists, but one of the most influential on a global scale is Akira Toriyama. His works have captivated fans not only in Japan but all around the world, leaving a lasting impact on pop culture. In this article, we’ll delve into his life, creative style, influence, and some of his unique and humorous episodes to understand why he is considered a genius.
1. Who is Akira Toriyama? His Early Life and Career as a Manga Artist
Quote from a fan’s Instagram
1. Childhood and Encounter with Manga
Akira Toriyama was born on April 5, 1955, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. From an early age, he loved drawing, often sketching animals and robots. He was also a big fan of manga, reading works like Astro Boy and Obake no Q-Tarou.
At that time in Japan, manga was still seen as “children’s entertainment,” but for Toriyama, it was a major inspiration. He was particularly influenced by Osamu Tezuka and Disney animations, which can be seen in his simple yet charming character designs.
2. How He Became a Manga Artist
Surprisingly, Toriyama did not originally aspire to be a manga artist. After high school, he enrolled in a design school and later worked as an advertising designer. However, he found the job uninspiring and quit after only two years.
This became a turning point in his life. Unemployed and looking for something interesting to do, he decided to submit a manga to Weekly Shonen Jump’s new artist competition. Although he didn’t win, his work caught the attention of the editors, leading to his debut in 1978 with Wonder Island.
2. Akira Toriyama’s Major Works and Rise to Success
1. Breakthrough with Dr. Slump
Toriyama’s big break came in 1980 with Dr. Slump, a gag manga about the adventures of a robot girl named Arale and her creator, Dr. Senbei Norimaki. The series became a massive hit.
Why Dr. Slump was so successful:
• Comedic and surreal storytelling
• Unique and charming world-building (Penguin Village)
• Simple yet expressive character designs
• A great sense of humor
Dr. Slump was later adapted into an anime, making Arale one of Japan’s most beloved pop culture icons.
2. Global Phenomenon: Dragon Ball
After the success of Dr. Slump, Toriyama launched Dragon Ball in 1984, inspired by the Chinese novel Journey to the West. The story follows Son Goku, a boy with a monkey tail, as he embarks on a quest to find the Dragon Balls.
Initially, the series had a lighthearted adventure tone, but it later evolved into an intense battle manga, which became its signature style. The transition led to explosive popularity, and Dragon Ball has since sold over 260 million copies worldwide.
What made Dragon Ball so captivating?
• Simple yet thrilling battle arcs
• Iconic characters (Vegeta, Piccolo, Frieza, etc.)
• A continuous sense of power progression
• Toriyama’s signature humor and playful storytelling
The anime adaptation took the world by storm, playing a crucial role in spreading Japanese anime globally.
3. Fun and Unique Stories About Akira Toriyama
Despite being a genius artist, Toriyama was also known for his lazy and humorous personality. Many aspects of his work were shaped by his desire to avoid extra work. Here are three interesting stories about him:
1. He Never Used Storyboards (Ne-mu)
Most manga artists follow a three-step process:
1. Ne-mu (Storyboards) → 2. Drafting → 3. Final Inking
However, Toriyama found creating storyboards too troublesome and skipped the first step entirely. He would jump straight into drafting the manga, proving his natural storytelling skills.
2. The Real Reason Super Saiyans Have Blonde Hair
One of Dragon Ball’s most famous transformations, Super Saiyan, was actually created because Toriyama hated coloring black hair.
Since coloring hair took too much time, he decided that Super Saiyan would have blonde hair, making it easier to draw. Ironically, this “shortcut” resulted in one of the most legendary transformations in anime history.
3. Destroying Locations to Avoid Drawing Backgrounds
In Dragon Ball, locations like buildings, arenas, and landscapes often get destroyed in battles. This wasn’t just for dramatic effect—Toriyama simply found it easier to destroy things than to keep drawing backgrounds.
• The Tenkaichi Budokai (World Martial Arts Tournament) arena is constantly destroyed.
• Kame House and other locations often move or disappear.
These creative “shortcuts” made his work unique and entertaining.
4. Toriyama’s Influence and Legacy
• Dragon Ball inspired many famous series, including Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach.
• He contributed to the gaming industry (Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, Blue Dragon).
• His art style continues to influence young manga artists today.
5. Conclusion: Akira Toriyama’s Everlasting Legacy
Even today, Akira Toriyama’s works are loved by fans worldwide. His manga was not just entertainment—it delivered adventure, dreams, and humor to audiences everywhere.
Without Toriyama, Japanese pop culture as we know it might have been completely different.
Akira Toriyama will always be remembered as one of the greatest manga artists in history.
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