Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball recently passed away because of acute subdural hematoma. Toriyama’s work has influenced millions of people and also many other prominent manga creators like Eiichiro Oda(One Piece), Tite Kubo(Bleach), and Masashi Kishimoto(Naruto). His work earned him the title of legend in the manga world.
His demise was a shock to the world and fans have been paying tribute to one of the greatest mangakas of all time. He is the one who opened the gateway for the manga industry to become global and earn recognition all over the world. His creation(Dragon Ball series) will keep his legacy alive forever.
Although Toriyama never shared much about his personal life, he did give an interview a few months before his death which was his last message to his fans. In the interview, Toriyama explained how he never had much interest in anime which might be heartbreaking for the Dragon Ball fans.
Akira Toriyama Never Had An Interest in Anime
Akira Toriyama received the Lifetime Achievement Award in December 2023, and he was scheduled to receive the award in person in March 2024. He was interviewed for the award which was later shared by @SupaChronicles on X(Formerly Twitter). In the interview, Toriyama talked about his interest in mangas getting adapted into anime.
Toriyama stated:
“To be honest, I have never had much interest in anime, and even when my work was made into animated format, I feel embarrassed to admit that I did not watch much of it, apologies to the staff. About 10 years ago, out of the blue, I was asked to revise the script for the Dragon Ball animated film, and I drew some simple designs for the characters and backgrounds. I thought, ‘I can leave the difficult parts for the staff’.”
The manga creator explained that he never had any interest in the anime and when his work got animated, he did not watch much of it. He also stated that he drew some simple designs when he was asked to update the script for the anime movie, and left the rest of the work and animation on the staff.
Akira Toriyama’s Interest in Animation Began Because of Toyo Ashida
Before his death, Toriyama also stated that his best memory of animation works came from when he met legendary creator Toyoo Ashida who created Kosuke-sama Rikamaru-sama. He explained how the animator mesmerized him with his drawing style and it also helped him make his own work more easy.
Toriyama stated:
“One of my most unforgettable memories in animation works is when I met the late animator, Toyo Ashida for an anime project called ‘Kosuke-sama Rikimaru-sama,’ which was produced for the Shonen Jump Original. This project did not have a manga, so a meeting was held. He was an amiable person and we quickly bonded, and every time I saw his drawing style, I was moved by his careful and swift touch.”
Toriyama also explained how he and Ashida influenced each other and helped them make their work better, making it a truly meaningful time for him. Toriyama also thanked everyone who supported him and helped him earn the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2024.
