While manga and anime have long since been part of the Japanese culture itself, the first from it’s kind to break onto the global scene and completely dominate it was none other than the iocnic Dragon Ball series. This manga and anime series is often considered by many to be the biggest propagator of the popular Shonen category of anime worldwide.
Thus, when the news about the passing of the mangaka responsible for this series’ existence, Akira Toriyama, became public, every anime and manga fan was in a state of shock and grief. Among the many fans of this series, Christopher Sabat, the English voice of Prince Vegeta for the anime, also has a heartfelt message to share with the world.
Christopher Sabat Posts A Heartfelt Message In The Memory Of Dragon Ball Creator Akira Toriyama
Even if you aren’t a fan of anime or mangas at all, you might’ve at least heard or would by chance seen an episode of Dragon Ball in your life, which speaks volumes about the influence of this series across the globe. With its name known by almost everyone in modern times, this creation of mangaka Akira Toriyama is widely regarded as the series that made anime a worldwide sensation.
With his passing at age 68 on 1st March 2024, every anime fan and manga reader is in a state of mourning for the loss of such a gem of the industry. Naturally, industry legends like Christopher Sabat, the prolific voice actor who plays the role of Vegeta in the anime series as well as the films, was saddened to hear about the mangaka’s death, which is why he took to X to bid his farewells.
See you in Other World, legend. #RIPAkiraToriyama 💜
— Christopher Sabat (@JustChrisSabat) March 8, 2024
Along with him, several other mangakas from Japan have come forward to pay their respects and remember the legacy of the author, including Eiichiro Oda as well as Masashi Kishimoto, the authors of the iconic series One Piece and Naruto respectively.
Why Is Dragon Ball So Iconic?
The main factor for this series’ immeasurable success comes from its legacy of being one of the oldest and most recognizable pieces of anime culture thanks to its popularity in the early days of global propagation.
This led to many people getting into the habit of watching anime in general, and as time went on the audience was taken on a journey with the Sayians into their future, where they connected with the characters in much more depth. Along with that, the anime has never let the fans down with its quality and impact on the narrative of the mangas, making some of the most hype moments in anime history.
The manga series was also the inspiration for many modern-day anime and manga series in the Shonen genre, including mangas like One Piece and Naruto.
Dragon Ball Super, streaming on Crunchyroll.
