Honoring Akira Toriyama: The Mastermind Behind Dragon Ball and His Enduring Legacy

As we mourn the loss of Akira Toriyama, a titan of the anime and manga world, our latest episode takes you on an emotional journey through his life's work. Let's celebrate together the man who made us believe in the power of pen and ink, whose stories of adventure and determination shaped our childhoods and inspired countless creators. From his early days sketching in Nagoya to the global phenomenon of "Dragon Ball," we honor Toriyama's legacy, exploring his unique blend of humor, imagination, and unforgettable characters.

This episode is not just a reflection but a heartfelt homage to a master storyteller. We examine the wit and wonder of "Dr. Slump" that broadened manga's appeal and paved the way for the larger-than-life saga of "Dragon Ball." Toriyama's influence stretches far beyond the pages and screens, touching the lives of millions across the globe. Join us as we bid farewell to a legend whose creations will continue to ignite the spark of fantasy in the hearts of fans for generations to come.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hey there and welcome back to this week's episode of rival reviews. Well, as everybody has probably heard at this point, march 1st a curatoriana passed away. We, we found out. Obviously it kind of looks as if the general public discovered this on March 8th and I do apologize if this is gonna come off as a as a bummer episode, but I feel as if I would be remiss if I didn't take the time to honor a legend in the anime and manga Universe. So that is what this episode is gonna be about. I figured what I would do is just kind of give you a little History as to who a curatoriyama was and his importance to you, know the subject matter that we all love, and if you, if you don't, yeah, I think you might be listening to the wrong podcast. So just you know, I tried my best to do research and Everything else and kind of actually wrote down what I was gonna say. Normally I'm kind of right off the cuff, but I might go a bit off script here and there, but anyway, here we go. So a curatoriyama, a renowned manga artist and characters and character designer, was born on April 5th 1955 in Nagoya, japan, in the Achi prefecture. He was best known, obviously, for creating some of the most iconic and influential works in manga and anime, including Dragon Ball and Dr Slump.

Speaker 1: 1:38

Toriyama's interest in drawing emerged during his childhood, often spending his time sketching and imagining fantastical worlds. Despite his passion for art, he pursued a job in advertising after graduating from technical high school. However, he found the work unfulfilling and decided to pursue his dream of becoming a manga artist. In 1978, toriyama submitted his first manga story, named Wonder Island, to weekly Shonen Jumps editorial department, making the beginning of his professional career. Although Wonder Island wasn't a success, his next work, dr Stump, catapulted him to fame serial lives. From 1980 to 1984, dr Slump introduced readers to the whimsical adventures of our own Norimaki, a robot girl, and her eccentric inventor, senbei Norimaki. The series achieved immense popularity and earned Toriyama the prestigious Shogakuken manga award.

Speaker 1: 2:35

Dr Slump holds a significant importance in the realm of anime and manga for several reasons. First and foremost would definitely be its innovation to the comedy genre. Dr Slump is renowned for its innovative comedic style, and what Toriyama did is that he infused the series with slaps to humor, puns and surrealist situations, setting a new standard for comedy and manga and anime. The series appealed to both children and adults, broadening the demographic reach of manga. The character design in world-building Toriyama's whimsical Character designs in imaginative world-building in Dr Slump laid the foundation for the later work, for his later works, including the Dragon Ball that we probably are more known, that is, more known to us, you know. His characters, like like the Arrel Norimaki and Senbei Norimaki, became iconic figures in Japanese pop culture, showcase in Toriyama's talent for creating memorable and endearing characters. Obviously, the the the success of dr Slump also helped him solidify, like his weekly shown-and-jump position as a leading Manga Manga artist in Japan. Its popularity also contributed to the growth of the manga industry during the 1980s, influencing subsequent generations of manga artists and creators. And the other thing was this was also one of the first early adaptations of cross media adaptations. It received multiple anime adaptations, films, video games, further expanding the reach and influence to the whole world and not just Japan. The success of these adaptations demonstrated the series versatility and enduring and enduring appeal across different forms of media. Overall, dr Slump played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of anime, a manga Showcasing a curatoriyama's creative genius and contributing to the medium's evolution. Its impact continues to be felt in the industry to this day, serving as a timeless classic beloved by fans worldwide.

Speaker 1: 4:47

Afterwards, toriyama embarked on his most iconic creation, dragon Ball. Debuting in 1984, dragon Ball follows the journey of Son Goku, a young martial artist with a monkey tail, as he quest for the mystical Dragon Balls, which can grant any wish when gathered. The series seamlessly blends action, humor and adventure, captivating audiences worldwide. Dragon Ball became a cultural phenomenon, spawning multiple manga sequels, anime adaptations, feature films and video games. Dragon Ball is undeniably one of the most influential and important series in the history of manga, several of these obviously, first and foremost probably being global popularity. Dragon Ball achieved unprecedented international success, reaching audiences far beyond Japan. Its popularity transcended cultural boundaries, making it just global. The series must have translated into numerous languages and has a massive fanbase around the world. I think it goes to show especially that there are definitely people that aren't even anime fans know what Dragon Ball is, and I think that just speaks volumes to the global popularity.

Speaker 1: 6:04

The second probably the most vital, honestly is that it pioneered the Shonen genre. It played a pivotal role in popularizing the genre and it set standard for action-packed storytelling featuring intense battles, larger-than-life characters and epic adventures. Many subsequent Shonen manga and anime have drawn inspiration from Dragon Ball. Pretty much. You can talk about any Shonen that I've brought up on this podcast in the history, looking back, you can tell that there are inspirations and you know kind of case in point you talk about the writers of both One Piece and Naruto speaking out publicly after him passing and just talking about how inspired they were by him. They're all calling him, like you know, toriyama Sensei for a reason and you know, I think that speaks volumes in itself because both those series in their own right have had massive success and, to you know, put out there that another artist and theoretically a competing artist being the reason for said success, I think speaks volume to the respect that Toriyama is deserved for sure.

Speaker 1: 7:30

You know, and even thinking of, you know, all of these elements that are staple to things like the energy beam, like the iconic Kamehameha, or you know, the concept of a key, the life energy used to power up to you know, super Saiyan volumes and everything else like that. Some of these things you can see just so many different adaptations of that, that is, that were clearly inspired by, you know, super Saiyan nor or or the idea of powering up Character development, obviously really huge in Dragon Ball. It boasts a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique personalities, abilities and backstories. You know, characters like Goku, vegeta, piccolo have all become legendary figures in anime and manga history and it's they influence generations of creators, leaving a lasting impact on popular culture. Merchandising and franchising expansion. You know Dragon Ball spanned a vast, has spawned a vast array of merchandise, including action figures, video games, clothing, collectibles. The franchise's success has led to the creation of numerous spin-offs, sequels, adaptations, movies. It just further and further expanding its region to into cultural impact and again, like kind of just going back to like the fact of it being a pure cultural phenomenon. It's permeated cult popular culture in profound ways and you see references and homages to in a whole bunch of like every medial, at music, film, television, and you know the series has becoming greened in the collective consciousness of multiple generations and it's left its mark on society. Yeah, in summary, dragon Ball revolutionized the anime and manga industry, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to influence creators and Entertain audiences worldwide. Its significance extends beyond its original run, cementing its status as a timeless classic and a cornerstone of Japanese popular culture.

Speaker 1: 9:43

I think one of the things that and it's gonna be really silly, but but like I would say one of like the. I Feel as if the perfect example of how Dragon Ball Z Currently makes me feel especially like as an adult viewer is. I'm not sure if you've seen it, but if you, if you, if you haven't, just YouTube the commercial that they put out for Dragon Ball Z Takara, just to kind of give you like a lowdown of essentially what happens in the commercial is. It's this you know Adult businessman in a suit or whatever, he's walking home from work, clearly, and then these kids Pass by them and they're pretending you know, that they're shooting Kamehameha waves at each other and Go in Kaio-ken and everything else like that. And then it starts, you know, they got the adult kind of like flashes back to when he was a kid, where you know Kaio-ken first happened and like you know, if you went Kaio-ken times 10, it would make him run faster and his friends would be doing the same thing and they would be like Mok Kamehameha. And then, like the commercial ends with him back in the living room playing Dragon Ball Z Kakarot and like the scene is when he does like a huge Kamehameha wave and he screens it at the TV and it just it hit, it, just it, it hit, because it's exactly how I feel.

Speaker 1: 11:17

You know, I remember being a kid and you know waiting for I think I want to say it was like 8, 30 pm or something on Y TV, the next episode during Balzee. And you know I remember the first time you know, watching when he went Super Saiyan against Frieza, or you know I remember the intenseness of the cell games. You know I remember all of these things and it's just it's it's. It's a very special memory, especially because I still love anime to this day and I know that the Dragon Ball series, whether it's Dragon Ball, dragon Ball Z, dragon Ball Super, you know, any of them, like they definitely have had a profound, I guess, inspiration on me, and I don't think that could be said for a lot of different animes. So, with that said, to kind of wrap up, you know, I wrote kind of a little final farewell. It's weird, it's kind of almost like it's an obituary and everything anyway, basically, I wanted to kind of wrap up, I guess, the importance of a curatorium, so I kind of wrote it out as if it was like that. Anyway, with, with heavy hearts, we bid farewell to a titan of creativity, a curatorium, who departed from this world on March 1st. He leaves behind a legacy that has forever altered the landscape of manga and anime, enriching the lives of millions around the globe.

Speaker 1: 13:32

Born on April 5th 1955 in Nagoya, japan, toriyama's journey began humbly, fueled by a boundless imagination and a passion for art. From his early years, he demonstrated innate talent for illustration, a gift that would later shape the course of his extraordinary life. Toriyama's ascent to greatness commenced with the publication of his debut manga, wonder Island, followed by the whimsical and beloved Dr Slump. However, it was Dragon Ball. It was with Dragon Ball that he etched his name into the anals of history. The epic tale of Sungoku and his quest for the Dragon Balls captured the hearts and minds of audiences worldwide, propelling for Toriyama to unprecedented heights of fame and acclaim though Dragon Ball. Through Dragon Ball, toriyama pioneered a new era of storytelling, blending exhilarating action, heartfelt emotion and comedic charm with his signature artistic flair. His characters, from the indomitable Goku to the cutting Vegeta, became cultural icons, inspiring generations and transcending borders.

Speaker 1: 14:34

Yet Toriyama's influence extended far beyond the confines of his seminal work. His character designs graced video games like Dragon Quest. His insight shaped the industry and his legacy inspired countless aspiring artists to dream boldly and create fearlessly. Despite his towering achievements, toriyama remained humble and an enigmatic figure, preferring the solace of his studio to the glare of the spotlight. His devotion to his craft was unwavering, his dedication to his fans unwavering and his impact immeasurable.

Speaker 1: 15:13

As we mourn the loss of a visionary genius, let us take solace in the enduring legacy he leaves behind. A curatorial, his creations will continue to captivate and inspire, reminding us that the power of imagination knows no bounds in the vast tapestry of existence. A curatorial, his brushstroke was bold, his vision boundless and his legacy everlasting. May his spirits soar among the stars, forever immortalized in the hearts of those who cherished his artistry. Rest in peace. Rest in peace, a curatorial. Your journey may have ended, but your legacy will shine brightly for eternity, and that's all I want to say this week. I'll see you guys next week, and, in the words of a curatorial, taco life with as much energy as Goku, and I'll try to do the same. Bye, bye.