Toei Animation, the animation studio which adapted Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump, expressed their deepest sorrow at the sudden passing of the legendary manga icon.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Toriyama,” reads a statement released by Toei Animation. “We offer our sincere condolences.“
The statement goes on to highlight Toriyama’s immense influence on the animation industry, particularly through his collaborations with Toei Animation. “We have many staff at Toei Animation who respect Mr. Toriyama and have worked on his masterpieces such as Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball. We are truly grateful for his guidance on our productions.“
They concluded the message by expressing their gratitude on having the privilege of animating Toriyama’s iconic works, acknowledging the immense honor it had been to bring to life the beloved stories and characters cherished by fans around the world.
Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1, 2024, at the age of 68 due to acute subdural hematoma.
Born on April 5, 1955, Akira Toriyama first received widespread recognition for his manga Dr. Slump, for which he won the 1981 Shogakukan Manga Award for best shonen manga.
He then went on to create his most famous work Dragon Ball, which became one of the most popular and successful manga in the world, selling 260 million copies worldwide.
Toriyama was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at 2024 Tokyo Anime Award Festival. He was also decorated a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to the arts.
Source: Oricon