- The legendary creator behind the Dragon Ball series, Akira Toriyama, passed away on 1st March 2024.
- While Akira Toriyama was regarded for the creation of Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball, his work spanned multiple video games.
- At the time of his passing, he was working on Sand Land, a video game based on his manga of the same name.
Akira Toriyama is perhaps one of the most influential figures across all fiction mediums, having inspired countless mangas, movies, and even songs. On March 1st, Japan’s best-selling comic artist passed away due to a type of bleeding near his brain.
While Toriyama is often recognized for his work on the Dragon Ball series, a franchise that debuted in the 1980s and is loved by several generations, his work wasn’t limited to Dragon Ball.
His creations made anime and manga global, but his legacy has spanned beyond the Dragon Ball franchise towards video games, with his influence being evident in almost every entertainment medium.
Akira Toriyama also enriched his art style with video games. While his contributions to video games aren’t as famous, Toriyama played a significant role in the development of video games such as Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger.
Why it matters: The gaming industry has benefited just as much from this author’s work as the medium of anime and manga, as evidenced by the IPs he helped pioneer many decades ago.
Akira Toriyama’s Involvement In Video Games
Over the years, Toriyama has worked on many different video games and has shown his diversity and talents as an artist.
Dragon Quest was one of the very first RPGs and a groundbreaking IP that influenced modern-day JRPGs in general. Akira Toriyama is credited for the designs of many characters, monsters, and the overall visual aesthetic of the game.
Many even point out the similarities between Pokemon and Dragon Quest, with the latter debuting first. The Dragon Quest franchise is nearly as old as Dragon Ball itself, and Toriyama’s art is one of the reasons why the franchise is popular and successful.
Chrono Trigger is another notable IP shaped by Akira Toriyama’s influence. Made by a team comprising talent from the developers of both Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger was nothing short of a dream game.
It combined talents from Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yuji Horii, and Akira Toriyama, a legendary trio. With different timelines in the game, Akira Toriyama’s work showed how diverse his art style was, drawing models and characters in every age, from prehistoric to future dystopian.
The game also features a heartwarming message from Akira Toriyama for his kids at the end. The message can be found in one of the hidden endings of the game and is a message to his son and daughter, Sasuke and Kikka.
Additionally, the likes of Blue Dragon and Tobal No. 1 became even better through this legendary manga author’s contributions.
Dragon Ball Games Still Going Strong
Let’s also not forget the breadth of Dragon Ball games on the market. The likes of Dragon Ball FighterZ, Xenoverse 2, Kakarot, and more have sold millions of copies, bringing joy to countless lives around the globe.
In the future, Akira Toriyama’s work will be celebrated further through Dragon Ball Sparking Zero. This game is set to debut with the largest roster in the IP’s history, honoring the author’s work over the decades.
Such games have often featured original characters designed by Akira Toriyama. In 2018, Android 21 debuted as an original character in Dragon Ball FighterZ, further highlighting his commitment to games.
At the time of his passing, Akira Toriyama was working on several projects not limited to the upcoming Dragon Ball Daima anime or the ongoing Dragon Ball Super manga.
Along the lines, Akira Toriyama was closely involved in the creation of Sand Land, a game based on his manga series of the same name. Sand Land has every bit of DNA from Dragon Ball, yet it is distinct at the same time.
We thank Toriyama for his contributions to the Dragon Ball franchise and the realm of video games and hope his legacy will live for generations to come.
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[News Reporter]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
Get In Touch: shaheer@tech4gamers.com
