- Akira Torimaya, the author behind Dragon Ball, has passed away at the age of 68.
- Well-known authors like Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto paid their respects to him.
- Many fans have also paid their tribute to him by using the Spirit Bomb emote in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2.
Akira Toriyama, the legendary creator behind the Dragon Ball series, is no longer with us. He is arguably the most respected author in the manga and anime industry, as Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto also paid their tributes to him via a respected letter.
Both authors looked up to him and are known for legendary mangas like One Piece and Naruto. Toriyama’s influence on the manga and anime industry is massive, and it will continue to live on through future anime and games.
Many fans have also paid their respects to the legendary mangaka by revisiting Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2.
Why it matters: The Dragon Ball franchise was an important part of many people’s childhoods, so the passing of its author has impacted millions of lives.
Calling anyone that owns Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 on PS4/5
Today (March 8th) at 5pm EST I would like to gather as many people as possible by the Dragon Ball Pedestal in order to pay tribute to Akira Toriyama and his work
Additional details in reply pic.twitter.com/gVpttdjwC4
— Roχaura🦑 (@AuroraeMari) March 8, 2024
AuroraeMari on Twitter asked fans to launch Xenoverse 2 and pay tribute to Akira Toriyama. Thousands of players booted up the game and used the Spirit Bomb emote to pay their respect to the creator of this series.
The Spirit Bomb references Dragon Ball Z, where everyone on Earth raises their hands to give Goku enough power to create a Spirit Bomb that annihilates Kid Buu. This was a symbolic moment that saved the world, so fans doing the same for Akira Toriyama speak volumes.
Following this tweet, lobbies across the game are full of players using this emote in massive groups. The concurrent player count on Steam also doubled after the influx of new and returning players.
FF14 holds a vigil for Akira Toriyama #AkiraToriyama pic.twitter.com/Vlq8xAxeA4
— Colin, Pastor of the Church of Bert (@colinurbuddy) March 8, 2024
Meanwhile, other gaming communities, including Final Fantasy 14, have paid respect to the author in their own ways. These instances highlight the love and admiration for the author, which transcends Dragon Ball because of his contributions to IPs like Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger.
Akira Toriyama’s legacy will continue to thrive in the future. Dragon Ball Z Kakarot has already sold over 6 million units, and the upcoming Sparking Zero will feature a massive roster of 164 characters.
Meanwhile, Dragon Ball Daima is expected to arrive in 2024, taking Goku on a trip very reminiscent of his original days in the manga. In addition to all of these pieces of media, the fans themselves will ensure Akira Toriyama is never forgotten.
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[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.
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