 |
Toriyama AkiraA very famous and popular mangaka, a living classic of children's humorous and adventure manga
Date of Birth: 05.05.1955
Country:  Japan |
Content:
Biography of Akira Toriyama
Akira Toriyama is a Japanese manga artist, known for his classic children's humorous and adventurous manga.
Early Career
Toriyama's first publication was the manga "Wonder Island" in 1978, which was featured in the magazine "Shounen Jump." From his early works, Toriyama showed an interest in creating strange and absurd parody worlds and daring "stupid" humor.
Dr. Slump
Toriyama gained widespread recognition after the start of his manga series "Dr. Slump" in 1980. The series, which ran from 1980 to 1985, depicted the adventures of a mad scientist and his creation, a robot girl named Arale. The series set a record for the speed at which it was adapted for the screen, with an anime adaptation launching just five weeks after its publication. Since 1993, a colored manga continuation of the series titled "Dr. Slump Arale-chan" has been released.
Dragon Ball
In 1985, Toriyama's most popular manga series to date, "Dragon Ball," began its publication in "Shounen Jump." The series was based on the popular Japanese legend of Son Goku and told the story of his teenage life, his quest to collect Dragon Balls (seven magical orbs that grant any wish when gathered), and his journey to become the greatest warrior in the universe. "Dragon Ball" combined a convoluted plot, specific humor, and numerous battle scenes, making it one of the most popular manga series in Japan's history.
Success and Legacy
"Dragon Ball" spawned two major anime series with a total of 444 episodes (excluding a third series made without Toriyama's involvement) and 13 full-length anime films. The franchise's accompanying merchandise sales have earned approximately three billion dollars. Toriyama has also worked as a character designer for video games, with his most notable works being the "Dragon Quest" series and the RPG game "Chrono Trigger."
Currently, Toriyama is one of the most popular manga artists in Japan. His works have even been exhibited in renowned contemporary art museums, attracting millions of visitors. Prior to Toriyama, only Osamu Tezuka had received such an honor, albeit posthumously. Although Toriyama's creations may not showcase stunning graphics or flawless plots, they can be immediately recognized for their unique atmosphere of childlike immediacy and adolescent readiness to laugh at anything that catches the author's attention.
