News of Akira Toriyama has sent shockwaves throughout the world, especially for fans of anime. Toriyama is the creator of Dragon Ball Z, which is one of the most beloved comics of all time. On March 1, He suffered an acute subdural hematoma, a condition where blood starts to collect in one’s skull and brain’s surface. All of this happened while he was working in his studio. He died at the age of 68. His work has left a lasting impact on the fans of anime all around the globe.

As word of his passing circulated, fan tributes flooded in for Akira Toriyama, whose legendary characters have profoundly influenced the childhoods of many. Even Philadelphia 76ers’ superstar and reigning MVP Joel Embiid publicly paid tribute to the legendary cartoonist. Through his X account, Embiid wrote, “Man RIP Akira Toriyama.” Two crying emojis accompanied his remarks. Embiid’s love for Dragon Ball Z is so deep that he watched the anime, while a trainer worked on his shoulder before a playoff game in 2018.

In an interview, Joel Embiid stated that anime like Dragon Ball Z provided a sense of escape from his tough life in Cameron. He said, “I’m a big Dragon Ball Z and all the franchises, GT and all that stuff, I’m a big fan. It gave me a different sense of the world. Growing up in Cameroon, in Africa, wasn’t always the easiest.” Akira Toriyama’s work has provided people of all ages something that they will cherish for their entire life. And fans have come out in droves to thank him for that.

Tributes pour in for Akira Toriyama

Akira Toriyama rose to mainstream prominence back in 1984, when the first copies of his now hit comic, “Dragon Ball-Z,” hit shelves. The comic was also adapted into an animated TV series that aired in nearly 80 countries. Before Dragon Ball Z, Toriyama also authored “Dr. Slump,” which was his first hit comic.

It would be an understatement to suggest that fans of anime have been devastated by the news of Akira Toriyama’s death. Within hours, millions of fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to pay tribute to the trailblazing cartoonist. Even French President Emmanuel Macron gave a fitting tribute to Toriyama. He wrote, “To Akira Toriyama and the millions of fans who grew up with him,” as he shared one of Akira’s artwork.

https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1766053155270225954?s=20

Other manga artists have also paid tribute to Toriyama. Eiichiro Oda, creator of hit manga series “One Piece,” stated that Akira provided inspiration to a lot of up-and-coming artists like him. He said, “He showed us all these things manga can do, a dream of going to another world.” He further stated that Toriyama’s passing leaves “a hole too big to fill.”

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