Adored for its graphic style which has become the standard meter of the genre, its universal appeal and its stateless characters, Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama set the standard for the Japanese manga industry and won over millions of readers around the world.
The sudden announcement of the death of its creator, aged 68, sparked a wave of disbelief on Friday among fans around the world who paid tribute to the prolific mangaka in all languages.
No less than 2.5 million messages related to his disappearance were posted on X in just six hours, or 267 messages per second, according to the monitoring platform Visibrain.
First published in 1984, Dragon Ball is one of the best-selling manga of all time and has spawned countless anime series, films, and video games.
It narrates the adventures of Son Goku, a young martial arts prodigy decked out in a monkey’s tail, who sets out in search of seven crystal balls to help him and his allies protect the Earth from evil enemies. .
Both funny and incredible, the series fuses martial arts fights with a story influenced by the classic of 16th century Chinese literature.e century The Journey to the West.
Dragon Ball is considered a paragon of shonen manga — aimed at adolescent boys — which, over the years, has defined the Japanese manga and anime industry and propelled it to worldwide popularity.
Although other blockbusters, like One Piece And Naruto, also feature adrenaline-pumping battles and swashbuckling heroes, Dragon Ball has consolidated its position as a reference of the genre, according to experts.
Richness of illustration
“ Naruto And One Piece are also popular abroad, but Dragon Ball stands out for the number of countries that have broadcast the anime,” explains Kazuma Yoshimura, professor of manga at Kyoto Seika University, to AFP.
The comics have sold more than 260 million copies in Japan and around the world, according to publisher Shueisha.
What also distinguishes Dragon Ballit is the meticulously detailed universe of Mr. Toriyama, notes Mr. Yoshimura.
“He is someone who wore the hat of mangaka, illustrator and graphic designer,” underlines the professor, citing characters and landscapes so richly described that they easily survived their conversions into 3D media such as figurines.
“Readers can’t take their eyes off,” Mr. Yoshimura says of the mangaka’s art. “I think he had a rare talent.”
Dubbed in many languages, the television series has become a global sensation over the years, capturing the hearts of children with its Dantean battles won by the little shaggy hero as his power grows.
This juggernaut represents “the pinnacle of what entertainment should be,” said journalist Tadashi Sudo, a cartoon specialist, to AFP.
“Toriyama knew exactly what everyone wants to read: adventure and character development,” he says.
Besides its careful execution, part of its appeal to a global audience, he notes, probably came from the “statelessness” of the characters which allowed them to be both exotic and accessible.
“Merging of cultures”
“It’s not as if the series takes place in a particular region of the planet, like Japan or the United States,” emphasizes Mr. Sudo.
But with an Asian touch inspired by The Journey to the West and codes of Western popular culture, the show can at the same time seem familiar to a large audience, highlights the expert.
“In a way, the show was a fusion of cultures, and I think that’s one of the reasons why it’s so beloved around the world,” he said.
Fans paid tribute to Akira Toriyama with drawings posted under the press release announcing his death on X, including Son Goku rising into the sky with angel wings and a halo.
“Thank you for making my childhood great,” one wrote.
French President Emmanuel Macron also paid tribute to the mangaka’s memory by publishing on X a photo of a gift the artist gave him: an illustration bearing Mr. Toriyama’s autograph.
“To Akira Toriyama and his millions of enthusiasts who grew up with him,” Mr. Macron wrote on the social network in French and Japanese.
And this fervor beyond borders was verified for other works by Mr. Toriyama, notably Dr. Slump And Sand Landsays editor Shueisha.
“His mangas have been read and loved around the world, transcending borders.”