The loss of a titan- Akira Toriyama

 

The news from yesterday about the death of Akira Toriyama hit really hard. There are probably about as many people alive today that would recognize his characters as readily as they would the Mona Lisa- Toriyama had a level of impact that's hard even to quantify because of how robust his work's appeal was.

I've worked in kitchens and bars where the only event besides the World Cup that got back-of-house priority was the Cell Games. There's art in every medium and style, from artists and artisans with literally nothing in common but knowing Toriyama's work. 

It could safely be said that without him, the modern anime convention might not even exist, and certainly wouldn't be nearly as well known or popularized. There's a generation or two of kids who grew up on Cartoon Network or Toonami, for whom he might have been the first introduction to the world of anime, manga, or Japan in general. 

I happened to be logged in to Final Fantasy XIV when the news broke. Within ten minutes, there was a vigil being held in one of the MMO's major cities outside the Pugilist's Guild. Within half an hour there were so many people the game couldn't even render them all on screen at once (and the number of people with orange gi glams brought a tear to my eye). None of those people probably know each other- but they all knew exactly what to do.

Dr. Slump was a fun ride. Dragon Ball is iconic. Chrono Trigger is the greatest JRPG of all time, the Dragon Quest series might never actually stop, and even his lesser known contributions like Tobal no.1 resonate with their fanbases.

That's a hell of a legacy to leave behind.

For those who can read Japanese, there are thoughts from several of his contemporaries given here- names and creators hugely well-known in their own right, all united in their respect and admiration for a departed great.