The passing of Akira Toriyama was a heartbreaking and shocking loss. Fans worldwide were left devastated as the story and characters created by Toriyama impacted people of all ages on a profound level. Toriyama’s influence reaches far beyond the manga and anime industry. He made a blueprint for breaking through to international markets and creating a digestible anime series. Toriyama transformed the world with his work, from his stories to his style to his media savviness.

His innovative art style distinguishes Toriyama’s work. He departed from his era’s prevalent hyper-realistic character design, opting for a more straightforward, accessible aesthetic. This seemingly minor shift had a profound ripple effect, not only in manga but also in video games. Console role-playing games of the time embraced this style, giving birth to unforgettable characters whose images lingered in players’ minds. His characters’ whimsical, childlike design made his work more approachable, drawing in hesitant readers and viewers. 

The most significant component that Toriyama gave the industry, however, was not his art style but his story style. Toriyama is referred to as “the father of modern Shonen.” Shonen refers to anime geared towards a younger male audience. He created the framework of nearly every popular anime we see today. From Naruto to One Piece to Jujutsu Kaisen, every anime features a trope that Dragon Ball first popularized. The “training arc” is so well-known in the anime world that it’s almost a given that your favorite anime will feature some version of it. Anime continues to reference Dragon Ball and feature character types, arcs, and worlds that Toriyama initiated. 

Dragon Ball itself is the most influential anime of all time. The global impact of the series is immeasurable. In Latin America, specifically, Dragon Ball has reached a cultural integration unlike anything from the anime industry. Characters like Goku and Vegeta are pop culture icons equivalent to Superman and Batman. Latinos view Dragon Ball as a popular show and a societal event. From integration into everyday conversations to product placement, these characters have a life of their own in Latin America. For example, telling someone, “Be strong like Superman,” would be replaced by “Be strong like Goku.” An organic assimilation of Dragon Ball references and characters has become part of everyday life. This all stemmed from Dragon Ball reaching Latin America airwaves before the U.S.

In the ’90s, Japan was eager to export its popular anime series to the U.S., but when they were denied, they turned to Latin America. Latino audiences embraced these stories, and Dragon Ball became mandatory viewing for every household. This, in turn, created an audience that familiarized themselves with not only this world but other anime worlds, as well. While American adult audiences struggle to view animation as anything other than children’s programming, Latin American viewers of all ages embrace anime and remain one of the biggest markets. Anime still has an uphill battle in the U.S., but Latinos are one of the largest, long-running supporters of the medium, and that is due to Dragon Ball.

As the anime medium continues to grow worldwide, it’s important to remember that many modern anime fans came to the medium from Dragon Ball. When Toonami introduced viewers to this mind-blowing, exciting new show, they opened their eyes to Dragon Ball and the anime medium as a whole. This is why Dragon Ball is widely regarded as the ultimate gateway anime. This was the anime that got people into anime. Breaking that barrier of the subtitles and the specific story style has proven difficult for certain audiences; Dragon Ball was the first to do it for years. This allowed older audiences to support modern anime and take the lead in embracing the growing market. 

Toriyama’s legacy is boundless. He created a storytelling template that is still used today. He introduced an entire medium to a new audience. Anime would not be where it is today without the imaginative worlds he created. It’s challenging to measure the impact of such an influential figure. We know of the filmmaking legacy of figures such as Hitchcock, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg, but in that same breath, Toriyama’s name should be said. Even more crucial is that his stories always brought such tremendous heart. They were about overcoming incredible odds and fighting for peace and justice. That hopeful theme throughout all his work creates a longer-lasting legacy than if it were more cynical. Toriyama believed in inspiring his fellow creators. He welcomed new stories and always left the door open for the next generation. There’s so much we can learn from him. His impact will be studied for years to come. May we continue to uplift his legacy and remember his name.