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'Dr Slump' and 'Dragon Ball' came to Spain first in Catalonia in the late 80s, since they started bringing all the anime France was importing at the time. That means I was raised by both shows since I was born. Since was still airing in Japan we got plenty of reruns until new episodes arrived, while the manga being printed like a comic book (30 pages or so per volume. We still have that format even for Super). While 'Dr Slump' didn't become a big hit outside Japan, seeing 'Dragon Ball' gradually becoming the worldwide phenomenon that is today is quite an experience growing up. Not only that, but when the likes of 'Dragon Quest' and 'Chrono Trigger' selling by character design alone tells you how powerful Toriyama was designing worlds and characters. I moved to a lot of places in my life, and even to this day you can still see adults and future generations wearing Goku shirts and getting hype for the new entries in any media. Some people make the "Goku is my father" joke at times, but in my case that could be the true.

Believe it or not, my favorite is Majin Buu upon debut. There's thousands of characters that are also favorites, and even those who aren't have minimum one memorable moment. Yet Buu is the epitome of a Toriyama character. A villain that despite being final bad, constantly oozes a sense of humor despite being the biggest threat in the series yet. Starting from living with Mr. Satan, reading manga while waiting for Gotenks, getting beaten down by Vegito as a candy, to end falling sleep in the final fight against Goku. I am glad Super went double down with that by the likes of Beerus or most of the Super Hero movie, because Toriyama is the only one able to create a world ending setting yet add his sense of humor whenever needed without breaking the story apart.

Nowadays I might be another one drawing big boobs online, but like many others Toriyama's works were the foundation to make me draw. I mostly drew monsters when I was a kid, yet you could tell the muscles and some traits came from Dragon Ball. If we also include my brother drawing comics on a notebook were both of us along friends went Super Saiyan 11 and such, it really tells you the origins of not only me, but other artists out there.

Miura and Takahashi were also huge losses, specially the latter as a big Yu-Gi-Oh! nerd. But when you had Toriyama's works day and night since the day you came to this world and see it mold mankind's culture itself, it really hits you. Elders which never experienced anime (Besides 'Heidi' and '3000 Leagues in Search of Mother' in Spain) still knew what a Goku is. THAT is some branding businessmen are unable to achieve. Yet the series is mostly about getting stronger either as a personal goal or save others, as well how a good person can change people for the better. You can make the most convoluted lore ever, but Toriyama's style to make such simple premise interesting from beginning to end is unmatched. Even on its weakest arcs, you still were engaged.

Me and millions of others can't be thankful enough of how he molded us with his works. No other artist, mangaka or not, will be able to match the massive impact Toriyama caused with what was at first his version of 'Journey To The West', slowly becoming about facing intergalactic tyrants and multiverse deities.

Rest in Peace, Akira Toriyama

Description

'Dr Slump' and 'Dragon Ball' came to Spain first in Catalonia in the late 80s, since they started bringing all the anime France was importing at the time. That means I was raised by both shows since I was born. Since was still airing in Japan we got plenty of reruns until new episodes arrived, while the manga being printed like a comic book (30 pages or so per volume. We still have that format even for Super). While 'Dr Slump' didn't become a big hit outside Japan, seeing 'Dragon Ball' gradually becoming the worldwide phenomenon that is today is quite an experience growing up. Not only that, but when the likes of 'Dragon Quest' and 'Chrono Trigger' selling by character design alone tells you how powerful Toriyama was designing worlds and characters. I moved to a lot of places in my life, and even to this day you can still see adults and future generations wearing Goku shirts and getting hype for the new entries in any media. Some people make the "Goku is my father" joke at times, but in my case that could be the true.

Believe it or not, my favorite is Majin Buu upon debut. There's thousands of characters that are also favorites, and even those who aren't have minimum one memorable moment. Yet Buu is the epitome of a Toriyama character. A villain that despite being final bad, constantly oozes a sense of humor despite being the biggest threat in the series yet. Starting from living with Mr. Satan, reading manga while waiting for Gotenks, getting beaten down by Vegito as a candy, to end falling sleep in the final fight against Goku. I am glad Super went double down with that by the likes of Beerus or most of the Super Hero movie, because Toriyama is the only one able to create a world ending setting yet add his sense of humor whenever needed without breaking the story apart.

Nowadays I might be another one drawing big boobs online, but like many others Toriyama's works were the foundation to make me draw. I mostly drew monsters when I was a kid, yet you could tell the muscles and some traits came from Dragon Ball. If we also include my brother drawing comics on a notebook were both of us along friends went Super Saiyan 11 and such, it really tells you the origins of not only me, but other artists out there.

Miura and Takahashi were also huge losses, specially the latter as a big Yu-Gi-Oh! nerd. But when you had Toriyama's works day and night since the day you came to this world and see it mold mankind's culture itself, it really hits you. Elders which never experienced anime (Besides 'Heidi' and '3000 Leagues in Search of Mother' in Spain) still knew what a Goku is. THAT is some branding businessmen are unable to achieve. Yet the series is mostly about getting stronger either as a personal goal or save others, as well how a good person can change people for the better. You can make the most convoluted lore ever, but Toriyama's style to make such simple premise interesting from beginning to end is unmatched. Even on its weakest arcs, you still were engaged.

Me and millions of others can't be thankful enough of how he molded us with his works. No other artist, mangaka or not, will be able to match the massive impact Toriyama caused with what was at first his version of 'Journey To The West', slowly becoming about facing intergalactic tyrants and multiverse deities.

Rest in Peace, Akira Toriyama