This post is gonna be all over the place, so I apologize for that in advance...
This was honestly a horrible way for me to start the day. I essentially woke up to this news, and I've been devastated ever since. I had barely gotten over Kentaro Miura's passing (the author of Berserk, for those of you who don't know, and an absolute legend in his own right), and now this happens...
Akira Toriyama was a truly special man. Most of us live out our lives, unsure of what our purpose in this world is. We live on not knowing whether our lives will mean something when all's said and done. Not knowing whether we'll be remembered, and whether our life's work will have any sort of impact. We all strive towards that, to some extent. It's about as close as we can get to true Immortality.
Make no mistake, this man will be remembered for generations to come, as his impact is truly monumental. It is no exaggeration to say that Akira Toriyama's work, especially Dragon Ball, is responsible for the current landscape of anime and manga being what it is. The Big Three (HST) would literally not be a thing without Toriyama-Sensei inspiring Kishimoto, Oda, and Kubo respectively - something they've all attested to on numerous occasions. It is actually difficult to put into words how monumentally influential he was on anime and manga. Dragon Ball is, without a doubt, the most iconic and popular animanga franchise in the world. Its impact on pop culture is insane, and you'd be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't been exposed to the series in some capacity.
A friend of mine said something today, and is absolutely true. Toriyama is the George Lucas of anime and manga. Dragon Ball's influence is comparable to Star Wars in their respective fields, and their enduring popularity that never seems to wane is also a testament to how timeless they are as pieces of media. Toriyama is also singlehandedly responsible for popularizing anime and manga to a world wide audience, not just in the West. The WHOLE world.
His impact reached Video Games, and Pop Culture as a whole as well. Truly, what a magnificent legacy he has left behind. He has brought joy to, probably, hundreds of millions of souls in this dark, dark world, and for that we should all be eternally grateful. While the flesh and blood may perish, his spirit will live on forever through his work, and will continue to inspire artists for generations to come. Toriyama-Sensei's true legacy will never be gone, and will never be forgotten.
Toriyama-Sensei.......Thank you. Truly. Thank you for bringing me joy and excitement throughout my childhood, all the way to my adulthood. Thank you for creating these whacky, fun, bizarre worlds that you to us on mesmerizing adventures on. Thank you for inspiring some of my favorite artists to create some of my favorite pieces of media of all time. Most of all, thank you for being you, always and unapologetically. Truly an inspiration, and a living legend in our hearts and minds, always.
Rest in Peace, Toriyama-Sensei. You will be sorely missed.
Also wanted to share
Masashi Kishimoto's eulogy, because it nearly brought me to tears. Most prevalent Mangaka have also made such statements, if you wish to give them a look.
And I dare you to listen to this now without shedding a tear...