South Africans pay tribute to Dragon Ball Z creator Akira Toriyama
"He's the reason my generation grew [up] with their childhood heroes" - Dragon Ball Z fans take a trip down memory lane in honour of Akira Toriyama...
South African Dragon Ball fans continue to mourn the death of Akira Toriyama.
Akira, who is the creator of the Japanese anime, died at the age of 68.
Bird Studio announced his death on Friday, March 8 - seven days after he passed away. He died due to acute subdural hematoma.
According to UCLA Health, acute subdural hematoma "is a clot of blood that develops between the surface of the brain and the dura mater, the brain’s tough outer covering, usually due to stretching and tearing of veins on the brain’s surface. These veins rupture when a head injury suddenly jolts or shakes the brain".
Bird Studio revealed that Akira has "several works in the middle of creation" and "had many more things to achieve".
"Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years. We hope that Akira Toriyama’s unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time," the statement said.
Akira has already been laid to rest.
The Dragon Ball franchise, which he created in 1984, produced several spin-off series, including Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Daima.
Dragon Ball Daima, which Akira was also involved in, will make its debut in 2024.
Since news of his death broke, Dragon Ball fans worldwide have been paying tribute to Akira.
"We lost a real one. Goku can’t even wish him back.," one X user wrote.
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Rest in peace, without Dragon Ball there would be no Synapse. This Anime changed my life the most. #RIPAkiraToriyama pic.twitter.com/BzvzBYw4jT
— Shynapse (@Synapse144) March 8, 2024
We lost a real one
— ParrotOS (@MokoenaDee) March 9, 2024
Goku can’t even wish him back.
Cell is finding it difficult to process this new feeling of empathy.
Frieza showed up at the funeral
Magin Buu threatened to bomb the radius
Rest in Peace Sir Akira Toriyama🕊️ pic.twitter.com/kSHmRzuXz1
Without you, many of us have little. But because of you, we all have joy. Safe passage and thank you. #RIPAkiraToriyama pic.twitter.com/iKNonG2X0L
— Eric Vale (@ericvale) March 8, 2024
I have so many good childhood memories thanks to #DragonBallZ. #RIPAkiraToriyama, the greatest mangaka and pioneer in the Shōnen anime/manga scene. pic.twitter.com/inyoWwQy4h
— MI Vallie (@MIVallie777) March 8, 2024
MORE FROM EAST COAST RADIO
South African fans have spent the last few days taking a trip down memory lane. Many expressed how much Dragon Ball Z changed their childhood.
"Growing up in South Africa the kids had nothing. Literally not even a ball to play with. Our main pass time was trading PRINT OUTS of Dragon Ball Z characters. I had a binder with those page protectors for my sh**," one SA fan wrote on X.
Another X user wrote: "Bro it was my childhood to in South Africa it was on every weekday at 5pm on SABC 2 then it was time for Dragon Ball Z."
"... We are all Sad. South Africa loved Dragon Ball Z," a third wrote.
Here's a look at how other Mzansi fans paid tribute to Akira:
Bro it was my childhood to in South Africa it was on every weekday at 5pm on SABC 2 then it was time for dragon ball Z
— Shaun (@Shaun59693787) March 8, 2024
I started to trace Pikachu because there were no colouring books of Pokémon, but when Dragon Ball Z aired it inspired a lot of people in South Africa to draw.
— Isumairu (@isumairu25) March 10, 2024
High School students were hustling by selling their own illustrations of DB art. That's how much we love DB so much.
😱... We are all Sad. South Africa loved Dragon Ball Z.
— Ayanda Moses Mbatha (@AyandaMbatha4) March 9, 2024
And this tweet from 2020 sums up what many South African children and teens were doing every weekday.
Dragon Ball Z Frieza battle had the streets of South Africa empty from 4.30pm to 5pm every weekday https://t.co/BL6gPLEnx3
— The Look Of Champions (@ZwangaMukhuthu) August 23, 2020
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Main image credit: YouTube/@ToeiAnimationj (Dragon Ball)