‘Dragon Ball’ Manga Creator Akira Toriyama Dies at 68

  • Artist catalyzed Japanese anime’s popularity overseas
  • Toriyama’s style influenced a generation of manga artists
Akira Toriyama in 1982. Source: AFP/Getty Images
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Akira Toriyama, creator of the beloved manga and anime Dragon Ball, has died, his production studio said in a statement Friday. He was 68.

The artist behind the long-running media franchise that popularized Japanese manga abroad, passed away on March 1 from an acute subdural hematoma, according to the statement.