It has been over a year since Akira Toriyama, creator of Dragon Ball, died. The news of his death took most by surprise, and fans and manga artists were mourning. Dragon Ball has become such a hit worldwide that news of the author’s death was covered by broader outlets around the world — the news outlets that wouldn’t generally cover anime-related topics.

Toriyama was truly an artist, and he created many stories and characters that people can enjoy everywhere. And while Dragon Ball may be all about fighting for some, Toriyama has never forgotten to add humor to all his creations, from Dr. Slump to Sand Land.

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Toriyama and Masako Nozawa Laughing Together

Those Good Old Days Are Sadly Gone

A user posted an old black and white photo featuring Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, and Masako Nozawa, the legendary actress who has been voicing Goku since the first anime adaption. Nozawa also voices Gohan and Goten in the series. In the photo, they are laughing together:

There is no information about when this photo was taken. It looks like something from the 1980s or 1990s.

As expected, fans got emotional over this sweet moment — it’s a mix of happiness to remember about the good things Toriyama and Nozawa gave us and sadness to remember is not here anymore.

Dragon Ball Daima Is Toriyama’s Swan Song

Dragon Ball Daima, which ended a few days ago, is officially Toriyama’s swan song in the franchise, as Akio Iyuko has confirmed that the Dragon Ball creator was deeply involved in the series, and wrote most of it. The final episode even aired on the first anniversary of his death, proving that Daima was his last work for the franchise.

Daima is not exactly what many DBZ or DB Super fans were expecting, but it brought back that old classic Dragon Ball feeling of adventure mixed with great humor. Also, many Dragon Ball GT “references” appeared in the story, such as SSJ4 Goku, since DBGT served as a starting point for the story.

What’s Next for Dragon Ball as a Whole?

Without the creator, many fans wonder what will become of the franchise from now on. Iyuko assured that they are working to bring more Dragon Ball content to the fans, and to keep Toriyama’s legacy alive.

However, it was also revealed that since Toriyama’s death, the rights to the franchise have been the subject of litigation that may take several months or even years to be fully resolved. While fans expect new series to be announced soon, these legal proceedings regarding the rights may slow down new projects.

Source: X (formerly Twitter)

Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball is a franchise by Akira Toriyama which follows the adventures of Goku, a powerful warrior who protects the earth with his group of  friends. A recent title from the series is Dragon Ball: The Breakers, an action style game where 7 players have to survive being hunted by the Raider.

Created by

Akira Toriyama

First TV Show

Dragon Ball

Latest TV Show

Dragon Ball DAIMA

First Episode Air Date

February 26, 1986

TV Show(s)

Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball DAIMA