The passing of Akira Toriyama, creator of manga and anime franchise “Dragon Ball,” has left fans mourning the loss of one of the medium’s most influential and beloved creators.
Toriyama’s manga, which was later split and adapted into two anime series, “Dragon Ball” and “Dragon Ball Z,” has been loved by fans across multiple generations since its serialization in 1984. A combination of intense martial arts-inspired battle sequences, vibrant characters, an engaging plot, and nostalgia has made the work one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
This deep love for “Dragon Ball” isn’t confined only to Japan, the franchise’s birthplace, however. The series has been broadcast in more than 80 countries worldwide, and although fans can be found all over the world, there’s no region that loves the show quite like Latin America.
Since the arrival of its Spanish dub in the ‘90s, “Dragon Ball” has become more than just a staple form of entertainment in Latin America. In fact, the franchise itself has become part of many of these countries’ cultures.
I’ve seen this phenomenon most in Mexican culture, Mexico arguably the country most impacted by Toriyama’s work. Countless murals depicting Goku and other characters can be found throughout Mexico’s streets, and many Mexican and Mexican-American artists cite “Dragon Ball” as one of their biggest inspirations. Toys, clothing, and other merchandise inspired by the show are widely available in the country as well, and Tacos Goku, a restaurant in Oaxaca, has famously made its rounds on the internet for its Goku mascot.
The country’s love for the franchise even caused a dispute between their city of Juárez and the anime’s studio, Toei Animation, back in 2018. Toei was concerned with copyright infringement after it was announced that a public watch party for the penultimate episode of “Dragon Ball Super” was planned by fans in the city. Fortunately, the city’s then mayor, Armando Cabada, successfully negotiated with Toei, allowing an estimated 15,000 fans to watch the episode together as a community.
The franchise has had an impact on my household, too. When my father first moved to the United States from Mexico, he often watched “Dragon Ball” in his freetime. He later passed his love for the show down to my little brother, who showed me his favorite fight sequences from the anime growing up. I even named our family cat after my favorite character, Gohan.
The success and popularity of “Dragon Ball” is often credited to its inclusion of Mexican cultural values, such as family, friendship, loyalty, and teamwork—values that are shared among other Latin American countries as well. Many fans feel a personal connection to the diverse cast of characters, many of whom have overcome challenges through hard work and determination.
And so, when the news broke of Toriyama’s passing at the age of 68, Latin America responded in masses to the passing of a figure whose work brought so much joy, entertainment, and inspiration to the lives of so many.
In cities like Mexico City, Mexico and Buenos Aires, Argentina, thousands of fans gathered to perform the Genki Dama, or Spirit Bomb, as a final “goodbye” to Toriyama, the technique itself a powerful attack from the anime.
Azteca 7, a Mexican TV station, held a special marathon of “Dragon Ball” movies shortly after Toriyama’s death as tribute to his work.
On TikTok and Twitter, #HastaSiempreGuerrero, which translates to “farewell warrior,” has been used on posts mourning the loss of Toriyama and thanking him for his work. Even influential figures have acknowledged Toriyama’s passing, such as Vice President of Brazil Geraldo Alckmin, who tweeted a “thank you” to Toriyama for his legacy.
Although his impact in Latin America is undeniable, Toriyama brought excitement to the childhoods of fans all around the globe. The world is grieving the loss of a legend, one whose work is sure to live on for many generations to come.
Thank you, Toriyama.
