During my preteen years, I was what most would call shy. Shy to an extreme degree. I loved card games. But with no one to play, I would collect them and play both sides of a match. I know, sounds sad, right? How did such a quiet, timid kid ever manage to find friends? Well, it all goes back to a little show called Dragon Ball Z and its creator, Akira Toriyama.
Like many long-time anime fans in their forties, I discovered the medium through Cartoon Network’s Toonami. I’ll never forget the first episode I saw. It was Android Saga, and at the crux of the episode, we saw Vegeta transform into a Super Saiyan for the first time. This was possibly the best and worst episode someone could drop into a series on. I had no idea what was going on. But as Vegeta went through his epic monologue about his struggle to achieve his goal, his eventual indifference to life itself, and finally, his powerful transformation, I became obsessed. Plus, the royal butt-whooping he laid on Android 19 didn’t hurt the situation any, either. Akira Toriyama had me hooked.
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As the days rolled on and I followed the Z Fighters in their battles against Cell, I learned of a card game based on this incredible series. Sold at my local comic shop, I started buying cards and building decks. The shopkeeper informed me that another store branch held open game nights where fans played. They even ran anime on a TV they had there. While the store was out of the way, my parents were more than willing to get me there.
Looking back now, this moment is one of the defining points of my life. I didn’t know it then, but much of my adulthood would be informed by what came next. Not only was I introduced to other anime like Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, but I also made many of my deepest friendships there. My first four apartments were filled with friendships that began over those games. They were there for some of the best moments of my 20s. Anime was a passion we all shared. And even though time would see me drift away from them and the medium, the changes they brought to me were as impactful as going Super Saiyan or achieving my perfect form.
While I drifted away from anime for nearly a decade, Akira Toriyama and his work again brought me back. I was thrilled when I heard about Dragon Ball Super bringing Toriyama and his universe back for more adventures. Like many, I didn’t love Dragon Ball GT and hoped that Toriyama’s return would restore the luster of my childhood favorite. But, just like the first time, the creator’s work would open doors that would alter the course of my life forever once again.
I learned of the wonders of Crunchyroll through my return to the Dragonball franchise. The amount of anime that was waiting for me was staggering. I soon found new favorites that rivaled my love for many of the old classics. Series like Darling in the Franxx redefined what I thought anime could deliver. As I was experiencing this personal anime renaissance, I was getting on social media.
As I dove into the Twittersphere and all it held, I began to run into one particular individual. Her name is Kate Sánchez. If you recognize that name, you should. She is the Editor in Chief of this website. It was through these coincidental meetings that I would one day end up writing for her. Since then, I have had experiences I never thought I would have. I’ve done press coverage for major conventions. I got early screeners for some of the biggest anime to hit in the last several years. And covered some of the biggest media that exploded in the public consciousness. Like the first big shift in my adult life, it can all be drawn back to the lure of Akira Toriyama’s work.
But while his most known work is the one that impacted my life the most, I also want to thank the master for another notable sphere of influence he had – video games. As someone who fell in love with RPGs during the heyday of the Super Nintendo, Toriyama’s work was extremely impactful. Chrono Trigger and Dragon Quest were two of the most influential RPGs of that era. Right up there with the Final Fantasy series, they defined what players saw as possible within the genre.
Even today, while much of the genre has moved away from the hallmarks of that era, great games are still being developed, bearing clear inspiration from the projects in which he was crucial. Not only does the Dragon Quest franchise still bear his iconic visual style, but the indie hit Sea of Stars, my game of the year last year, draws heavily upon those early works.
So, thank you, Akira Toriyama. Without your works, the joy they brought me, and the discoveries they led to, my life would’ve been far less than it has become. Your creations always pushed the message to never give up. Go beyond the limitations that others believe you cannot overcome and that no matter how powerful you are, it doesn’t matter if you aren’t good enough to use that power to protect others.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
