Akira Toriyama

Akira Toriyama was born on April 5, 1955 in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. He is a cartoonist and game character designer. He is the famous comic book "Arale" and "Dragon Ball". author.

Akira Toriyama is recognized as the chief representative of the Japanese comics industry today. His famous work "Arale (Dr. Slump)" and his representative work "Dragon Ball" are extremely popular and widely praised all over the world. As of July 1995, "Dr. Slump" has sold more than 28,110,000 copies, and "Dragon Ball" has set a sales record of more than 109,300,000 copies. The surname Toriyama sounds a bit strange (even to Japanese people), but Akira Toriyama is indeed his real name. He was born in Nishi Kasugai Town, Aichi Prefecture in 1955 and spent most of his life in the place of his birth. Nishi Kasugai is in a rural area and the surrounding natural environment is very good. The backyard of the Toriyama family is cultivated land, where pheasants occasionally appear, and the horizon can be seen in the distance. His family background is by no means rich, but his parents are very optimistic and cheerful people who can waltz happily even when they have nothing to eat. Influenced by his parents, Akira Toriyama was able to enjoy painting on an empty stomach. After entering high school, Toriyama studied design. During his studies, he participated in the "Manga Research Association" and was once elected as the president.

After graduation, Toriyama first worked in a design company, but he was late too many times and his salary was not as good as that of girls working as odd jobs in the office. Besides, he originally wanted to draw comics and didn't like a job that restricted his creative abilities, so he resigned after three years.

On his 23rd birthday, Akira Toriyama officially started creating comics. Before that, he had been doing odd jobs as leaflet illustrations and could not create as he pleased. He just started drawing comics casually, half as a game. After the first work was completed, he considered which comic magazine to submit it to. In Japan, "Weekly Shōnen Magazine" (Kodansha) and "Weekly Shōnen Jump" (Shueisha) are both popular comic magazines with a certain history. Among them, the "Rough Social" style "Weekly Shonen Magazine" was founded in 1959 and was released on Wednesday; and the "Young and Hot" style "Shōnen Jump" was founded in 1968. Two years later, it was changed from a monthly magazine to a weekly magazine. Published every Monday. Last year, the circulation of "Shounen Jump" was approximately 2.79 million copies, and that of "Shounen Magazine" was 1.77 million copies. If you see male college students or young office workers reading manga magazines on Japanese trains, they are probably holding one of these.

These weekly comic magazines are also an important source of income for Japan’s homeless. They go to the station trash cans on the release days of these magazines, collect magazines that others have discarded after reading them, and sell them again.

Toriyama originally wanted to submit his first work to "Shounen Magazine" because its "Newcomer Award" bonus was 500,000 yen, which was a big deal for Toriyama who did not have a full-time job. attraction. But in the end, because he failed to meet the deadline for the competition, he instead submitted his manuscript to "Shōnen Jump", which accepts submissions every month.

The first submission did not win any prize, but my name was only listed in the magazine. Undeterred, Toriyama continued to create and submit articles, and finally caught the editor's attention. Although he is a novice, Toriyama's comics are very distinctive. For example, he abandoned the katakana in Japanese and wrote the onomatopoeia and mimetic language in the comics in English. His painting style is very exquisite, and many of his drawings include industrial design drawings. It is so delicate, so it is particularly attractive. One difference between him and other cartoonists is that he has studied design drawings, so his sketches are particularly expressive and his images have a sense of balance. Toriyama later looked back and said that although he did not like working in the design company at the time, the experience he gained at that time was very helpful to him. Later, an editor named Toriyama Kazuhiko noticed him. This person is known for rejecting manuscripts without mercy. According to Toriyama, no fewer than 1,000 of his drawings were returned by Toriyama. But Toriyama didn't take it seriously and continued to create, and was finally recognized by Kazuhiko.

Bird Island had a major influence on Toriyama's creation. Take Toriyama's famous work "Arale" as an example: This comic tells a series of funny stories about a genius doctor and the robot doll Arale he developed in a penguin village. Toriyama originally designed the doctor as the protagonist of the story, but Toriyama said that the robot doll was very cute and suggested that she be turned into the protagonist. Toriyama was reluctant at first, but the facts proved that Toriyama's judgment was right. After the comic was released, it was welcomed by both male and female readers and was serialized in "Shounen Jump" for 5 years. It was made into a cartoon in 1981, and the ratings reached 36.9%. Because he was too busy, rookie Akira Toriyama enjoyed the same "treatment" as Osamu Tezuka. For a long time, he could only sleep once every three days.

What brought Toriyama international fame was "Dragon Ball," a story that was serialized in "Shounen Jump" for 11 consecutive years starting in 1984. Previously, Toriyama wanted to end the serialization of "Arale", and "Shonen Jump" put forward a condition, that is, to publish a new manga within 3 months after the serialization ended. Toriyama agreed.

Because the previously published "The Boy Riding a Dragon" and "The Adventure of Tonpuu" were well received, when Toriyama drafted the new work, he decided to adopt the characteristics of these two works ("Chinese flavor" and "Kung Fu"), referring to "Journey to the West" " and "The Legend of the Eight Dogs Minamiso Satomi" (the work of 19th-century Japanese Edo period playwright Takizawa Makoto), create a magnificent comic masterpiece.

There were already plans to make "Dragon Ball" into a cartoon before it was serialized. However, in the early stages of serialization, readers' evaluations dropped. The editor of Toriyama believed that this was because the protagonist was too inconspicuous, so he asked Toriyama to make it into a cartoon. Add the theme of "pursuit of power" to the story. Toriyama's vision was indeed sharp. Since then, "Dragon Ball" has soared in popularity, becoming the leading work of "Shounen Jump". "Dragon Ball" is also very popular overseas. The comics and cartoons have been authorized to be exported to more than 40 countries and regions around the world. The ratings of its cartoons in France reached 87.5%; in Denmark, with a population of 5.5 million, the sales volume of "Dragon Ball" comics More than 1.5 million copies; in Thailand, there are 20 publishing houses that pirate "Dragon Ball".

Toriyama did not originally intend to draw "Dragon Ball" into a super serial series of ***519 issues. When the serialization was less than 200 issues, he had already begun to prepare the ending, but the editorial staff was worried that readers would be disappointed and firmly opposed it. With about 250 issues of serialization, the popularity and economic effects of "Dragon Ball" have spread to all over the world. Once the serialization ends, it will not only affect "Shounen Jump", but also Shueisha and partner companies (toy company Bandai, movie companies) who publish the magazine will be affected. Toei Animation, Fuji TV, etc.) performance and stock prices. The matter has escalated to a point where it cannot be decided by Toriyama and the editorial staff alone. In the end, after coordinated discussions with the upper management of each company, Toriyama bit the bullet and ended the story. By the end of 2008, "Dragon Ball" had sold more than 150 million copies in Japan, and 350 million copies worldwide.

The long-term serialization of "Dragon Ball" consumed all of Toriyama's energy, and he almost entered semi-retirement after that. After the serialization ended, the circulation of "Shounen Jump" plummeted. At the editor's request, Toriyama occasionally published some short-term serialized works or independent works. Among them, "SANDLAND" has been translated and published in the United States, Germany, France and other places. Since 2007, the cartoon characters of the TV animation "BLUEDRAGON" that has been broadcast to this day were also designed by Toriyama. Not long ago, Akira Toriyama's works were toured in nine public art museums and other public venues in Japan, attracting more than 3 million visitors. This is only the second time in history that a manga artist's work has reached such a level of attention (the first was Osamu Tezuka). The National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo has taken the unprecedented step of exhibiting manga works. The works of Akira Toriyama are placed together with the works of painters such as Monet and Millet. So, what is the reason why Toriyama Akira's works are so widely welcomed and highly praised?

Narrated by Akira Toriyama

Before I became a cartoonist, I designed advertising paintings for an advertising company in Nagoya. I worked there for three years, which is amazing. I have been late almost every day for the past three years. I thought my boss was about to fire me, so I took the initiative to submit my resignation. The cartoonists I admire most are Mr. Osamu Tezuka and Disney in the United States. When I was a kid, I loved drawing the robots in "Astro Boy" until the drawings in my exercise books turned completely black. I think: I can become a cartoonist today thanks to the imitation at that time. Those who want to be a cartoonist must first start with imitation. To me, the cartoonist is the star. Whenever I meet a famous cartoonist at a banquet, I immediately ask him to give me his autograph as a souvenir. I have saved more than 30 pages of signatures like this. Everyone still remembers the character Sora Dome Misuke in "Arale" who loves to collect autographs, right? In fact, that is my shadow. Akira Toriyama is my real name, and there are only three people in Aichi Prefecture with this weird name. After I became famous, I kept receiving harassing phone calls, which really gave me a headache. So, I thought of a pen name called "Shui Tian Phase 2". However, the editor said the name was too "boring" and had to give up. I hate being on TV. When that cannon-like camera was pointed at me, I was shaking all over and couldn't say anything. And the thought of millions of people looking at me in front of the camera makes me wet my pants. Therefore, I always find various reasons to refuse to appear on television. Once, I was invited to the "Tetsuko Room" program group and saw the famous Kuroyanagi Tetsuko, who I had only seen on TV before, walking towards me and chatting with me. I was so nervous that my face turned red and I was trembling all over. I didn’t even know what I said. As a result, before I could wake up, the interview program ended. When it comes to TV shows, I just love watching "Animal World."

Main comic works "Dragon ball" ("Dragon ball")

"Dragon ball Z" ("Dragon ball Z")

"ESCAPE"

"Arale·Dr. IQ·Dr. Strange and the Robot Doll" ("Dr.Slump")

"Mr. He"

"PINK THE RAIN JACK STORY" < /p>

"The Boy Riding a Dragon"

"THE ADVENTURE OF TONGPOO"

"KENNOSUKE SAMA" )

"SONCHOH"

"WONDER ISLAND"

"Girl Detective TOMATO"

"Pora and Rod" ("POLA&ROID")

"MAD MATIC"

"Ada and Peter No. 1" ("DUB&PETER1")

"Savings Warrior CASHMAN" "("CASHMAN")

"Devil Boy" ("Go go Accliam")

"Ozan Akira Theater 1" (Short Story Collection)

"Karasama Akira Theater 2" (short story collection)

"Karasama Akira Theater 3" (short story collection)

"Cat Demon" ("Neko Demon")

"KAJIKA"

"Blue Dragon"

The latest work in 2008 "Dragon Ball - Return, Goku and His Friends"

< p> Anecdote Toriyama Akira initially worked as a clerk in Nagoya, but he quit his job because he didn't want to get up early. Later, due to living expenses issues, I submitted my manuscript to the Kodansha Comic Awards sponsored by Kodansha for a bonus of 500,000 yen. Unfortunately, I couldn't make the deadline. So I sent my work to Weekly Shonen Jump, which collects works every week. At that time, Toriyama Kazuhiko, who later became Akira Toriyama's editor, gave him a relatively high evaluation: "Although my paintings are not that good now, if I work hard, I will achieve success in the future."

Since then, Akira Toriyama has published many short stories on Jump. At that time, Akira Toriyama wanted to use the pen name "Mizuta 2nd Work", but he finally decided to publish his works under his original name. It is said that Akira Toriyama, as a cartoonist, sticks to time very much and does not throw away his manuscripts casually like other cartoonists.

However, as a company employee, Toriyama Akira is always late. One reason is said to be that Toriyama Kazuhiko said that if the manuscript was not delivered on time, he would have to go to Tokyo to work. Akira Toriyama, who lives in Nagoya, hates life in big cities, so he works very hard on creating. After "Dragon Ball" was serialized for several years, as a representative of comics at that time, it led to a huge industry. Akira Toriyama himself once said that he was happiest when creating Piccolo the Great Demon King, because the story later developed into nothing more than non-stop fighting and the protagonist continued to grow. However, under the circumstances at that time, it was no longer the author's decision to end his work that would end it. Because the scope of influence is too wide. (The manga Doraemon by Fujiko F. Fujio has not been completed for the same reason.) Toriyama Akira and Katsura Masakazu, who were also discovered by Toriyama Kazuhiko, are good friends. The joke Goku told at Kaio was the work of Masakazu Katsura.

Evaluation of Akira Toriyama In the history of Japanese comics, Akira Toriyama is definitely a character worthy of special mention. The records he set in the history of Japanese comics are still high and out of reach. In 1982, his The income tax reached an astonishing 539.42 million yen, which also rewrote a new chapter in the history of Japanese comics. In 1983, he set a record for the highest tax paid by a cartoonist, "647.45 million yen", breaking his own record. This record has been high on the list of billionaires in the Japanese cartoon industry for several years. (It was later broken by Takahashi Kazuki with "Yu-Gi-Oh!".

It is impossible to guess how Mr. Osamu Tezuka felt when he watched Mr. Akira Toriyama grow up, especially in 1981 when his comic work "Arale" "" appeared on the screen and became a hit, and it became the No. 1 personal income list in Aichi Prefecture in 1983. Compared with Osamu Tezuka's "Firebird", which killed a weekly magazine. Akira Toriyama's "Dragon Ball" has become the driving force for "Shounen Jump" to sell six million copies.

No one can resist the change of times. Perhaps Osamu Tezuka can still comfort himself. The Shogakukan that Tsunechisou has been supporting now has Rumiko Takahashi who can lead the fight against Toriyama Akira.

In the weekly war at that time, what position Mr. Tezuka Osamu was in, with our information power, is no longer possible to verify. I just think that Mr. Tezuka Osamu's position was extremely dangerous at that time. "Buddha", which Osamu Tezuka created from September 1972 to December 1983, began to directly face myths, seriously and realistically thought about the existence of God, and used adaptation to deconstruct the concept of "God". However, the reputation of "Buddha" is far inferior to that of "Firebird" or even "Astro Boy".

In this day and age, people have begun to laugh at God. If you don’t bother to think about the new meaning of God, you won’t be able to feel the shock of the adaptation.

Just like the current mixed feelings of old cartoonists towards new cartoonists, they want to love and care for them but are inevitably jealous. Mr. Tezuka probably has the same mentality towards Akira Toriyama, right? ! He died at the age of 60. Working hard and exhausting his efforts to damage his muscles and bones was one of the reasons. Gastric cancer caused by work pressure and confusion about the future were also the reasons. "Firebird" who was unable to end his life before his death, and his junior (Akira Toriyama) who was covered up by the glorious sun, what about his deathbed? "Give me a pencil...", isn't that a pity?

In fact, "Three-Eyed Boy" and "Astro Boy" both landed in China earlier than "Dragon Ball" and "Saint Seiya" , however they have never caused a storm, because for fourteen-year-old or fifteen-year-old children, the latter two are far more charming than the former. Of course, as time goes by, the latter two are more likely to be regarded as garbage by some people who have grown up. , completely forgetting how moved they once were, just like people once forgot Osamu Tezuka.

In reality, Akira Toriyama once stood on the altar of Osamu Tezuka's "God of Japanese Comics".

The National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo took the unprecedented step of exhibiting the works of Akira Toriyama together with the works of Monet, Millet and other painters. Akira Toriyama's works have been exhibited in nine public art museums and other public venues in Japan, attracting more than 3 million visitors. It is remarkable that a cartoonist's work can reach such a high level of attention. This is only the second time in history (the first was Osamu Tezuka).

After Akira Toriyama's "Dragon Ball" became a hit in Japan, he prepared to move away because it was inconvenient to deliver manuscripts. In his original place of residence, in order to retain him, the local government specially built a highway between Akira Toriyama's family and the airport... (sweat!)

Of course, Mr. Akira Toriyama has a direct relationship with the animation industry. The contribution is also significant: in 1983, the highest tax payment record for a cartoonist was "647.45 million yen". With such a large personal tax, its value chain boosted the total social output value and solved the employment opportunities. You can imagine the number. When Akira Toriyama got married in 1983, the media reported it with the title "Aki Toriyama's 500 Million Yuan, Super Luxurious Wedding Style"

"Dragon Ball" animation. Since the cartoon film and video premiered on Japanese TV in 1986, it has been successively shown in France, Spain, Hong Kong, Thailand and other places. The major cultural invasion effect it has caused is that a large number of European and American people have also begun to draw "Dragon Ball". Fans, the most famous of which is a fan who made "Dragon Ball" and "Sailor Moon Moon" into an H version of "Star Wars" and spread it on the Internet...

In China, although I am a little older Angry youths dare to call "Dragon Ball" rubbish, but the market is the truth that verifies everything - all rental bookstore owners are wise. Where there are rental bookstores, there will be "Dragon Ball", just like where there are Chinese people, there will be "Dragon Ball". Jin Yong. And a gratifying phenomenon recently is that more and more animation information magazines have begun to mention Dragon Ball, and their tone is becoming more and more relaxed.

The more fashionable Hong Kong magazine "East Touch" held an interview. In the "20th Century Manga Election", Akira Toriyama, the author of "Dragon Ball", ranked 4th among the top five influential figures of the 20th century, and Osamu Tezuka, who ranked 3rd in global influence, were the only two Japanese comic writers selected. The comic "Dragon Ball" ranks first among the top five comics of the century in Japan. The protagonist Sun Wukong in the story of "Dragon Ball" also ranks second among the comic characters of the century.

Fans of Toriyama in Taiwan are even more enthusiastic. Even some people in their 30s who are already employed are very familiar with "Dragon Ball". In a bonus question and answer program, the host Someone asked, what is the name of Senbei's son in "Arale"? The uncle blurted out "peace" without hesitation. In an inspirational book, there is a quotation: "The founding father's revolution took 11 attempts to succeed, cartoonist Akira Toriyama had his manuscript rejected by the publisher more than 100 times before it was adopted, and Van Gogh did not become famous until his death." Akira Toriyama's popularity throughout Taiwan is evident.

Of course, there are many people who love and hate Mr. Toriyama and become crazy because they admire him very much but are disappointed with his current situation.

Here is a quote from a famous commentator in Taiwan - "A few years ago, Akira Toriyama's "Dragon Ball" boldly wrote in a long-defunct publication: "Dragon Ball" is not considered a comic, it is just a lie. Money tools...' As a result, this famous saying has caused me to receive many letters from 'admirers': some want to plant bombs in my house, some warn me not to walk on the road, and some directly declare my death sentence... (This is As an aside, I should actually be considered a loyal reader of "Dragon Ball". I still read it to this day, I just scold it while watching it...) However, Akira Toriyama now only relies on video games, animations, toys, and cards. He can just live his life with just the royalties! What's the point of scolding him? It was "Dr. Weird and the Robot Doll" that was rejected dozens of times and he was able to make a lot of money just by relying on the royalties. "Dragon Ball" ruined Akira Toriyama! Sometimes I really want to say: Those who really like Akira Toriyama should stop buying anything that makes him money! This can save him! Oh!"