Akira Toriyama (5 April 1955 – 1 March 2024) was a Japanese manga artist, character designer, and one of the most influential figures in modern pop culture. He was best known as the creator of Dragon Ball, one of the most popular and best-selling manga series of all time, with over 300 million copies sold worldwide, as well as the comedic adventure series Dr. Slump.

Born in Nagoya, Japan, Toriyama showed a love for drawing from childhood. He debuted professionally in 1978, but gained major recognition with Dr. Slump (1980–1984), which won the Shogakukan Manga Award. In 1984, he launched Dragon Ball, blending martial arts action, humor, and epic adventure. The series became a global phenomenon, spawning a massive multimedia franchise including anime, films, video games, and merchandise.

Toriyama also worked as a character designer for popular video games such as Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon. Known for his clean art style, dynamic fight scenes, and imaginative worlds, he influenced generations of manga artists and storytellers. Even after stepping back from weekly serialization, he remained involved in Dragon Ball projects until his death in 2024, leaving behind a cultural legacy of unparalleled impact.