Eiichiro Oda Honors Dragon Ball Creator Akira Toriyama

Tribute to a Legend: Celebrating Akira Toriyama

Eiichiro Oda, the visionary behind One Piece, recently honored the legacy of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama by reinterpreting a cover for the Dragon Ball Super Gallery project.
The 40th anniversary of Dragon Ball was marked by this initiative, which encouraged numerous mangaka to reflect on Toriyama’s groundbreaking contributions to the manga world.
Oda has long expressed admiration for Toriyama, revisiting Volume 42 of Dragon Ball and voicing his regrets about not having purchased the manga during Toriyama’s lifetime.

This year, the manga community mourned the passing of the illustrious Akira Toriyama, whose influence within the industry remains profound. With his departure, many artists have taken it upon themselves to pay homage to his legacy, as both his life and work through Dragon Ball have left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans worldwide.

In celebration of Dragon Ball’s 40th anniversary, the Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project emerged, encouraging various artists, both established and up-and-coming, to redraw iconic covers from the series as a tribute to Toriyama’s impactful career. Notably, Eiichiro Oda, well-known for One Piece, contributed to this fitting tribute.

Oda’s Artwork for Dragon Ball Volume 42

Incorporating Oda’s Art into the Dragon Ball Super Gallery

Dragon Ball has now achieved the significant milestone of 40 years since its debut in 1984, under the brilliance of the late Akira Toriyama.

To commemorate this landmark achievement, the Dragon Ball Super Gallery Project was initiated, showcasing various mangaka’s interpretations of Dragon Ball covers.

Among the contributors, Oda created a reinterpretation of Volume 42, which features Goku, the beloved protagonist of the series.

DRAGON BALL Volume 42 by Eiichiro Oda (ONE PIECE). This is part of the DRAGON BALL Super Gallery Project to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the series. The project is now finished. pic.twitter.com/TaS4hvQRVU

— Shonen Jump News (@WSJ_manga) December 26, 2024

Oda’s Relationship with Toriyama

Oda’s admiration for Toriyama extends deeply. He has lauded the Dragon Ball creator as a revolutionary god of the manga world. Toriyama’s impact is undeniably woven into the fabric of One Piece and numerous shōnen titles that followed, all of which were inspired by Toriyama’s groundbreaking storytelling and character development.

The community felt a significant loss with Toriyama’s passing early in the year, an event that resonated with fans and fellow artists alike.

Reflecting on his admiration, Oda once remarked about his childhood connection to Dragon Ball:

“I bought the first volume of the Dragon Ball manga series when I was in elementary school, but I didn’t buy the second volume! I always read the chapters through WSJ magazine, and when the final volume 42 was released, I went to the bookstore and saw it, but I didn’t buy it! I thank you for giving me this opportunity to redraw it! And now, I wish I could buy this volume while Toriyama-sensei is still alive.”— Eiichiro Oda

Fans can anticipate seeing further artistic tributes from Oda commemorating Toriyama and Dragon Ball, especially with upcoming events. Oda has frequently revisited this theme, demonstrating his enduring admiration for the legendary artist.

Source: X (Formerly Twitter)

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