The Man Who Took Japanese Animation Worldwide
Liam Murphy salutes Akira Toriyama, the creator of the iconic Dragon Ball anime
Last weekend, tens of thousands of people gathered in cities across Latin America and lifted their hands to the sky. On a Mexican TV channel, regular programming was halted in a solemn tribute. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron posted on social media out of admiration and respect. El Salvador and China offered their condolences.
These gatherings weren’t to do with any kind of political upheaval. Nor were the condolences in honour of a beloved political hero. It was a tribute to a cartoonist from Japan.
People in Buenos Aires and Mexico City flocked to their respective monuments and squares, hands held aloft in emulation of a spiky-haired protagonist. This hero, when faced with a seemingly unbeatable evil force, would hold up his hands and ask the world for its energy. Fans across the world, both in the real world and in countless video game worlds, duly reached towards the sky.
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