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Ahead of the launch of Sand Land, the game based on the manga and anime of the same name, Bandai Namco shared a posthumous comment from creator Akira Toriyama about it. The message discussed his thoughts on the gameplay and also brought up a new location that didn’t show up in the original one-volume manga.

The announcement noted that Akira Toriyama shared this statement about the Sand Land game back in January 2024. The mangaka, who was known for Dragon Ball, Doctor Slump, and Dragon Quest series character designs, died back in March 2024. This comment offered his thoughts on the game based on footage he’d seen. He closed out the message by mentioning he could “only play casual games.”

Here is the full statement taken from the official social media from the game: 

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As a reminder, Sand Land is an action game starring Prince Beelzebub and his allies dealing with survival and baddies in a post-apocalyptic world. One of the trailers leading up to launch featured gameplay and story scenes set to Darude’s “Sandstorm.” It also hints at some of the tanks and other vehicles people will ride through the desert. 

Sand Land will come to the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on April 25, 2024. Viz Media handled the localization of the manga. The anime Sand Land: The Series is streaming on Disney+.

The post Akira Toriyama Message Shared Ahead of Sand Land Game Launch appeared first on Siliconera.

Like countless others who grew up in the 1990s, I devoted my childhood to watching Dragon Ball Z. The wait for new sets of episodes to come to Toonami here in America always seemed to feel like decades. At the time, I had no idea that a single storyteller and artist named Akira Toriyama was the creative force behind everything.

When the name Akira Toriyama comes up, it's usually his artwork that starts the conversation. Rightly so! His style is iconic and instantly recognizable. But Toriyama was also as a gifted and unique storyteller. Many people often credit his creations for their monumental influence on modern stories. I'm not suggesting his writing is some hidden gem. However, it is important to highlight the way he told stories and how his work influenced not only my personal taste into adulthood, but countless others.

Dragon Ball Z was the first serialized show I ever watched. Unlike Power Rangers, with its monster-of-the-week format, Dragon Ball ended up divided into story arcs. It made me feel grown-up, like I was watching a "real" show. That's why we all eagerly waited for new episodes, craving to know what happens next. I lost count of how many times I'd see Goku land on Namek. Then, it would go right back to the beginning with Raditz in the next episode.

I didn't realize it then, but everything I've been reminiscing about with Dragon Ball Z was thanks to Akira Toriyama's storytelling finesse. Goku's dramatic entrance onto Namek wasn't just a scene. It was a culmination of multiple storylines. It was both an anticipation and resolution all at once. Some may argue that Toriyama relied on this formula too heavily in later arcs. However, for me, the balance of tension and release he crafted within each one, especially when a new character arrived after a hard-fought battle, was unparalleled. I struggle to think of anyone who executed it as masterfully as he did. One standout moment for me is Gohan's epic arrival to confront Buu in Dragon Ball Z's final arc. Even now, rewatching the scene gives the same chills as it did in my youth.

However, the fights aren't everything, despite some detractors suggesting otherwise. Let's face it, Akira Toriyama crafted a downright bizarre world in Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super. Talking animals are just part of the scenery. Pocket-sized cars? Totally normal. It's all wonderfully odd, and that's precisely what makes it so captivating. Toriyama fully embraces the goofiness of it all. Nothing is ever too serious … until it suddenly is. That's the twist. That's why countless epic moments from this show are still etched into my memory.

Goku is undeniably a wonderfully goofy character; even during fights, he's just there to enjoy himself. However, when Frieza killed Krillin, Goku's demeanor changed drastically. This pivotal moment marked Goku's transformation into a Super Saiyan for the first time. Describing it as iconic almost feels like an understatement.

What makes it so impactful is how Akira Toriyama, as a storyteller, subverted our expectations of a character we know so well. The once gentle and playful Goku is now consumed by rage and fury. It's a tense moment. He's still our hero, but now we're left wondering at what cost this victory will come. It also moves the narrative forward, closing an arc that started back with Raditz: Goku accepting his heritage.

There are countless moments like this in Dragon Ball Z and other parts of the series' storyline that strike me as incredibly creative. I believe it stems from Toriyama's background in writing comedic manga and series like Dr. Slump. Transitioning from comedy to drama seems far smoother than the reverse. This balance is what prevents Dragon Ball from ever tipping into melodrama. The serious moments feel genuine, but the lighter moments are equally cherished and bring a sense of warmth to the series.

Even his iconic artwork doesn't just adorn the story. It's a vital thread woven into the very fabric of the narrative, enhancing the entire experience Take, for instance, the reason Super Saiyans have blond hair. It was simply easier for Toriyama to leave the hair uncolored, rather than meticulously fill in the black! This approach exemplifies Toriyama's penchant for working smarter, not harder, and using art to guide the story.

I mean look at it this way. Almost every new Dragon Ball Z game essentially just retells the show's plot. Yet every time, we eagerly dive in, ready to relive the saga with unabashed enthusiasm. There's a comforting familiarity to it, woven seamlessly with Toriyama's signature blend of humor, action, and suspense.

Akira Toriyama's impact is all over so much of the content that captured my interest as I grew up. His whimsical, almost aloof, characters set the bar for the kind of characters I grew to favor in JRPGs. Actually, who knows if I'd even like JRPGs if I hadn't been looking for games "similar to Dragon Ball Z." His fusion of sci-fi with fantasy elements also paved the way for iconic titles like Chrono Trigger (which, of course, he had a hand in). In one way or another, I can trace many of my interests back to Dragon Ball Z and the rich universe Toriyama created.

Akira Toriyama was an undeniable powerhouse of talent, no matter how you look at it. As fans around the globe mourn his ing, it's important to that the legacy he left behind continues to shape and inspire countless new writers and artists. And with any luck, it always will. Rest easy, Akira Toriyama, and thank you for everything.

The post Dragon Ball Shows Akira Toriyama Was a Master Artist and Storyteller appeared first on Siliconera.

Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii shared some words about the death of renowned manga artist Akira Toriyama. After news of his ing started spreading, many close friends and colleagues in the Japanese entertainment industry started to share their feelings.

Through his personal X (formerly Twitter) , Yuji Horii shared a post where he talked about his relationship to Akira Toriyama. The original post is in Japanese, and here is an English translation of his words:

“I still cannot believe the sudden news of Toriyama-san’s ing.

I have known Toriyama-san since I was a writer for Shonen Jump and, at my editor Torishima-san’s suggestion, I decided to ask (Toriyama-san) to make drawings for Dragon Quest when it released.

In the over 37 years I've known him, (Toriyama-san) has drawn character and monster designs for countless of fascinating characters.

The history of Dragon Quest is tied to Toriyama-san's designs.

Toriyama-san and the late (Koichi) Sugiyama-sensei were two longtime friends that worked on Dragon Quest.

I can't believe he's gone...

I don’t know what else to say. I am so, so sorry.”

And here is the original post by Yuji Horii about the death of Akira Toriyama:

Akira Toriyama died on March 1, 2024 at the age of 68, and Bird Studio confirmed the news on March 8, 2024. He was the creator behind plenty of popular manga series like Dragon Ball, Arale, and Sand Land, in addition to being the character and monster designer for the Dragon Quest game series.

The post Dragon Quest Creator Yuji Horii Commented on Akira Toriyama Death appeared first on Siliconera.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has put out a statement in regards to the death of Akira Toriyama, who was best known for his work on Dragon Ball. Netizens ed a clip of the statement onto TikTok and Twitter. [Thanks, Wanli2051!]

Here is a translation of the minister’s statement:

“We express our deepest sympathies in regards to Akira Toriyama-sensei’s ing, and we would like to give our sincere condolences to his family. Toriyama-sensei was a very famous manga artist, and his work has been very popular in China too. I’ve noticed many Chinese netizens express their grief for his ing as well. We believe, and trust, that there will be more talented artists and writers from Japan whose work will leave a cultural impact on China, leading to further friendship between our countries.”

Dragon Ball is an incredibly influential work, and it originally drew inspiration from the Chinese novel Journey to the West, as well as Hong Kong martial arts films. Son Goku’s name is the Japanese reading of Sun Wukong, a mischievous and proud monkey who is one of the protagonists of the Journey to the West.

Akira Toriyama died on March 1, 2024, but news of his ing first appeared on March 7, 2024. Aside from Dragon Ball, he also worked on Chrono Trigger and Dragon Quest. After his death, his name and “Rest in Peace” trended on Twitter (X), showing the effect he had on people worldwide.

Akira Toriyama died on March 1, 2024, and there will be a commemorative gathering for him some time int he future.

The post China Expressed Sympathies for Akira Toriyama appeared first on Siliconera.

The official Dragon Ball social media announced that Akira Toriyama died. The announcement comes days after the event, as it happened on March 1, 2024.

Toriyama died at the age of 68. The official announcement noted the cause was due to an acute subdural hematoma.

Toriyama was best known for the creation of the Dragon Ball franchise in 1984 and has seen multiple continuations in the form of Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Super. Among his other popular works included Dr. Slump which began serialization in 1980 and became huge success for publisher Shueisha, and Sand Land in 2000. Toriyama also served as the character designer for the Dragon Quest video game series, helping to shape its iconic visual style that has spanned dozens of releases over the last 38 years. He was also the character designer on Chrono Trigger and Blue Dragon.

Akira Toriyama was working on many different projects before he died, including the Sand Land video game adaption, the Dragon Ball Daima anime which is set to air in 2024, and other unannounced projects. The official Dragon Ball social media announced that funeral services were held with his family and close relatives in private. To follow Toriyama's wishes for "tranquility" prior to his ing, it has been requested that there be no flowers, gifts, visits, offerings, or other forms of condolences sent in honor of him. The official social medial also asked that no interviews be conduced with his family.

The official social media also stated that plans for a commemorative gathering for Akira Toriyama have not yet been made, but will be announced at a later date once confirmed.

The post Akira Toriyama Died appeared first on Siliconera.

Something is happening with an Akira Toriyama manga series. The Dragon Ball website updated with an announcement regarding a Sand Land Project, with an anime style teaser video accompanying it. On December 17, 2022, there will be some sort of reveal connected to the series. The new official website features a countdown timer.

All information leading to it appeared in both Japanese and English. For example, the accompanying Twitter featured an announcement with an English description. There are both English and Japanese teaser videos as well.

Here is the promotional video. It starts by looking at endless sands. After that, there’s an animated image of the protagonist Beelzebub asking, “Why did the world have to become this?” This could suggest a Sand Land anime is in the works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUMsxLXzmyo&ab_channel=BandaiNamcoEntertainmentAmerica

In Sand Land, players follow Beelzebub, a young demon who s with Sheriff Rao and Thief in a search for the desert wasteland’s most precious commodity: water. As the two journey across a decimated earth looking for a lake, they end up facing the King’s forces who are determined to maintain control. Viz Media localized this Akira Toriyama manga. The first three chapters are available to read in English for free online.

The Sand Land Project details will be revealed on December 17, 2022.

The post Prepare for an Akira Toriyama Sand Land Project appeared first on Siliconera.