👋 Hello, this is your weekly dose of inspiration and practical guidance. Every Friday you will receive a captivating visual timeline that charts the rise of a successful individual + lessons derived from that.
As a child, he had a passion for drawing. He nurtured it further by enrolling in a design course during his secondary school years.
At the age of 23, he published his first manga, Wonder Island.
At 28, inspired by his love for kung fu films, Toriyama created Dragon Boy, a story about a martial-arts boy on a quest, setting the stage for Dragon Ball’s debut one year later. This quickly ascended to become one of the best-selling manga series of all time, with 159.5 million copies sold in Japan and 300 million worldwide.
His contributions were so significant that an exhibition was entirely devoted to his creations. He became one of the most influential manga artists that there has ever been. He played a pivotal role in popularising anime and manga in Western cultures, effectively placing manga on the international stage.
Sadly, he passed away on 1 March 2024, at the age of 68.
Thank you, Akira Toriyama, for the worlds you shared, the characters we cherished, and the lessons we learned through your work.
May you rest in peace, knowing your legacy will continue to inspire and entertain future generations.
One Lesson from Akira Toriyama
Follow your passion.
Starting with a love for drawing, he dedicated himself to learning and growing in this field. He combined that with his other love, kung fu films, resulting in one of the most beloved manga and anime series of all times.
Embrace what you love, let it guide your efforts, and use it as a foundation upon which to build your future.
Toriyama's journey shows that when passion and profession align, the potential for greatness is limitless.
Until next Friday,
The Chronicler
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