# List of works by Akira Toriyama
[Akira Toriyama](https://www.edgepedia.org/akira-toriyama) (鳥山明; 1955–2024) was a Japanese manga artist and character designer whose catalog runs from gag one-shots in *Weekly Shōnen Jump* in the late 1970s through the two hit series *Dr. Slump* and *Dragon Ball*, later standalone manga, and character designs for video games such as *Dragon Quest* and *Chrono Trigger*.[1](https://www.kanzenshuu.com/wiki/Complete_List_of_Works_by_Akira_Toriyama) • [2](https://apnews.com/article/0b2016bf985e1854d3cbcb2985d6e922) • [3](https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/blogs/dragon-ball-japan-and-world-legacy-akira-toriyama)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Manga debut | *Wonder Island*, *Weekly Shōnen Jump* 1978 #52, released 28 November 1978[1](https://www.kanzenshuu.com/wiki/Complete_List_of_Works_by_Akira_Toriyama) |
| First major hit | *Dr. Slump*, serialized in *Weekly Shōnen Jump* from 5 January 1980[4](https://www.kanzenshuu.com/wiki/Dr._Slump_Tank%C5%8Dbon) |
| Signature series | *Dragon Ball*, serialized 20 November 1984 to 1995, collected in 42 volumes[1](https://www.kanzenshuu.com/wiki/Complete_List_of_Works_by_Akira_Toriyama) • [5](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/search/search.html?titleauthor=%E9%B3%A5%E5%B1%B1%E6%98%8E) |
| Sales and reach | *Dragon Ball* has sold 260 million copies and has been translated into 25 languages[2](https://apnews.com/article/0b2016bf985e1854d3cbcb2985d6e922) • [6](https://www.japan.go.jp/kizuna/2024/05/legacy_of_toriyama_akira.html) |
| Game design | Character designer for *Dragon Quest* (first installment 1986) and *Chrono Trigger*[3](https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/blogs/dragon-ball-japan-and-world-legacy-akira-toriyama) • [7](https://www.glenat.com/auteur/akira-toriyama/) |
| Later manga | *Cowa!* (1998), *Kajika* and *Sand Land* (2000), *Jaco the Galactic Patrolman* (2013)[7](https://www.glenat.com/auteur/akira-toriyama/) • [8](https://as.com/meristation/series/dragon-ball-orden-cronologico-para-la-serie-manga-y-peliculas-f202511-n/) |
| Final work | *Dragon Ball Daima*, an anime for which Toriyama did substantial design work[9](https://as.com/meristation/manga-y-anime/vuelve-toriyama-el-producto-de-dragon-ball-que-incluira-arte-inedito-del-legendario-mangaka-n/) |
## Early one-shots and debut (1977–1979)
Toriyama's first manga was a short work titled *The Red Geta*, drawn at age 16.[10](https://www.kanzenshuu.com/wiki/Real_World_Timeline) His professional career began in his early twenties with pieces including *Awawa World*, *Mysterious Rain Jack*, *Wonder Island 1 and 2*, *Today on Hairai Island*, and *Gal Detective Tomato*.[10](https://www.kanzenshuu.com/wiki/Real_World_Timeline)
**Contest entries and rejection.** According to his original editor, Kazuhiko Torishima, Toriyama accumulated up to 500 pages of declined drafts before *Dr. Slump*.[1](https://www.kanzenshuu.com/wiki/Complete_List_of_Works_by_Akira_Toriyama) Two of his contest submissions for the Monthly Young Jump Award were later reprinted: *Awawa World* (1977) in issues 5 and 6 of *Bird Land Press*, his fan-club pamphlet, and *Mysterious Rain Jack* (1978), a finalist, in *Bird Land Press* and later as a bonus in *Weekly Shōnen Jump* itself.[1](https://www.kanzenshuu.com/wiki/Complete_List_of_Works_by_Akira_Toriyama) The Comics Journal notes that the comic figure Suppaman, later inserted into *Dr. Slump*, originated from these struggling years.[11](https://www.tcj.com/reading-without-words-akira-toriyamas-visual-manga-and-its-cross-cultural-impact/)
The formal debut came in November 1978, when *Wonder Island* appeared in *Weekly Shōnen Jump* 1978 #52.[1](https://www.kanzenshuu.com/wiki/Complete_List_of_Works_by_Akira_Toriyama) • [2](https://apnews.com/article/0b2016bf985e1854d3cbcb2985d6e922)
## Dr. Slump (1980–1984)
*Dr. Slump* began in *Weekly Shōnen Jump* on 5 January 1980, nearly five years before *Dragon Ball*.[4](https://www.kanzenshuu.com/wiki/Dr._Slump_Tank%C5%8Dbon) The comedy series about the robot girl Arale ran through 1984 and was Toriyama's first major hit, making him a celebrity.[2](https://apnews.com/article/0b2016bf985e1854d3cbcb2985d6e922) Shueisha's collected editions carry the note that the series was an award-winning work adapted into a 1980s television anime.[12](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?jdcn=08617059851181315501) After the series ended, its characters returned for a cameo in *Dragon Ball*, in which Arale and Goku briefly team up against General Blue during the Red Ribbon Army storyline.[13](https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Dr._Slump)
## Dragon Ball (1984–1995)
*Dragon Ball* began serialization in *Weekly Shōnen Jump* on 20 November 1984, in issue 1984 #51.[1](https://www.kanzenshuu.com/wiki/Complete_List_of_Works_by_Akira_Toriyama) • [14](https://www.lemonde.fr/comprendre-en-3-minutes/video/2024/11/19/pourquoi-le-manga-dragon-ball-est-il-incontournable-comprendre-en-trois-minutes_6401986_6176282.html) It ran in the magazine for roughly ten years, ending in 1995, and totals more than 8,000 pages of comics.[7](https://www.glenat.com/auteur/akira-toriyama/) Shueisha collected it in 42 volumes, with volume 1 released 10 September 1985 and volume 42 on 4 August 1995; a complete 42-volume box set followed in 2009.[5](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/search/search.html?titleauthor=%E9%B3%A5%E5%B1%B1%E6%98%8E) • [15](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-851912-8&mode=1)
The series follows the boy Son Goku on a quest for seven magical balls that grant wishes when gathered.[2](https://apnews.com/article/0b2016bf985e1854d3cbcb2985d6e922) According to the studio, it has sold 260 million copies, and the Japan Government's Kizuna magazine reports translations into 25 languages.[2](https://apnews.com/article/0b2016bf985e1854d3cbcb2985d6e922) • [6](https://www.japan.go.jp/kizuna/2024/05/legacy_of_toriyama_akira.html) The anime began broadcasting in the late 1980s, and its worldwide success marked the beginning of the Japanese anime and manga boom abroad.[6](https://www.japan.go.jp/kizuna/2024/05/legacy_of_toriyama_akira.html) Between 1993 and 1995, the Akira Toriyama Exhibition toured major Japanese cities and drew more than 400,000 visitors in three years.[16](https://drslump.fandom.com/wiki/Akira_Toriyama)
## Later manga (1998–2013)
After *Dragon Ball*, Toriyama signed *Cowa!* in 1998 and two one-shots in 2000, *Kajika* and *Sand Land*, the latter published in French by Glénat.[7](https://www.glenat.com/auteur/akira-toriyama/) In 2013 he published *Jaco the Galactic Patrolman*, an original work whose title character later appears in *Dragon Ball Super*.[8](https://as.com/meristation/series/dragon-ball-orden-cronologico-para-la-serie-manga-y-peliculas-f202511-n/) VIZ Media's English catalog also lists *Go! Go! Ackman* and *COWA!* among his works available in translation.[17](https://www.viz.com/manga-books/shonenjump/section/dragon-ball)
## Character design for games and film
Toriyama designed characters for the *Dragon Quest* video game series, whose first installment was released in 1986, work that made him a symbol of Japanese culture abroad alongside his manga.[3](https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/blogs/dragon-ball-japan-and-world-legacy-akira-toriyama) Glénat's author biography also credits his character design for games including *Toruneko no Daibōken* and *Chrono Trigger*.[7](https://www.glenat.com/auteur/akira-toriyama/)
In film, the official [Dragon Ball](https://www.edgepedia.org/dragon-ball) site identifies *[Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods](https://www.edgepedia.org/dragon-ball-z-battle-of-gods)*, released 30 March 2013, as the first time Toriyama was involved from the scenario-writing phase.[18](https://fr.dragon-ball-official.com/news/01_4477.html) His last work was the anime *Dragon Ball Daima*.[9](https://as.com/meristation/manga-y-anime/vuelve-toriyama-el-producto-de-dragon-ball-que-incluira-arte-inedito-del-legendario-mangaka-n/)
## Dragon Ball Super and posthumous editions
*Dragon Ball Super*, the sequel manga, is credited with story (original draft) by Toriyama and art by Toyotarou; Shueisha describes it as a completely new *Dragon Ball* continuing the story after the fight with [Majin Buu](https://www.edgepedia.org/majin-buu), based on Toriyama's original plan.[19](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents_amp.html?jdcn=08880661851831315501) VIZ lists it alongside *Dragon Ball SD*, an adaptation illustrated by Naho Ohishi with Toriyama credited.[17](https://www.viz.com/manga-books/shonenjump/section/dragon-ball) • [5](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/search/search.html?titleauthor=%E9%B3%A5%E5%B1%B1%E6%98%8E) After Toriyama's death on 1 March 2024, at age 68, from acute subdural hematoma, new volumes of *Dragon Ball Super* continued to appear with both names on the cover, and the official site runs a Toriyama Archives column of rare images from his career.[2](https://apnews.com/article/0b2016bf985e1854d3cbcb2985d6e922) • [20](https://www.glenat.com/auteur/toyotaro/) • [21](https://en.dragon-ball-official.com/news/01_4508.html)
## Recognition
Toriyama received awards in and beyond the manga industry, including France's Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters; *Le Monde* dates the knighthood to 2019 and also records a special prize at the Angoulême festival in 2013.[2](https://apnews.com/article/0b2016bf985e1854d3cbcb2985d6e922) • [22](https://www.lemonde.fr/m-le-mag/article/2024/03/15/manga-dans-le-monde-de-fast-food-de-la-litterature-nipponne-a-passion-francaise_6222179_4500055.html) In 2024 he was inducted into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame.[23](https://los40.com/2024/10/17/akira-toriyama-al-salon-de-la-fama-de-los-premios-harvey/)
## References
1. [Complete List of Works by Akira Toriyama, Kanzenshuu](https://www.kanzenshuu.com/wiki/Complete_List_of_Works_by_Akira_Toriyama)
2. ['Dragon Ball' creator Akira Toriyama dies at 68, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/0b2016bf985e1854d3cbcb2985d6e922)
3. [Dragon Ball, Japan and the world: The legacy of Akira Toriyama, SOAS](https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/blogs/dragon-ball-japan-and-world-legacy-akira-toriyama)
4. [Dr. Slump Tankōbon, Kanzenshuu](https://www.kanzenshuu.com/wiki/Dr._Slump_Tank%C5%8Dbon)
5. [鳥山明 書籍検索結果, 集英社](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/search/search.html?titleauthor=%E9%B3%A5%E5%B1%B1%E6%98%8E)
6. [The Impact on World Manga Culture and Legacy of TORIYAMA Akira, JapanGov Kizuna](https://www.japan.go.jp/kizuna/2024/05/legacy_of_toriyama_akira.html)
7. [Akira Toriyama, Éditions Glénat](https://www.glenat.com/auteur/akira-toriyama/)
8. [Dragon Ball, orden cronológico para la serie, manga y películas, AS MeriStation](https://as.com/meristation/series/dragon-ball-orden-cronologico-para-la-serie-manga-y-peliculas-f202511-n/)
9. [Vuelve Toriyama: el producto de 'Dragon Ball' que incluirá arte inédito, AS MeriStation](https://as.com/meristation/manga-y-anime/vuelve-toriyama-el-producto-de-dragon-ball-que-incluira-arte-inedito-del-legendario-mangaka-n/)
10. [Real World Timeline, Kanzenshuu](https://www.kanzenshuu.com/wiki/Real_World_Timeline)
11. [Reading without words: Akira Toriyama's visual manga and its cross-cultural impact, The Comics Journal](https://www.tcj.com/reading-without-words-akira-toriyamas-visual-manga-and-its-cross-cultural-impact/)
12. [Dr.スランプ 9／鳥山明, 集英社](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?jdcn=08617059851181315501)
13. [Dr. Slump, Dragon Ball Wiki (Fandom)](https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Dr._Slump)
14. [Pourquoi le manga « Dragon Ball » est-il incontournable ?, Le Monde](https://www.lemonde.fr/comprendre-en-3-minutes/video/2024/11/19/pourquoi-le-manga-dragon-ball-est-il-incontournable-comprendre-en-trois-minutes_6401986_6176282.html)
15. [DRAGON BALL 全42巻・全巻セット／鳥山 明, 集英社](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-851912-8&mode=1)
16. [Akira Toriyama, Dr. Slump Wiki (Fandom)](https://drslump.fandom.com/wiki/Akira_Toriyama)
17. [Read Free Dragon Ball and More From Akira Toriyama, VIZ](https://www.viz.com/manga-books/shonenjump/section/dragon-ball)
18. [Films « Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods », Site officiel Dragon Ball](https://fr.dragon-ball-official.com/news/01_4477.html)
19. [ドラゴンボール超 1／とよたろう／鳥山明, 集英社](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents_amp.html?jdcn=08880661851831315501)
20. [Toyotaro, Éditions Glénat](https://www.glenat.com/auteur/toyotaro/)
21. [Toriyama Archives, DRAGON BALL OFFICIAL SITE](https://en.dragon-ball-official.com/news/01_4508.html)
22. [Manga dans « Le Monde », de fast-food de la littérature nipponne à passion française, Le Monde](https://www.lemonde.fr/m-le-mag/article/2024/03/15/manga-dans-le-monde-de-fast-food-de-la-litterature-nipponne-a-passion-francaise_6222179_4500055.html)
23. [Akira Toriyama al salón de la fama de los Premios Harvey, Los40](https://los40.com/2024/10/17/akira-toriyama-al-salon-de-la-fama-de-los-premios-harvey/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Literature and written works › Creative written works and worlds › Comics and sequential art › Comic-book series and issues › Japanese shōnen and seinen manga*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license