Akira Toriyama

Writer, also producer · Died March 1, 2024, aged 68 · Aichi, Japan

Akira Toriyama (Japanese: 鳥山明, Hepburn: Toriyama Akira, April 5, 1955 – March 1, 2024) was a Japanese manga artist and character designer. He first achieved mainstream recognition for creating his highly successful manga series Dr. Slump, before going on to create Dragon Ball (his most famous work) and acting as a character designer for several popular video games such as the Dragon Quest series, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon. Toriyama is regarded as one of the authors who changed the history of manga, as his works are highly influential and popular, particularly Dragon Ball, which many manga artists cite as a source of inspiration. He earned the 1981 Shogakukan Manga Award for best shōnen manga with Dr. Slump, and it went on to sell over 35 million copies in Japan. It was adapted into a successful anime series, with a second anime created in 1997, 13 years after the manga ended. His next series, Dragon Ball, would become one of the most popular and successful manga in the world. Having sold 260 million copies worldwide, it is one of the best-selling manga series of all time and is considered to be one of the main reasons for the period when manga circulation was at its highest in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s. Overseas, Dragon Ball's anime adaptations have been more successful than the manga and are credited with boosting anime's popularity in the Western world. In 2019, Toriyama was decorated a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to the arts.

Biography from TMDB.

Born: April 5, 1955
Died: March 1, 2024 (aged 68)
From: Aichi, Japan
Works as: Writer, also producer
Titles: 46 on MovieCove · 77 credits in all
Links: IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 23% in 30 days

What are Akira Toriyama's films like?

Across their 36 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Survival.

Genres

Animation31 titles73^rd

Action2 titles7^th

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight

Bonds

37%

Survival

22%

Morality

15%

Power

13%

Self

Society

Ideas

Survival16 Family bonds13 Friendship13 Power8 Revenge5 Justice4 Coming of age3 Sacrifice3

What they feel like to watch

their average across 33 films

ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Earnest

Tone · Sincerity

ironicearnest

Ironic 1 · Wry 0 · Earnest 32

Light

Tone · Weight

lightdark

Light 21 · Serious 10 · Dark 2

Heightened

Tone · Style

naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 24

Intense

Feel · Intensity

gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 10 · Intense 20

Shifting

Feel · Swings

steadyswings

Steady 13 · Shifting 19 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs

Feel · Humor

noneconstant

Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 7

Even-paced

Demand · Pace

slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 17

Casual

Demand · Attention

casualfull focus

Casual 20 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 0

Easy watch

Demand · Emotional cost

easyheavy

Easy watch 28 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 2

Resolved

Demand · Resolution

resolvedambiguous

Resolved 33 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling

Tense

Joyful

Triumphant

Hopeful

Other

How their films linger

Fun27 Feel-good15 Rousing16 Hopeful9 Bittersweet3 Cathartic2

How their films end

Happy30
Bittersweet4
Tragic1
Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Akira Toriyama's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 46 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Crunchyroll (22).

Also on these channels

Cinemax1 title, show their title on Cinemax

Subscription and free streaming for Akira Toriyama's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

77 credits, 46 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus(2026)
Show 19 episodes · Character Designer · Original Story
Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows
Dragon Ball: 40th Anniversary Special Video (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)
Comic Book · Original Story
Dragon Ball DAIMA (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)
Original Concept · Story
Dragon Ball Daima(2024)
Show 20 episodes · Character Designer · Original Concept · Story
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows
Dragon Ball Z Kai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)
Original Concept
Sand Land: The Series(2024)
Show 13 episodes · Character Designer · Original Story
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows
Sand Land(2023)
Comic Book · Original Story
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero(2022)
Character Designer · Screenplay · Story
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
Dragon Quest: Your Story(2019)
Character Designer
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Super: Broly(2018)
Character Designer · Screenplay · Story
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Super: Broly - Skytree Super (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)
Original Concept
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime(2018)
Show 1 episode · Thanks
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
Super Dragon Ball Heroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)
Show 54 episodes · Characters
Dragon Quest X: The Miracles of the Adventurers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
Character Designer
Dragon Ball Z: The Real 4-D at Super Tenkaichi Budokai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
Original Series Creator
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ - Future Trunks Special Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)
Author
Dragon Ball Z: The Fall of Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)
Characters
Dragon Ball Super(2015)
Show 131 episodes · Story
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'(2015)
Character Designer · Screenplay
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
Dream 9 Toriko x One Piece x Dragon Ball Z Super Collaboration Special!! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)
Characters
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods(2013)
Characters
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock(2011)
Characters
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Dragon Ball: Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans(2010)
Author
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Z Kai(2009)
Show 158 episodes · Original Story
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows
Dragonball: Evolution(2009)
Comic Book · Producer
Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films
Dragon Ball: The Return of Son Goku and Friends!(2008)
Characters
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
Dr. Slump: Dr. Mashirito and Abale-chan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)
Creator
The World of Dragon Ball Z(2000)
Creator
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
Dr. Slump: Arale's Surprise Bang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Comic Book
Dr. Slump: Robot Showdown! Dr. Mashirito Appears / A Kiin Win! Penguin Grand Prix (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)
Writer
Dr. Slump (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Show 74 episodes · Comic Book
Saving Soldier Cashman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)
Original Story
Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy(1997)
Characters
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball: The Path to Power(1996)
Comic Book
Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball GT(1996)
Show 64 episodes · Original Story
Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows
Nuumamonjaa: Time and Space Adventures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Art Direction
Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon(1995)
Characters
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn(1995)
Original Series Creator
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
Fantascience World Gulliver Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)
Show 50 episodes · Mechanical Designer
Go! Go! Ackman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
Original Story
Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: N-cha!! Excited Heart of Summer Vacation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
Comic Book
Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly(1994)
Characters
Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hoyoyo!! Follow the Rescued Shark... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)
Comic Book
Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming(1994)
Characters
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Z Side Story: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans(1993)
Creator · Writer
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound(1993)
Characters · Original Series Creator
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Z: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan(1993)
Characters
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks(1993)
Characters
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13!(1992)
Characters
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler(1992)
Novel
Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins(1991)
Characters
Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge(1991)
Novel
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug(1991)
Characters
Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball: Fight Son Goku, Win Son Goku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Characters
Kennosuke-sama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Creator · Original Story
Pink: Water Bandit, Rain Bandit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
Comic Book
Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might(1990)
Characters
Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest(1990)
Novel
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku(1990)
Writer
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Dragon Quest: Legend of the Hero Abel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Show 43 episodes · Character Designer
Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone(1989)
Novel
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball Z(1989)
Show 291 episodes · Comic Book · Writer
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows
Dragon Quest Fantasia Video (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Characters
Kosuke and Rikimaru: The Dragon of Konpei Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Director · Character Designer · Comic Book · Writer
Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure(1988)
Comic Book
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball: Goku & Traffic Safety (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Original Film Writer
Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle(1987)
Comic Book
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies(1986)
Comic Book
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
Dragon Ball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Show 153 episodes · Comic Book · Writer
Godzilla 1985(1985)
as Man fleeing from Godzilla (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hoyoyo! City of Dreams, Mechapolis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
Original Series Creator
Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hoyoyo! The Treasure of Nanaba Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)
Original Series Creator
The Return of Godzilla(1984)
as Man fleeing from Godzilla (uncredited)
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
Crusher Joe: The Movie(1983)
Mechanical Designer
Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
Dr. Slump: Hoyoyo! Space Adventure(1982)
Creator · Writer
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Dr. Slump & Arale-chan: Hello! Wonder Island(1981)
Original Story
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
Dr. Slump (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)
Show 243 episodes · Comic Book

Career shape

A full career of 76 titles from 1981 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)

$116M worldwide

Highest rated

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus (2026)

Midcredits 99^th

Film career

1984Screen debut· The Return of Godzilla

By role

only this rolewith another role

Acting2 of 76Directing1 of 76Writing63 of 76 · 79^thOther crew19 of 76 · 81^st

76 titles, 8 with more than one role — writing and other crew overlap on 8 of them.

By decade

1980s18 · 2 acting · 16 crew1990s30 · crew2000s5 · crew2010s15 · crew2020s8 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Akira Toriyama's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 73^rd percentile, the median of all 38; across their 33 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 69^th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

69^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 33

Approval · how many liked their films

76^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 33

Reach · how many have seen their films

90^thpercentile

Typical film, the median of 33

Midcredits score across 46 titles, by percentile

75^th and up25
50^th to 74^th16
25^th to 49^th3
Below 25^th2

Shape of the crowd

28 of their 46 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

Universally Loved10
Cult Classic1
Crowd Pleaser28
Mixed7

Most divisive · writer

Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins (1991)

83^rd percentile spread · 49% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer

Dragon Ball Super: Beerus (2026)

Midcredits 99^th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 45/100 and the plot and story 41/100 in their films, across 29 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Akira Toriyama's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles

Violence & Gore8 titles40–72 · median 50 · moderatenear the median of all films

Sex & Nudity6 titles16–31 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all films

Profanity7 titles23–41 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all films

Alcohol & Drugs5 titles8–34 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all films

Frightening / Intense6 titles33–58 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all films

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Akira Toriyama work with?

People who share at least 2 of Akira Toriyama's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Masako Nozawa shares the most, 30.

Akira Toriyama

What are Akira Toriyama's films like?

Genres

Themes

What they feel like to watch

Moods and endings

Where can I watch Akira Toriyama's films?

Filmography

Career shape

Film career

By role

By decade

How do Akira Toriyama's films land?

Shape of the crowd

Is Akira Toriyama's work okay for kids?

Who does Akira Toriyama work with?

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers