Akira Toriyama dead: Dragon Ball Z creator dies aged 68 after brain bleed as family hold secret funeral

THE creator of comic series Dragon Ball Z has died at the age of 68 after a bleed on the brain.

Akira Toriyama was one of the most influential and best-selling Japanese comics of all time.

AFP

Japanese manga artist Akira Toriyama[/caption]

Bird Studio - Toei Animation

Akira created Dragon Ball – a hugely popular comic series that spawned cartoon and film versions[/caption]

He died from an acute subdural hematoma, a type of bleeding near the brain, his studio said Friday.

Toriyama was the author of the hugely popular and influential titles Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z.

The series debuted in 1984 and led to cartoon and film versions.

Publishing house Shueisha said was “greatly saddened by the sudden news of his death”.

More to follow.