Editing Akira Toriyama (section)

== Early life ==
Akira Toriyama was born in the town of [[Kiyosu (town)|Kiyosu]], [[Aichi Prefecture]], Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/564176 |script-title=ja:鳥山明が急性硬膜下血腫で死去、68歳 |language=ja |work=[[Natalie (website)|Natalie]] |date=March 8, 2024 |access-date=March 12, 2024 |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308110839/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/564176 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Yoon |first1=John |last2=Notoya |first2=Kiuko |date=March 8, 2024 |title=Akira Toriyama, Creator of 'Dragon Ball,' Dies at 68 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/08/arts/akira-toriyama-dead.html |access-date=March 9, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=March 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309021221/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/08/arts/akira-toriyama-dead.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He had a younger sister.<ref name="Slump11">{{cite book |last=Toriyama|first=Akira|title=Dr. Slump, Volume 11 |year=2009 |publisher=Viz Media|isbn=978-1-4215-0635-7|pages=48, 64, 80, 110}}</ref> Toriyama drew pictures since a young age, mainly of the animals and vehicles that he was fond of. He related being blown away after seeing ''[[One Hundred and One Dalmatians]]'' (1961), and said he was drawn deeper into the world of illustration by hoping to draw pictures that good.<ref name="creation">{{cite book |last=Toriyama |first=Akira |title=[[Akira Toriyama's Manga Theater]] |year=2021 |publisher=[[Viz Media]] |isbn=978-1-9747-2348-5 |pages=22, 38, 99, 145, 191, 228, 280, 302, 348, 374}}</ref> He was shocked again in elementary school when he saw the [[manga]] collection of a classmate's older brother, and again when he saw a television set for the first time at a neighbor's house.<ref name="creation"/> He cited [[Osamu Tezuka]]'s ''[[Astro Boy]]'' (1952–1968) as the original source for his interest in manga.<ref name="Pafu">{{cite magazine |title=Mangaka Who's Who - Akira Toriyama |magazine=Pafu |publisher=Zassōsha |date=September 1980}}</ref> Toriyama recalled that when he was in elementary school all of his classmates drew imitating [[anime]] and manga, as a result of not having many forms of entertainment.<ref name="MoviesSpecials">{{cite book |title=DRAGON BALL 大全集 6: MOVIES & TV SPECIALS |language=ja |year=1995 |publisher=[[Shueisha]] |pages=212–216 |isbn=4-08-782756-9}}</ref> He believed that he began to advance above everyone else when he started drawing pictures of his friends.<ref name="MoviesSpecials"/> Despite being engrossed with manga in elementary school, Toriyama said he took a break from it in middle school, probably because he became more interested in films and TV shows.<ref name="creation"/> When asked if he had any formative experiences with ''[[tokusatsu]]'' entertainment, Toriyama said he enjoyed the ''[[Ultraman (1966 TV series)|Ultraman]]'' TV show and ''[[Gamera]]'' series of ''[[kaiju]]'' films.<ref name="Starlog">{{cite magazine |title=Akira Toriyama Interview |magazine=[[Monthly Starlog]]|issue=11|year=1980|publisher=Tsurumoto Room}}</ref> 

Toriyama said it was a "no-brainer" that he would attend a high school focused on creative design, but admitted he was more interested in having fun with friends.<ref name="creation"/> Although he still did not read much manga, he would draw one himself every once in a while. Despite his parents' strong opposition, Toriyama was confident about going into the work force upon graduation instead of continuing his education.<ref name="creation"/> He worked at an [[advertising agency]] in [[Nagoya]] designing posters for three years.<ref name="Slump11"/> Although Toriyama said he adapted to the job quickly, he admitted that he was often late because he was not a "morning person" and got reprimanded for dressing casually. Resenting the routine, he became sick of the environment and quit.<ref name="creation"/>