Celebrated Manga Artist Focus of Nov. 19 On-Campus Lecture

Celebrated Manga Artist Focus of Nov. 19 On-Campus Lecture

University Libraries is hosting a special edition of Carlson Conversations Lecture Series to celebrate the life and works of Akira Toriyama on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m. in Carlson Library Room 2024. There also will be a showing of select episodes from Toriyama's catalog of work.

A prolific manga artist, Akira Toriyama, who died on March 1, created the popular "Dragon Ball" franchise, which has been featured as manga, anime and a live-action film. Timed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the initial publication of the original "Dragon Ball" manga on Nov. 20, 1984, the library's event will feature a lecture from Christopher Pickett, a part-time instructor in the Department of Art, detailing how the influence of anime laid the foundation for his own career, followed by a showing of selected anime from the "Dragon Ball" franchise, including the first episode of Akira Toriyama's last known work, "Dragon Ball Daima."

Titled "Art, Anime and Activism: How Anime Set a Stage to Stand Against Injustice," the lecture will discuss how the influence of anime laid the foundation for what would eventually lead to a Pickett's fulfilling career as an artist and educator and how it continues to inform his work today, despite the continued evolution and departure from its aesthetics.

An artist from Toledo, Pickett received his bachelor of fine arts degree from The University of Toledo and a master of fine arts in 2-D studies degree from Bowling Green State University.