Katsuhiro Ōtomo is an artist who changed the history of manga and anime with AkiraA work of science fiction set in a post-apocalyptic future that has become a reference in the genre.
Its creator developed many other works throughout his career that are also worth highlighting, although during the last decade he has been away from the media and we have not received new works signed by him.
Katsuhiro Ōtomo’s early influences
Katsuhiro Ōtomo was born in April 1954 in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, in a rural region that left him many dead moments during his childhood, opening the doors to the world of manga in search of entertainment, both through reading, writing and drawing.
Among his first references in the world of manga were works such as AstroBoy by Osamu Tezuka or Tetsujin 28-go of Mitsuteru Yokoyamatwo science fiction works aimed at young audiences framed in the genre shōnen .
During school, his passion for cinema also awakened in him, and the two worlds would end up having a strong impact on his career, merging to make him a mangaka at the same time as a reference filmmaker.
What happened to Katsuhiro Otomo
Katsuhiro Otomo He began working as a mangaka professionally at the age of 19, since his first publication, A weapons report1973. This work was followed by several short stories published in the magazine Weekly manga actionand his introduction to the universe of science fiction that he enjoyed so much with fireball (1979).
Just before I see the light Akira, Nightmares (Domu)which began to be published in 1980, was one of his most successful first works and was on the verge of making the leap to cinema several times with filmmakers such as David Lynch or Guillermo del Toro, but this never happened.
In 1982, Katsuhiro Ōtomo began publishing AkiraThe culminating work of his career and an undisputed reference in global manga. The series had a total of six volumes and its publication ended in 1990.
In the same year that Akira saw the light, its author debuted as a character designer in a feature-length anime film, which encouraged him to start developing his own projects as a film director.
Thus, in 1987, it was launched Neo-Tokyo (Labyrinth of Stories)an animation anthology in which the creator of Akira he directed, wrote and drew one of its three stories: Suspended worksto which was added his next participation in a film directed by different artists: Robot Carnival (1987).
A year later, after his proven experience as a director of anime short films, Katsuhiro Ōtomo made the leap to feature film with the adaptation of his magnum opus: Akira (1988).
Katsuhiro Ōtomo after Akira
After carrying out the film of Akira, Katsuhiro Ōtomo opted for the real image with the ribbon Horror in the world apartment (1991), although he soon returned to animation through Rojin Z (Roujin Z) (1991) and Memories (1995).
The latter was a new anthology by the filmmaker, although on this occasion he acted as executive producer and creator of the three stories we see in it, as well as director of one of the shorts.
Yes, ok Fritz Lang changed the history of cinema with the German expressionist film Metropolis (1927), Katsuhiro Ōtomo wanted to do the same with his anime adaptation, made by Rintarofor which he wrote his script based on the original manga by Osamu Tezukathe creator of AstroBoy.
However, his next big directorial project was the science fiction film steam boy (2004), his most recent anime feature as director to date, although he promises not to be his last.
In 2006, the director of Akira returned to the real image to stay behind the cameras Mushishithe live action adaptation of the manga Yuki Urushibara which was also brought into anime.
Meanwhile, he continued publishing new manga that were brought to the screen, such as SOS! Tokyo Metro Explorers: Next (2007) or Hipira: The Little Vampire (2009).
In 2013, Katsuhiro Ōtomo debuted his latest work known: Short peacea new compilation of short films in which he participated with the title Fuel.
Katsuhiro Otomo today
Of Short PeaceŌtomo did not publish any manga or films again, despite announcing that year that he was working on his first full manga since Akiraand in 2018 he reminded us that the project was still ongoing, although it took longer than expected.
“Yes, I think It’s getting harder and harder to become a director in Japan“, said Katsuhiro Ōtomo in a 2012 interview. “Nowadays it’s not easy to get sponsorship from the business world to create animation.”
On the other hand, in 2019 Katsuhiro Ōtomo announced his next feature film excited as director and screenwriter: Orbital Erabased on his manga of the same name published in 2001.
The film will tell us about a group of young people who survive in a space colony under construction. Of its film adaptation we were able to see a brief teaser and its first promotional poster, although it has not yet been revealed when this project was carried out in collaboration with Sunrise.
In the same 2012 interview, Katsuhiro Ōtomo admitted, “I feel like I’m getting older, but I still have a lot of things I want to create.. However, lately I started to feel the passing of the years. Except when I drink, then I feel full of energy (laughs).”
Now that you know what What was Katsuhiro Ōtomo?we invite you to meet some celebrities such as David Hasselhoff, protagonist of The fantastic car and Baywatch or Scott Eastwood, son of Clint Eastwood who appeared in Grand Turin but he wanted to separate himself from his father.
Every week we will publish new stories about other mythical stars whose lives also took an unexpected turn, such as Katsuhiro Ōtomo, the creator of Akira who still has many projects in mind.
Get to know how we work in HobbyConsoles.
About The Author
