Katsuhiro Otomo

Katsuhiro Otomo
Otomo in 2016
Born (1954-04-14) April 14, 1954 (age 70)
Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Area(s)Cartoonist, Writer
Notable works
Dōmu
Akira
Metropolis
Steamboy
Awards
Spouse(s)Yoko
ChildrenShohei Otomo

Katsuhiro Otomo (大友 克洋, Ōtomo Katsuhiro, born April 14, 1954) is a Japanese manga artist, screenwriter, animator, and film director. He is best known as the creator of Akira, both the original 1982 manga series and the 1988 animated film adaptation. He was decorated a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2005,[1] promoted to Officier of the order in 2014,[2] became the fourth manga artist ever inducted into the American Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 2012,[3] and was awarded the Purple Medal of Honor from the Japanese government in 2013.[4] Otomo later received the Winsor McCay Award at the 41st Annie Awards in 2014 and the 2015 Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême, the first manga artist to receive the award.[5][6] Otomo is married to Yoko Otomo. Together they have one child, a son named Shohei Otomo, who is also an artist.[7]

  1. ^ "Katsuhiro Otomo Receives Japan Medal with Purple Ribbon". Anime News Network. November 1, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
  2. ^ "Akira's Katsuhiro Otomo Announces Live-Action Film Plans". Anime News Network. December 14, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  3. ^ "ANIME NEWS: Katsuhiro Otomo inducted into Eisner's Hall of Fame". Asahi Shimbun. August 14, 2012. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  4. ^ "ANIME NEWS: 'Akira' creator Katsuhiro Otomo honored by government". Asahi Shimbun. November 13, 2013. Archived from the original on November 16, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  5. ^ "Annie Awards to honor animator Katsuhiro Otomo for career achievement". Los Angeles Times. January 31, 2014.
  6. ^ "Japan's Otomo first manga artist to win top French prize".
  7. ^ Bailey, John (November 21, 2017). "Tattooed sumo stars as artist Shohei Otomo brings his ballpoints to Melbourne". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved March 14, 2019.