Japanese Literary Awards

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Katsuhiro Otomo

おおとも かつひろ

Otomo Katsuhiro

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1954-04-14 （Hasama (Sakko/Hasama), Tome District, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
manga artist, film director, illustrator, designer
Active Years
1973-
Affiliations
Former member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ)
Memberships
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (former member; left by 2023)
Influenced By
Jean Giraud (Mœbius), H. R. Giger, Syd Mead, Akira Kurosawa, Sam Peckinpah, Osamu Tezuka, Shotaro Ishinomori
Influenced
Naoki Urasawa, Masamune Shirow, Dai Morimura, Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, Shohei Higashimoto, Akimi Yoshida

Education

Miyagi Prefectural Sanuma High School
Country: Japan

Awards

10th Japan Cartoonists Association Award (Excellence Award)
1981
Work: Doumu / I.N.R.I. etc.
Organization: Japan Cartoonists Association
Result: winner
Seiun Award (Comic)
1982
Work: Kibun wa Mou Sensou (Feeling Like War)
Organization: Seiun Awards (Japan)
Result: winner
4th Nihon SF Taisho (Japan SF Grand Prize)
1983
Work: Doumu
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ)
Result: winner
8th Kodansha Manga Award (General)
1984
Work: AKIRA
Category: 一般部門
Organization: Kodansha
Result: winner
Eisner Awards (multiple honours, Hall of Fame)
1992
Work: AKIRA (U.S. edition)
Organization: Eisner Awards (Comic Industry, USA)
Result: winner / Hall of Fame
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier)
2005
Organization: French Government
Result: recipient
Japan Media Arts Festival — Grand Prize (Animation)
2012
Work: SHORT PEACE (segment "Fireworks")
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan
Result: winner
Medal with Purple Ribbon
2013
Organization: Government of Japan (Cabinet Office)
Result: recipient
Annie Awards — Winsor McCay Award
2014
Category: lifetime achievement
Organization: ASIFA-Hollywood (Annie Awards)
Result: recipient
Angoulême International Comics Festival — Grand Prix
2015
Organization: Angoulême International Comics Festival
Result: winner
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Officier)
2019
Organization: French Government
Result: recipient

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

AKIRA

1983 science fiction, seinen manga 200 pages

Set in a near-future Neo-Tokyo, AKIRA is an ensemble SF epic where psychic powers, youth rebellion, and political conspiracy collide around the character Kaneda and the mysterious Akira.

urban collapsepsychic powersstate violenceyouth culture
Adaptations
  • [animated feature film] AKIRA (1988 film) / 大友克洋 (1988)
Translations
  • AKIRA (English edition)

Doumu (Childhood Dreams / Doumu)

1983 science fiction, short-story collection 120 pages

A linked set of short stories centered on psychic phenomena; the work blurs boundaries between mental and physical realities with unsettling imagery.

psychic powersreality vs. hallucinationalienation
Translations
  • Doumu (English edition)

Bibliography

  • Short Pieces
  • Highway Star
  • Hansel and Gretel
  • Kibun wa Mou Sensou
  • Doumu
  • AKIRA
  • Steamboy
  • SOS Dai-Tokyo Exploration Team

Adaptations

  • AKIRA (1988 animated film)
  • SHORT PEACE (2013 omnibus film)
  • Steamboy (2004 animated film)
  • Mushishi (2007 live-action film)

Translations of Works

  • AKIRA (English translation)
  • Doumu (English translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
detailed realistic depiction contrasted with large white spacecinematic camera-like panel compositionsemphasis on technical/mechanical detail
Recurring Motifs
urban and infrastructural collapsepsychic/extraordinary powersmachines and mechanicsyouth and violence

Legacy

Katsuhiro Otomo transformed Japanese manga aesthetics from the late 1970s/1980s onward. His realistic backgrounds and cinematic composition influenced many manga and animation creators worldwide. AKIRA became an internationally acclaimed landmark of Japanese animation.

Museums

  • Otomo Katsuhiro GENGA Exhibition Various locations across Japan Opened in 2012

Academic Societies

  • Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of Japan (former member)

Archives

  • Kodansha: Otomo The Complete Works archive (publication/archive)

In Popular Culture

  • Kaneda's bike from AKIRA has been frequently referenced or paid homage to in motor shows, films and music videos.
  • AKIRA continues to influence Hollywood and international creators.

Quotes

  • I've done what I thought was interesting.
    Source: Jiji Press (comment on receiving the Medal) (2013)

Trivia

  • Born in Tome District, Miyagi Prefecture (now Tome City)
  • Directed the 1988 theatrical anime adaptation of AKIRA
  • His GENGA exhibition displayed around 3,000 original drawings and donated part of proceeds to disaster-affected local groups