Katsuhiro Otomo -Katsuhiro Otomo is one of Japan's most highly influential directors. Though he is most recognized for his many animated works involving science fiction themes, as well as many works which are regarded as both technological and visual masterpieces; his works vary in many different genres and levels of achievment. Otomo was born in April of 1954, in the heart of Japan's Miyago district; home to some of Japan's agricultural fishing areas. An area which lied 400 kilometers north east of Tokyo. While growing up, Otomo attended "Sanuma High School". Otomo almost immediatly began work as a comic strip artist, in various local papers and other short comic stories. His very first highly regarded work however, was a short story called "Fireball". It first began to be published in 1979, though it attained little commercial circulation. Later, Otomo went on to produce "Domu", which became an instant hit. Otomo recieved the "Japan's Science Fiction Grand Prize" for his works on "Domu". With the success of "Domu" at hand, Otomo began his works on "Akira". A series of 2000 pages created over the course of ten-years converted into six volumes. It was an instant phenonmenon which sky-rocketed the young artist's career as a comic icon. Akira was later transformed into a motion picture, which came known to be one of the most monumental and visionary films in anime history. Otomo continued his works on animated projects such as "Memories", and continues to make films to this day. Some of his other works include "Roujin Z", Several short films co-directed by the renowned "Hirosugu Kawasaki", whom co-directed "Spriggan" with Otomo; and the acclaimed anime thriller "Perfect Blue". Back To Main Page