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Tatsuo Yoshida

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Tatsuo Yoshida
吉田 竜夫
Born
吉田 龍夫[a]

(1932-03-06)March 6, 1932
Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
DiedSeptember 5, 1977(1977-09-05) (aged 45)
Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Occupations
Years active1954-1977
Known forFounder of Tatsunoko Production
Notable workSpeed Racer, Casshern and Gatchaman series
Title
  • President of Tatsunoko Production
RelativesKenji Yoshida (brother)
Ippei Kuri (brother)
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Tatsuo Yoshida (吉田 竜夫, Yoshida Tatsuo, March 6, 1932 – September 5, 1977) was a Japanese manga artist, illustrator, as well as anime pioneer who founded the animation studio Tatsunoko Production as a businessman and the original author of many anime works.[1][2][3]

As the first president of Tatsunoko Production, Yoshida supported the dawn of Japanese animation by producing numerous hits such as Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, Hakushon Daimaō, and The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee.[2][4] He took on challenges that other animation studios did not, such as insisting on producing his own original animation that was not based on manga or novels, or creating American-style animation.[4][5][6] Character designs were also drawn in Yoshida's style, with a solid skeleton and intricate lines that were drawn with precision, influenced by American comic books, rather than the simplified, less-linear style that was mainstream in Japanese animation at the time, and this became the origin of Tatsunoko's designs.[4][5][6][b]

Biography

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Born in Kyoto in 1932 as the eldest son of the Yoshida family, Tatsuo grew up in the hardship of war-torn Japan.[1] His parents died shortly after the war, and he became a self-taught artist at an early age, supporting his family by drawing illustrations for newspapers and magazines and sketches for Kamishibai (paper plays).[7] After working for a local newspaper in Kyoto, he moved to Tokyo and began his career as a novel illustrator and E-monogatari[c] artist.[7] He made his debut in 1954, and after teaming up with Ikki Kajiwara in 1955, he continued to work mainly with him.

Around 1960, Yoshida changed his career to manga artist. His Champion Futoshi with Kajiwara and Shōnen Ninja-butai Gekkō, which he drew alone, were hits, and both were adapted into TV dramas. In particular, Ninja-butai Gekkō was broadcast for two years and a movie was produced, playing a role in Japan's ninja boom.

In October 1962, Yoshida founded Tatsunoko Production[d] with his two younger brothers, Kenji Yoshida, who managed his manga, and Toyoharu Yoshida (a.k.a. Ippei Kuri), who was working as a manga artist, and became its first president.[8][9] Initially, Tatsunoko was established as a production company specializing in manga, managing manga copyrights and assistants, but as Yoshida became interested in anime, the company began producing anime.[2][10]

In 1965, Tatsunoko Productions' first anime Space Ace was aired.[4][6] The second anime, Mach GoGoGo, an animated racing series, was aired in Japan and then shortly after in the U.S. under the title Speed Racer, where it achieved resounding success.[7][e]

He continued to produce anime works that have left their mark on Japanese animation history, including Gatchaman (also known as Battle of the Planets and G-Force: Guardians of Space), Casshan (also known as Neo-Human Casshern), Hurricane Polymar and Tekkaman: The Space Knight.[4][10]

In 1972, he won the 17th Shogakukan Manga Award for his manga The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee.[11]

On September 5, 1977, he died of liver cancer.[12] After his death, the presidency was taken over by his younger brother Kenji (from 1977 to 1987; chairman since 1995), followed by Ippei Kuri (since 1987), but they both left the company in 2005 when Tatsunoko became a subsidiary of major toy manufacturer Takara.

At the Tokyo Anime Awards held at the Tokyo International Anime Fair in 2005, he was awarded the Special Achievement Award as one of the 20 people who created Japanese animation.[1]

Main works

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Manga and illustrations

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Author Title Journal Publication period Remarks
Novels and E-monogatari[c]
Tatsuo Yoshida Jungle King Shōnen Gahō (Shōnen Gahōsha) November 1954 issue - April 1955 issue
Ikki Kajiwara (story) / Tatsuo Yoshida (illustration) Kōya no Kaidanji Shōnen Gahō (Shōnen Gahōsha) January 1955 issue First collaboration work with Ikki Kajiwara.
Ikki Kajiwara (story) / Tatsuo Yoshida (illustration) Shōnen Proresu Ō Tetsuwan Rikiya "Bōken Ō" (Akita Shoten) March 1955 issue - December 1957 issue
Ikki Kajiwara (story) / Tatsuo Yoshida (illustration) Shōnen Proresu Ō Omoshiro Book (Shueisha) November-December 1955 issue
Ikki Kajiwara (story) / Tatsuo Yoshida (illustration) Lou Thesz Monogatari Omoshiro Book (Shueisha) November 1955 issue
Ikki Kajiwara (story) / Tatsuo Yoshida (illustration) Proresu Gorō Omoshiro Book (Shueisha) January 1956 issue - July 1957 issue
Takehiko Takeda (idea) / Tatsuo Yoshida (illustration) Sekai Shōnentai Omoshiro Book (Shueisha) August 1957 issue -
Ikki Kajiwara (story) / Tatsuo Yoshida (illustration) Tatsumaki Sanshirō Shōnen (Kobunsha) January 1957 - June 1957 issue
Ikki Kajiwara (story) / Tatsuo Yoshida (illustration) Ōzora Kōshinkyoku Shōnen extra edition (Kobunsha) January 1957 New Year Special Issue
Ikki Kajiwara (story) / Tatsuo Yoshida (illustration) Byakko Daisuke Bokura (Kodansha) January - December 1958 issue
Manga
Ichiro Miyagawa (original story) / Tatsuo Yoshida (manga) Super Giant Bokura (Kodansha) August 1959 issue - June 1961 issue Manga version of Japan's first Tokusatsu superhero live-action movie Super Giant. After being adapted into a comic by Jiro Kuwata, Daiji Kazumine, and Masamichi Yokoyama, he wrote an original story for the manga.
DC Comics (original) / Tatsuo Yoshida (manga) Superman Shōnen Gahō (Shōnen Gahōsha) May 1960 issue - October 1960 issue Japanese version of the American comic book Superman franchise.
Ikki Kajiwara (story) / Tatsuo Yoshida (art) Champion Futoshi Weekly Shōnen Magazine (Kodansha) 1962 No. 1 - 1963 No. 52 Ikki Kajiwara's debut work as a manga author.
Asao Takamori[f] (Story) / Tatsuo Yoshida (Art) 0-sen champion Bokura (Kodansha) August 1962-September 1963 Boxing manga.
Tatsuo Yoshida Shōnen Ninja-butai Gekkō Weekly Shōnen King (Shōnen Gahōsha) 1963 No. 1 - 1965 No. 10 Original of the Tokusatsu TV series Phantom Agents (a.k.a. Ninja Squad Moonlight).
Asao Takamori[f] (story) / Tatsuo Yoshida (art) Ōzora Sanshirō Bokura (Kodansha) October 1963 - August 1964
Ikki Kajiwara (story) / Tatsuo Yoshida (art) Harris Mudan Weekly Shōnen Magazine (Kodansha) 1963 No. 51 - 1965 No. 15
Tatsuo Yoshida Space Ace Shōnen Book (Shueisha) July 1964 issue - May 1966 issue Comic adaptation of Tatsunoko Production's first TV animation series Space Ace.
Tatsuo Yoshida[g]. Pilot A (Ace) Shōnen Gahō (Shōnen Gahōsha) November 1960 issue - April 1964 issue A car racing manga, which, along with Mach Sanshirō, was the basis for Tatsunoko Productions' anime Mach GoGoGo.[13]
Minoru Kume (story) / Ippei Kuri (art) / Tatsuo Yoshida (composition) Mach Sanshirō Weekly Shōnen Magazine (Kodansha) 1960 No. 8 - 1961 No. 52 A motorcycle racing manga, which, along with Pilot A, was the basis for Tatsunoko Productions' anime Mach GoGoGo.[13] The radio drama adaptation was produced under the sponsorship of Kodansha and Tohatsu, the leading Japanese motorcycle manufacturer at the time.
Tatsuo Yoshida & Tatsunoko Production Mach GoGoGo Shōnen Book (Shueisha) June 1966 issue - May 1968 issue Comic adaptation of Tatsunoko Productions' anime work of the same title.
Tatsuo Yoshida & Tatsunoko Production Kurenai Sanshirō Weekly Shōnen Jump (Shueisha) 1969 No. 10-13 While Ippei Kuri's manga of the same title is the original work of the Tatsunoko Productions' anime Judo Boy (a.k.a. Kurenai Sanshirō), this is a comic adaptation of the same anime.
Tatsuo Yoshida & Tatsunoko Production The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee Comic adaptation of Tatsunoko Productions' anime work of the same title.

Anime

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Notes and references

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Notes

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  1. ^ The pronunciation is the same.
  2. ^ However, it was difficult for other animators to follow his drawings, creating problems with the studio's schedule. Therefore, it was decided to include comedy animations designed with simple lines in the production rotation, and as a result, the range of Tatsunoko's style was broadened.[4][5][6]
  3. ^ a b Novel-like book with a high percentage of illustrations.
  4. ^ The studio's name has a double Japanese meaning of "Tatsu's child" and "sea dragon", which was the inspiration for its seahorse logo.
  5. ^ At the time, Japan was still broadcasting in black and white, but Tatsunoko produced Mach GoGoGo in color from the beginning for broadcast in the United States.[9]
  6. ^ a b Ikki Kajiwara's pen name.
  7. ^ Yoshida's own brother, Kenji Yoshida, was credited as the original author from 1961 under the pen name Kenji Maruyama
  8. ^ Theme song Mach Go Go Go Go.
  9. ^ Credited jointly with Takashi Yomitsu and Akira Ugaki.
  10. ^ Credited jointly with Sadao Miyamoto and Ippei Kuri.
  11. ^ Credited jointly with Ippei Kuri and Yoshitaka Amano.
  12. ^ He died during the broadcast, so the credit changed to Kenji Yoshida, who took over the role midway through.
  13. ^ a b c Credited jointly with Yoshitaka Amano
  14. ^ His name is not credited.
  15. ^ Episodes 1-36. He died during the broadcast, so Kenji Yoshida took over the role, but his name remained in the credits.
  16. ^ a b He died just before the broadcast began, but his credits remained the same.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "2044年03月06日 (日) - 今日は何の日?" [Sunday, March 6, 2044 - What day is it today?]. CDJournal Web (in Japanese). CD Journal Co., Ltd. March 3, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "マンガ、特撮はすぐ浮かぶけど? アニメ界で「神様」と呼ばれる偉人とは" [Everyone can immediately think of great figures called "Gods" in the manga and Tokusatsu worlds, but what about in the anime world?]. Magmix (in Japanese). Media Vague. May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  3. ^ Green, Marcel (May 3, 2022). "Speed Racer Creator's Superman Manga Introduced the Man of Steel to Japan". ScreenRant.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Kawabe, Minako (September 21, 2022). "タツノコプロ60周年の軌跡【前編】創立から3年経って完成した第1作『宇宙エース』" [Tatsunoko Productions 60th anniversary trajectory [Part 1] The first work “Space Ace” completed 3 years after its founding]. News Post Seven (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Motoki, Kurata (July 30, 2017). "「ハクション大魔王」「タイムボカン」「Infini-T Force」……タツノコプロ創立55年の軌跡をたどる特別展が開催中!" ["Hakushon Daimaou", "Time Bokan", "Infini-T Force"...A special exhibition tracing the history of Tatsunoko Production's founding 55 years is currently being held!]. GetNavi (in Japanese). ONE PUBLISHING Co.,Ltd. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Sudo, Tadashi (December 27, 2018). "タツノコプロに訊く! 「ガッチャマン」から「キンプリ」まで、伝統と新しさでアニメシーンを牽引【インタビュー】" [Ask Tatsunoko Production! From "Gatchaman" to "Kinpuri", leading the anime scene with tradition and newness [Interview]]. Sankei News (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d "GATCHAMAN! The story of Tatsuo Yoshida and his greatest creation". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
  8. ^ "タツノコプロ元社長・吉田豊治さん死去 83歳 『ガッチャマン』『みなしごハッチ』『マッハGoGoGo』などに参加" [Former president of Tatsunoko Production, Toyoharu Yoshida, dies at age 83. Participated in "Gatchaman, "Orphaned Hatch, "Mach GoGoGo", etc.]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. July 20, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "タツノコプロ3代目社長が逝去「マッハGoGoGo」はアメリカに売るためにカラー制作した" [The third generation president of Tatsunoko Production passes away. Mach GoGoGo was produced in color to be sold to the United States]. Weekly Asahi Geinō (in Japanese). Tokuma Shoten. July 21, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Kikuchi, Takeaki (October 15, 2017). "みなしごハッチ、ガッチャマン…タツノコプロ55周年「アニメ経験者は一人もいなかった」" [Orphaned Hatch, Gatchaman...Tatsunoko Productions 55th Anniversary Not a single person had experience in anime]. Aera (in Japanese). The Asahi Shimbun Company. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  11. ^ "小学館漫画賞：歴代受賞者" [Shogakukan Manga Award: Previous winners]. Shogakukan Comics (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  12. ^ Jason Hofius; George Khoury (December 2002). G-Force Animated. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 10. ISBN 9781893905184.
  13. ^ a b Mishina, Takashi (April 17, 2021). "「マッハGoGoGo」の原点 謎のライバルたちと命懸けのレース「パイロットA」" [The origin of "Mach GoGoGo" A life-threatening race with mysterious rivals “Pilot A”]. zakzak (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. Retrieved May 1, 2024.

Further reading

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Preceded by
Position Founded
 President of Tatsunoko Production
1962 - 1977 		Succeeded by
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