Katsuhiro Otomo

Katsuhiro Otomo is a manga artist and film director whose Akira became a landmark in science-fiction comics and animation. Beginning as a serial in 1982, the manga constructed Neo-Tokyo through dense architectural drawing, kinetic action and a sustained account of political power, youth revolt and catastrophic technology.

Otomo also directed the animated feature adapted from the work, giving its imagery a second, globally influential form. Kodansha describes Akira as an enduring touchstone for artists, writers and filmmakers and identifies Otomo as creator of the manga and director of the film.