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==Career== ===Manga=== On October 4, 1973, Otomo published his first work, a manga adaptation of [[Prosper Mérimée]]'s short story ''[[Mateo Falcone]]'', titled ''A Gun Report''.<ref name="EGWC">{{cite book |last=Brooks |first=Brad |author2=Tim Pilcher |title=The Essential Guide to World Comics |publisher=Collins & Brown |location=London |year=2005 |page=[https://archive.org/details/essentialguideto0000pilc/page/103 103] |isbn=1-84340-300-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/essentialguideto0000pilc/page/103}}</ref> In 1979, after writing multiple short-stories for the magazine ''[[Weekly Manga Action]]'', Otomo created his first science-fiction work, titled ''[[Fireball (manga)|Fireball]]''. Although the manga was never completed, it is regarded as a milestone in Otomo's career as it contained many of the same themes he would explore in his later, more successful manga such as ''[[Domu: A Child's Dream|Dōmu]]''. ''Dōmu'' began serialization in January 1980 and ran until July 1981. It was not published in book form until 1983, when it won the [[Nihon SF Taisho Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sfwj.or.jp/list.e.html |title= Nihon SF Taisho Award Winners List|publisher= Science Fiction Writers of Japan|access-date=2010-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919212204/http://old.sfwj.jp/list.e.html|archive-date=2020-09-19}}</ref> It also won the 1984 [[Seiun Award]] for Best Comic.<ref name="Seiun">{{cite web|title=星雲賞リスト|url=http://www.sf-fan.gr.jp/awards/list.html|work=[[Nihon SF Taikai]]|language=Japanese|access-date=2021-10-15}}</ref> In a collaboration with writer Toshihiko Yahagi, Otomo illustrated ''Kibun wa mō Sensō'' about a fictional war that erupts in the border between China and the Soviet Union. It was published in ''Weekly Manga Action'' from 1980 to 1981 and collected into one volume in 1982. It won the 1982 Seiun Award for Best Comic.<ref name="Seiun"/> 38 years later, the two created the one-shot sequel ''Kibun wa mō Sensō 3 (Datta Kamo Shirenai)'' for the April 16, 2019 issue of the magazine.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-04-02/akira-katsuhiro-otomo-draws-new-kibun-wa-mo-senso-1-shot-after-38-years/.145295|title=Akira's Katsuhiro Otomo Draws New Kibun wa mō Sensō 1-Shot After 38 Years |work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2019-04-12|access-date=2021-09-06}}</ref> Also in 1981, Otomo drew ''A Farewell to Weapons'' for the November 16 issue of [[Kodansha]]'s ''[[Young Magazine]]''. It was later included in the 1990 short story collection ''Kanojo no Omoide...''<ref name="farewell">{{cite news|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2013/11/05-1/katsuhiro-otomo-draws-new-cover-for-his-a-farewell-to-arms-manga|title=Katsuhiro Otomo Draws New Cover for His "A Farewell to Arms" Manga |work=[[Crunchyroll]]|date=2013-11-05|access-date=2021-09-06}}</ref> [[Image:FIBD2016Otomo01.jpg|right|thumb|Otomo posing on a replica of a futuristic motorcycle seen in his series ''Akira'' (2016)]] In 1982, Otomo began what would become his most acclaimed and famous work: ''[[Akira (manga)|Akira]]''. Kodansha had been asking him to write a series for their new ''Young Magazine'' for some time, but he had been busy with other work. From the first meeting with the publisher, ''Akira'' was to be only about ten chapters "or something like that," so Otomo said he was really not expecting it to be a success.<ref name="Forbes"/> It was serialized for eight years and 2000 pages of artwork. In 1990, Otomo did a brief interview with [[MTV]] for a general segment on the Japanese manga scene at the time.<ref>{{Citation|title=MTV spotlights Japanese comics (1990)| date=May 30, 2008 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e3rz4gbaB0| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/5e3rz4gbaB0| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|language=en|access-date=2019-11-18}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Otomo created the one-shot ''Hi no Yōjin'' about people who put out fires in Japan's [[Edo period]] for the debut issue of ''Comic Cue'' in January 1995.<ref name="combust">{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-03-10/akira-otomo-makes-hi-no-yojin/combustible-anime-short|title=Akira's Otomo Makes "Hi no Yōjin/Combustible" Anime Short |work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2012-03-10|access-date=2021-09-06}}</ref> Otomo wrote the 2002 picture book ''[[Hipira: The Little Vampire]]'', which was illustrated by Shinji Kimura.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-12-10/otomo-hipira/the-little-vampire-book-gets-tv-anime|title=Otomo's Hipira: The Little Vampire Book Gets TV Anime |work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2009-12-10|access-date=2021-09-06}}</ref> Otomo created the full-color work ''DJ Teck no Morning Attack'' for the April 2012 issue of ''Geijutsu Shincho''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2012/03/25/creator-of-akira-reveals-new-shonen-manga-serialization-plans|title=Creator of "Akira" Reveals New Shonen Manga Serialization Plans |work=[[Crunchyroll]]|date=2012-03-25|access-date=2021-09-06}}</ref> Following the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]], Otomo, a native of the Tōhoku region, designed a [[relief]] that features a boy riding a robot goldfish in rough seas, while flanked by [[Fūjin]] and [[Raijin]]. Intended to capture the region's will to overcome the natural disaster, it has been located on the first floor of the terminal building at [[Sendai Airport]] since March 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201502040055|title=Giant 'recovery' artwork by 'Akira' creator Otomo unveiled for public|work=[[The Asahi Shimbun]]|date=2015-02-04|access-date=2021-09-06 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707004940/http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201502040055 |archivedate=2015-07-07}}</ref> Otomo was initially reported in 2012 to be working on his first long-form manga since ''Akira''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.otakuusamagazine.com/akiras-katsuhiro-otomo-working-on-new-manga/|title=Akira's Katsuhiro Otomo Working on New Manga|website=[[Otaku USA]]|date=2012-03-26 |access-date=2019-11-18}}</ref> Planning to draw the work that is set during Japan's [[Meiji period]] without assistants, he was initially targeting a younger audience, but said the story had developed more towards an older one. Although planned to begin in fall 2012, Otomo revealed in November of that year that the series had been delayed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-11-05/akira-otomo-delays-new-manga-series|title=Akira's Otomo Delays New Manga Series |work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2012-11-05|access-date=2021-09-04}}</ref> By 2018, Otomo said he was doing a full-length work, but the contents were still secrets.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2018-11-13/akira-creator-katsuhiro-otomo-continues-work-on-new-full-length-manga/.139385|title=Akira Creator Katsuhiro Otomo Continues Work on New Full-Length Manga |work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2018-11-13|access-date=2021-09-04}}</ref> In 2022, Kodansha released Otomo's entire body of manga since 1971 as part of "The Complete Works Project," which featured six separate releases of two books each. It was noted that some of his manga were edited when initially compiled into book format, and this new project, personally overseen by Otomo, restored them to how they appeared in their original serialization.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://halcyonrealms.com/books/katsuhiro-otomo-the-complete-works-pre-orders-have-began/|title=Katsuhiro Otomo "The Complete Works" Pre-orders Have Began|work=|date=2021-11-23|access-date=2022-01-09}}</ref> ===Film=== At the age of 25, Otomo spent about 5 million yen to make a [[16 mm film|16 mm]] live-action film about an hour long. He said that making this private film showed him roughly how to make and direct movies.<ref name="Forbes"/> In 1982, Otomo made his [[anime]] debut, working as character designer for the animated film ''[[Genma Taisen#Anime film|Harmagedon: Genma Wars]]''. It was while working on this film that Otomo began to think he could do it by himself.<ref name="Forbes"/> In 1987, Otomo directed an animated work for the first time: a segment, which he also wrote the screenplay and drew animation for, in the anthology feature ''[[Neo Tokyo (film)|Neo Tokyo]]''. He followed this up with two segments in another anthology released that year, ''[[Robot Carnival]]''. In 1988, he directed the [[Akira (1988 film)|animated film adaptation]] of his manga ''Akira''. Otomo was executive producer of 1995's ''[[Memories (1995 film)|Memories]]'', an anthology film based on three of his stories. Additionally, he wrote the script for ''Stink Bomb'' and ''Cannon Fodder'', the latter of which he also directed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-11-02/autralia-siren-visual-to-release-otomo-memories-blu-ray/.80601|title=Australia's Siren Visual to Release Otomo's Memories Blu-ray |work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2014-11-02|access-date=2021-09-06}}</ref> Otomo has worked extensively with the studio [[Sunrise (company)|Sunrise]]. In 1998, he directed the [[3D computer graphics|CG]] short ''Gundam: Mission to the Rise'' to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their ''[[Gundam]]'' franchise.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-09-26/gundam-40th-anniversary-promotional-anime-teased-for-this-winter/.151602|title=Gundam 40th Anniversary Promotional Anime Teased for This Winter |work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2019-09-26|access-date=2021-09-06}}</ref> The studio has animated and produced his 2004 feature film ''[[Steamboy]]'', 2006's ''[[Freedom Project]]'', and 2007's ''SOS! Tokyo Metro Explorers: The Next''. The last, is based on Otomo's 1980 manga ''SOS! Tokyo Metro Explorer'' and follows the son of its main characters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-11-14/sos-tokyo-metro-explorers-website-trailer-launched|title=SOS! Tokyo Metro Explorers Website, Trailer Launched |work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2007-11-14|access-date=2021-09-06}}</ref> The 2001 animated film ''[[Metropolis (2001 film)|Metropolis]]'' features a script written by Otomo that adapts Tezuka's manga of [[Metropolis (manga)|the same name]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-07-29/new-movie-from-katsuhiro-otomo-and-rin-taro|title=New movie from Katsuhiro Otomo and Rin Taro |work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2000-07-29|access-date=2021-09-06}}</ref> Otomo directed the 2006 live-action film ''[[Mushishi (film)|Mushishi]]'', based on [[Yuki Urushibara]]'s manga of [[Mushishi|the same name]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-12-14/akira-katsuhiro-otomo-announces-live-action-film-plans/.82150|title=Akira's Katsuhiro Otomo Announces Live-Action Film Plans |work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2014-12-14|access-date=2021-09-06}}</ref> In 2013, Otomo took part in ''[[Short Peace]]'', an anthology consisting on 4 short films; he directed ''Combustible'', a tragic love story set in the Edo period based on his 1995 manga ''Hi no Yōjin'',<ref name="combust"/> while [[Hajime Katoki]] directed ''A Farewell to Weapons'', depicting a battle in a ruined Tokyo based on Otomo's 1981 manga of the same name.<ref name="farewell"/> ''Combustible'' won the Grand Prize in the Animation category of the [[Japan Media Arts Festival]] in 2012,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://the-japan-news.com/|title=The Japan News|last=Shimbun|first=The Yomiuri|website=The Japan News|language=en|access-date=2019-11-18}}</ref> and was even shortlisted for the 2013 [[Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film|Best Animated Short]] at the [[85th Academy Awards]]. Otomo directed the music video for [[Aya Nakano]]'s 2016 song "Juku-Hatachi".<ref name="Aya">{{cite news|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/190779|title=大友克洋が初めて実写MVの監督に、なかの綾のアルバム曲で|work=[[Natalie (website)|Natalie]]|date=2016-06-14|access-date=2021-09-27}}</ref> He is a fan of the singer and previously drew the cover to her 2014 album ''Warui Kuse''.<ref name="Aya"/> Reports have suggested that Otomo will be the executive producer of the live-action film adaptation of ''Akira''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/21/live-action-akira-movie-coming-dicaprio-and-otomo-signed-on-to/|title=Live action Akira movie coming, DiCaprio and Otomo signed on to produce|website=Autoblog|date=February 21, 2008 |language=en|access-date=2019-11-18}}</ref> In 2019, he announced that he is writing and directing an animated film adaptation of his 2001 manga ''Orbital Era'' with Sunrise and released a trailer that same year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-07-04/akira-katsuhiro-otomo-reveals-orbital-era-film-with-sunrise/.148646|title=Akira's Katsuhiro Otomo Reveals Orbital Era Film With Sunrise |work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2019-07-04|access-date=2021-09-06}}</ref>
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