Takashi Okazaki
Takashi Okazaki 岡崎 能士 | |
---|---|
![]() Okazaki at the 2018 WonderCon | |
Born | Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan | March 18, 1974
Nationality | Japanese |
Area(s) | Manga artist and author, visual designer, graphic designer |
Notable works | Afro Samurai Batman Ninja |
Awards | Primetime Emmy Award (nominated) |
Takashi Okazaki (岡崎 能士, Okazaki Takashi) (born March 18, 1974) is a Japanese manga artist, visual designer and graphic designer, most notable for writing and illustrating the manga series Afro Samurai.
Early life[]
Okazaki was born in Kanagawa Prefecture and graduated from the Tama University of the Arts.[1]
Career[]
Okazaki was one of four artists to debut in the self-published Nou Nou Hau manga magazine in November 1998. His first manga series, Afro Samurai, was first published as a dōjinshi in the preparatory issue zero of the magazine, and was featured as the cover.[2] Afro Samurai was serialized until the magazine's end in September 2002.[3] Afro Samurai was adapted into an anime miniseries and a sequel television film, Afro Samurai: Resurrection.[4][5] After the release of the anime series, Takashi Okazaki went back and recreated the original dōjinshi into a two-volume manga series which was released in the United States by Tor Books and Seven Seas Entertainment.[6] Also, the first volume has been released in Germany, the second to be released in August 2011.[needs update]
On November 23, 2004, Takashi Okazaki wrote and illustrated a 9-panel manga published in the pamphlet of the Blade: Trinity soundtrack.[7] Takashi Okazaki also illustrated the ending of the Cho-Kōryu-Gōjin Danke Choen (超交流合神ダンケシェーン) series serialized in a flyer handed out at the Japanese club "UNIT". Cho-Kōryu-Gōjin Danke Choen was created by Kugelblitz — a collaborative effort between Nou Nou Hau and the German comic magazine Moga Mobo.[8][9] Okazaki also designed the characters in The Game Baker's 2016 game, Furi. He is also credited as original character designer for the 2017 Garo: Vanishing Line anime.
In April 2020, Okazaki made his debut as a Marvel Comics cover artist for the re-launch of Werewolf By Night.[10] He has also created covers for multiple other Marvel titles, including Black Widow, Non-Stop Spiderman, Falcon & Winter Soldier, Iron Fist Heart of the Dragon, and Deadpool: Black, White & Blood.[11]
Bibliography[]
- Afro Samurai! (amateur comic, 1998–2002)
- 9-panel Blade:Trinity comic (2004)
- Cho-Kōryu-Gōjin Danke Choen (超交流合神ダンケシェーン) (2005)
- Afro Samurai Maniaxxx!!! (2007)
- Afro Samurai (recreation, 2008–2009)
- Summer Wars animated movie (character design, 2009)
- Izanagi Online mobile video game (character design, 2015)
- Furi video game (artistic director, 2016)
- Batman Ninja animated movie (character designer, 2018)
- Sound and Fury Netflix film (artistic director, 2019)
References[]
- ^ 木﨑文智監督、岡崎能士(原作者)インタビュー [Interview with director Kantoku Santoshi and Takashi Okazaki (the original author)] (in Japanese). Cinema Factory. October 28, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
- ^ "NOU NOU HAU vol.0". Kugelblitz. 2005–2006. Archived from the original (PHP) on July 13, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
- ^ "NOU NOU HAU vol.6". Kugelblitz. 2005–2006. Archived from the original (PHP) on July 13, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
- ^ "Funimation Acquires Afro Samurai". Anime News Network. February 27, 2006. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
- ^ "Afro Samurai: Resurrection Movie Debuts Sunday Night". Anime News Network. July 25, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2009.
- ^ "Tor Books Partners with Seven Seas to Form New Manga Imprint and Announces Publication of Afro Samurai". ComiPress. December 8, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
- ^ "Blade 3 OST to Include Anime". Anime News Network. November 1, 2004. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
- ^ "Cho-Kouryu-Goujin Danke Choen". Kugelblitz. 2005–2006. Archived from the original (PHP) on December 2, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ "KUGELBLITZ:DANK-SCHON unit magazine". Kugelblitz. 2005–2006. Archived from the original (PHP) on December 1, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
- ^ "Afro Samurai Creator Takashi Okazaki Makes His Marvel Debut With Werewolf by Night Cover". previewsworld.com. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
- ^ "Golden Apple Comics: TAKASHI OKAZAKI". Golden Apple Comics. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
External links[]
- Takashi Okazaki at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Manga artists
- Living people
- 1974 births
- Japanese graphic designers
- Manga artist stubs