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Ippei Kuri
Ippei Kuri
Ippei Kuri
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Toyoharu Yoshida (Japanese: 吉田豊治, Hepburn: Yoshida Toyoharu; January 1, 1940 – July 1, 2023), better known as Ippei Kuri (九里一平, Kuri Ippei), was a Japanese manga artist and the third president of animation production company Tatsunoko Production.[1]

Key Information

History

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Ippei Kuri was born Toyoharu Yoshida on January 1, 1940, in Kyoto. As a child, he read comics such as Superman that were discarded by American troops stationed in Japan during the Allied occupation following World War II. Kuri stated he wanted to make a manga like that when he grew up. This had an influence on his manga and anime character design style.[2] He attended Kyoto Municipal Rakuyō High School (now Kyoto Municipal Rakuyō Technical High School), but left in 1958 before graduating to join his older brother Kenji in Tokyo to work as a manga artist.[3]

Kuri worked as an assistant for his older brother Tatsuo, who was already a successful illustrator and manga artist. Kuri made his manga debut in 1959 with Abare Tengu (あばれ天狗; lit. Raging Crow Goblin), published as an akahon and in the Japanese magazine Z-Boy from Shueisha. From 1960 to 1961, Kuri worked on Mach Sanshirō (マッハ三四郎, Mahha Sanshirō) with creator Minoru Kume. In 1962, Kuri co-founded the animation production company Tatsunoko Production with his brothers, Kenji and Tatsuo. Thereafter, he worked in many roles, including as an animation producer, in planning and design, and as a director.

Kuri was appointed the managing director of Tatsunoko Production subsidiary Anime Friend in 1977. In 1987, due to his brother Kenji's retirement, Kuri became the president of Tatsunoko Production. Anime Friend was dissolved in 1990. When Tatsunoko Production became a subsidiary of the major toy manufacturer Takara on July 1, 2005, Kuri stepped down as president. The Yoshida brothers' involvement in the company then became very limited.

At the 10th Animation Kobe event in October 2005, Kuri was awarded the special award for lifetime contributions to anime as a general producer at Tatsunoko Production.[4] Kuri served as a guest professor at the Kyoto University of Arts and Crafts.[5]

Ippei Kuri died on July 1, 2023, at the age of 83.[1] His family held a private funeral on July 10.[6]

Works

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Listed in chronological order.

Manga

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  • Mach Sanshirō (マッハ三四郎, Mahha Sanshirō) with Minoru Kume [ja] (1960–1961)
  • Heaven's Oath (大空のちかい, Ōzora no Chikai) (1962–1964, Weekly Shōnen Sunday, Shueisha)
  • Judo Boy (writer, 1961–1962, Shōnen Book, Shueisha)
  • Bullet Boy (弾丸児, Danganji) (1967–1968, Weekly Shonen Sunday, Shueisha)
  • Judo Boy (writer, 1968–1969, Weekly Shōnen Sunday and Weekly Shōnen Jump, Shueisha)
  • Fighter Ken (ファイター健, Faitā Ken)
  • Oath of Allah (アラーの誓い, Arā no Chikai)
  • Submariner 8823 (海底人8823, Kaiteijin Hayabusa)
  • Underwater Boys' Team (海洋少年隊, Kaiyō Shōnentai)
  • Messenger of Allah (Bōken-Ō, Akita Shoten)
  • Concentrated Darkness: Tsubanari Kenshirō, Ghost Killer (暗闇同心 鍔鳴剣屍郎 怨霊斬り, Kurayami Dōshin Tsubanari Kenshirō Onryōkiri)

Anime

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Books

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  • Kyoto Nights, Yesterday's Memories: The Me from Those Days Is Beckoning (京の夢、明日の思い出—あの頃のぼくに招かれて, Kyo no Yoru, Ashita no Omoide - Anokoro no Boku ni Manekarete) (November 2004, Kodansha, ISBN 4062126508)


References

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Ippei Kuri

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Ippei Kuri was a Japanese anime producer, character designer, director, manga artist, and studio executive best known as co-founder of Tatsunoko Production and for his contributions to series including Speed Racer and Science Ninja Team Gatchaman. Born Toyoharu Yoshida on January 1, 1940, in Kyoto, he was the youngest of three brothers and passed away on July 1, 2023, at age 83. Kuri co-founded Tatsunoko Production in October 1962 alongside his older brothers Tatsuo Yoshida and Kenji Yoshida. He held multiple creative and leadership roles throughout his career, including character designer on works such as Judo Boy, Gatchaman The Movie, and Robotech II: The Sentinels; director on Speed Racer and Judo Boy; and producer on Gatchaman, Samurai Pizza Cats, and Tekkaman Blade II. He served as CEO of Tatsunoko Production from 1987 until 2005.

Early life

Birth and family background

Ippei Kuri, born Toyoharu Yoshida on January 1, 1940, in Kyoto, Japan, was the youngest of three brothers. His older brothers were Tatsuo Yoshida (born 1932) and Kenji Yoshida (born 1935). Following Japan's defeat in World War II and the subsequent American occupation, American soldiers introduced comics to Japan, giving the Yoshida brothers their first exposure to works such as Superman by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, alongside Walt Disney productions. They were fascinated by the dynamic, action-packed storytelling in these comics, which influenced their interest in the medium. This early encounter with American superhero comics played a key role in shaping Ippei Kuri's artistic style. As the youngest sibling in the Yoshida family, his ties to his brothers Tatsuo and Kenji later contributed to their collaborative founding of Tatsunoko Production.

Move to Tokyo and manga beginnings

After stopping his studies in 1958, Ippei Kuri moved to Tokyo together with his brother Kenji Yoshida. As the youngest of the three Yoshida brothers, he relocated to assist his older brother Tatsuo Yoshida on manga production tasks. This assistance formed the foundation of his early career, as he gained practical experience while working alongside his brothers. Kuri transitioned toward independent work and made his professional manga debut in 1959. Prior to 1962, his efforts focused mainly on supporting his brothers' manga endeavors while establishing his own presence as a mangaka.

Manga career

Debut and early works

Ippei Kuri made his professional manga debut in 1959 with the one-shot Abare Tengu (あばれ天狗, lit. Raging Crow Goblin), published in Shueisha's Z-Boy magazine. The work also appeared as an akahon edition. This debut established Kuri in the manga industry during a period when he was transitioning from earlier creative efforts to serialized publications. In 1960, Kuri collaborated with Minoru Kume to launch the series Mach Sanshirō, which ran until 1961. The title featured a young protagonist with a strong bond to his motorcycle in racing-themed adventures and is regarded as a spiritual predecessor to the later Speed Racer concept without direct adaptation or conflation across media. From 1962 to 1964, Kuri serialized Ōzora no Chikai (大空の誓い, Heaven's Oath) in Weekly Shōnen Sunday. This war story manga built on his earlier experience with action-oriented narratives. These early titles from the late 1950s to early 1960s showcased Kuri's initial focus on adventure and dramatic storytelling in shōnen manga.

Notable manga titles

Ippei Kuri produced several notable manga titles primarily in the shōnen genre during the 1960s, featuring action, adventure, and sports themes. His prominent work Judo Boy was serialized from 1961 to 1962 and later revived from 1968 to 1969. Bullet Boy, also known as Danganji, ran in Weekly Shōnen Sunday from 1967 to 1968. Other key titles include Fighter Ken, Oath of Allah (Arā no Chikai), Submariner 8823 (Kaiteijin 8823), Underwater Boys' Team (Kaiyō Shōnentai), and Messenger of Allah (Arā no Shisha), many of which have seen complete edition reprints reflecting their lasting interest. In 2004, Kuri published the autobiographical book Kyoto Nights, Yesterday's Memories.

Tatsunoko Production

Co-founding the studio

Ippei Kuri, whose real name was Toyoharu Yoshida, co-founded Tatsunoko Production with his older brothers Tatsuo Yoshida and Kenji Yoshida on October 19, 1962. As the youngest of the three Yoshida brothers, Kuri contributed to the planning and setup of the studio, building on the family's established presence in manga. The founding was inspired by the success of Osamu Tezuka's animated works, prompting the brothers to transition from manga creation to television animation production. Tatsunoko Production began as an effort to create animation programs that would appeal to children around the world, guided by the philosophy of “Dreams for Children of the World.” The brothers' prior experience in manga provided the initial creative foundation for the company's shift into anime.

Creative and production roles

Ippei Kuri assumed a variety of hands-on creative and production roles at Tatsunoko Production, including planner, scriptwriter, executive producer, character designer, and producer across multiple anime projects during the 1960s and 1970s. In the mid-1960s, he contributed significantly to Space Ace (Uchū Ace, 1965–1966), serving as planner, scriptwriter, executive producer, and character designer. He later acted as executive producer on Speed Racer (Mach GoGoGo, 1967–1968). During the 1970s, Kuri produced Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (1972–1974) and Tekkaman (1975). He also handled planning and production duties for Time Bokan (1975–1976) and Yatterman (1977–1979), helping shape the comedic adventure style of the Time Bokan franchise.

Leadership at Tatsunoko

Managing director and presidency

Ippei Kuri assumed the position of managing director at Anime Friend, a subsidiary of Tatsunoko Production established for animation-related ventures, in 1977. He managed the subsidiary until its dissolution in 1990. Following the retirement of his brother Kenji Yoshida in 1987, Kuri succeeded him as the third president of Tatsunoko Production. He served in this role for nearly two decades, guiding the company through a period of continued production and industry evolution. Kuri stepped down as president in 2005 when Tatsunoko Production was acquired by toy manufacturer Takara, after which the company became a subsidiary and family involvement in management diminished.

Later involvement and transition

After stepping down as president of Tatsunoko Production in 2005 following the company's acquisition by Takara, Ippei Kuri's direct involvement with the studio diminished significantly. He later served as a guest professor at the Kyoto University of Arts and Crafts, where he delivered lectures and workshops drawing on his extensive experience in manga and animation production. In November 2014, he presented a special lecture and workshop at the university. On November 22, 2019, he gave another guest lecture in the first-year course "Shigoto-ron I," recounting his manga debut, the founding of Tatsunoko Production, and key works such as Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, followed by discussion of his creative activities as a manga artist after leaving the studio; the session concluded with a workshop providing direct feedback on students' character designs and manga works. From 2012 to 2014, Kuri maintained a personal blog where he shared images of his artwork and records of his public appearances. During his 2019 lecture, he also highlighted his ongoing manga creation, including the publication that year of his new long-form work Kurayami Dōshin Tsubanari Ken Shirō Onryō-giri.

Notable animation works

Major series and franchises

Ippei Kuri contributed significantly to several landmark anime franchises at Tatsunoko Production, often serving as producer, planner, or original creator on series that defined the studio's output in the 1960s through the 1990s. He was involved in the production of Speed Racer (Mach GoGoGo), which aired from 1967 to 1968 and became one of the earliest anime exports to gain widespread international popularity. Kuri served as producer on Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (Kagaku Ninja-tai Gatchaman), broadcast from 1972 to 1974, as well as its sequels Gatchaman II (1978) and Gatchaman F (1979), where he also handled planning responsibilities. He produced Casshan (Shinzou Ningen Casshern) from 1973 to 1974 and acted as original creator and producer for Uchuu no Kishi Tekkaman in 1975. These series exemplified Tatsunoko's signature blend of action, science fiction, and dynamic animation during the 1970s. In later years, Kuri executive produced revivals of his earlier creations, including Tekkaman Blade (Uchuu no Kishi Tekkaman Blade) from 1992 to 1993, where he served as chief production supervisor, and the 1993 OVA Casshan: Robot Hunter, where he was executive producer. He also held production and planning roles across entries in the long-running Time Bokan franchise, notably as producer on Yattodetaman (1981) and related series. Kuri additionally contributed to character design on several of his early major works.

Character design and original creations

Ippei Kuri's character designs are known for their bold, expressive lines, exaggerated proportions, and a distinctive blend of humor and heroism that became emblematic of Tatsunoko Production's output during the 1960s through 1980s. His approach often emphasized dynamic action poses, memorable silhouettes, and vibrant personalities that suited both dramatic and comedic storytelling in anime. Kuri handled character design duties on several key Tatsunoko series, starting with Space Ace (1965), where he shaped the visual identity of the young hero and supporting cast in one of the studio's inaugural television productions. He later designed characters for Toushi Gordian (1979), creating the transforming hero and his allies with a focus on knightly armor and weaponry. His designs for Muteking the Dancing Hero (1980) incorporated disco-inspired costumes and fluid movement to match the series' musical superhero premise. For Golden Warrior Gold Lightan (1981), Kuri developed anthropomorphic robot designs based on everyday lighters, giving the characters quirky yet heroic appearances. As an original creator and planner, Kuri conceived Tekkaman (1975), featuring a helmeted warrior in a tragic, high-stakes narrative involving alien invasion and personal sacrifice. Kuri also contributed to the planning and original concepts for the 1997 Mach GoGoGo remake, updating character aesthetics for the classic racing franchise. His early manga work, including titles like Mach Sanshirō, influenced these designs by emphasizing themes of speed and adventure.

Awards and recognition

Industry honors

Ippei Kuri received the Special Award at the 10th Animation Kobe on October 2, 2005, in recognition of his lifetime contributions as a producer at Tatsunoko Production. The honor, described as a lifetime achievement award, acknowledged his foundational role in the studio's development and its influential works in anime. This recognition came in the same year that he stepped down as president of Tatsunoko Production following the company's acquisition by Takara.

Death and legacy

Passing

Ippei Kuri passed away on July 1, 2023, at the age of 83. His real name was Toyoharu Yoshida. A private funeral attended only by close relatives was held on July 10, 2023, with the family politely declining condolence offerings and floral tributes. Tatsunoko Production issued an official announcement expressing gratitude for the kindness and support Kuri received throughout his lifetime.

Impact on anime industry

Ippei Kuri, as a co-founder of Tatsunoko Production, played a central role in establishing the studio's distinctive identity within the action and science fiction genres during the 1960s through the 1980s. Alongside his brothers, he contributed to character designs that featured idiosyncratic and more realistic elements, including a harder drawing style emphasizing texture and detail in objects and environments, which set Tatsunoko apart from softer, more fluid contemporary approaches. This visual and narrative direction helped Tatsunoko pioneer action-oriented superhero stories and innovative genre combinations that influenced the broader anime landscape of the era. Franchises originating from Tatsunoko, such as Speed Racer, Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, and the Time Bokan series, exemplified high-energy action and creative storytelling that resonated internationally. Speed Racer in particular became a landmark in global anime reception, serving as one of the first Japanese animated series to introduce the medium to American audiences as a classic Saturday morning cartoon, spawning merchandise, later adaptations, and enduring cultural presence. The Time Bokan lineage further advanced gag anime elements, including unique robot designs and lovable antagonist tropes, contributing to the diversity of anime output. Kuri's early career as a manga artist bridged manga roots and anime production at Tatsunoko, where the studio initially operated as a manga company before shifting focus, often adapting the founders' own manga properties into animation. This integration of manga techniques supported the studio's collaborative model and long-term influence. The work of Kuri and his siblings at Tatsunoko has been noted for standing the test of time and helping define several generations of the art form, with their overall impact on the Japanese animation industry described as difficult to overstate. In 2005, Kuri was honored with a special award at Animation Kobe for his lifetime contributions as a general producer at Tatsunoko.
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