lead=yes, better known as Kuri Ippei, was a Japanese manga artist and the third president of animation production company Tatsunoko Production.
History
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.
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 Yoshida in Tokyo to work as a manga artist.
Kuri worked as an assistant for his older brother Tatsuo Yoshida, who was already a successful illustrator and manga artist. Kuri made his manga debut in 1959 with lit. Raging Crow Goblin, published as an akahon and in the Japanese magazine Z-Boy from Shueisha. From 1960 to 1961, Kuri worked on 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.
Ippei Kuri died on July 1, 2023, at the age of 83.
Works
Listed in chronological order.
Manga
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Mahha Sanshirō with Minoru Kume (1960–1961)
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Ōzora no Chikai (1962–1964, Weekly Shōnen Sunday, Shueisha)
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Judo Boy (writer, 1961–1962, Shōnen Book, Shueisha)
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Danganji (1967–1968, Weekly Shonen Sunday, Shueisha)
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Judo Boy (writer, 1968–1969, Weekly Shōnen Sunday and Weekly Shōnen Jump, Shueisha)
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Faitā Ken
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Arā no Chikai
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Kaiteijin Hayabusa
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Kaiyō Shōnentai
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Messenger of Allah ( Bōken-Ō, Akita Shoten)
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Kurayami Dōshin Tsubanari Kenshirō Onryōkiri
Anime
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Space Ace (1965–1966, planning, script, executive producer, character designer, animation director)
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Speed Racer (1967–1968, executive producer)
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Judo Boy (1969, creator, series director, executive producer)
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The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee (1970–1971, executive producer, series director)
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Animentarī Ketsudan (1971, series director, executive producer, animation director, key animator)
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(1972–1973, executive producer)
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Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (1972–1974, producer)
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Demetan Croaker, The Boy Frog (1973, producer)
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Casshan (1973–1974, producer)
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New Honeybee Hutch (1974, producer)
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(1975, producer, executive producer)
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Time Bokan (1975–1976, planning, producer)
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Gowappa 5 Gōdam (1976, executive producer)
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Paul's Miraculous Adventure (1976–1977, producer)
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Temple the Balloonist (1977–1978, executive producer)
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Yatterman (1977–1979, planning, producer)
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Gatchaman II (1978–1979, producer, character designer)
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Gatchaman Fighter (1979–1980, planning, producer)
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Zenderman (1979–1980, planning, producer)
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Gordian Warrior (1979–1981, planning, character designer)
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Muteking, The Dashing Warrior (1980–1981, planning, producer, character designer)
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Rescueman (1980-1981, planning, producer)
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Dash Kappei (1981–1982, planning)
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Golden Warrior Gold Lightan (1981-1982, planning, character design)
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Yattodetaman (1981–1982, planning, producer)
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Gyakuten! Ippatsuman (1982–1983, planning, producer)
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Itadakiman (1983, planning, producer)
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Mirai Keisatsu Urashiman (1983, planning)
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Shōwa Ahozōshi Akanuke Ichiban! (1985–1986, planning)
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Doteraman (1986–1987, development)
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Zillion (1987, producer)
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Oraa Guzura Dado (1987–1988, planning)
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The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee (1989–1990, producer, character design)
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Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato (1989–1990, producer)
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Kyatto Ninden Teyandee (1990–1991, general production manager)
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Robin Hood (1990–1992, animation producer)
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Tekkaman Blade (1992–1993, producer)
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(1993, executive producer)
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(1993–1994, planning, producer)
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The Story of Cinderella (1996, producer)
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Speed Racer X (1997, character development, art director, theme song lyrics, etc.)
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Yobarete Tobedete! Akubi-chan (2001–2002, planning, producer)
Books
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Kyo no Yoru, Ashita no Omoide - Anokoro no Boku ni Manekarete (November 2004, Kodansha, )
External links
