Takashi Okazaki

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.

Takashi Okazaki
岡崎 能士
Okazaki at the 2018 WonderCon
Born (1974-03-18) March 18, 1974
Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Area(s)Manga artist and author, visual designer, graphic designer
Notable works
Afro Samurai
Batman Ninja
AwardsPrimetime Emmy Award (nominated)

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.

On November 23, 2004, 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]

Okazaki created the portrait of Los Angeles Angels two-way player Shohei Ohtani for the cover of the MVP and Digital Deluxe editions of MLB The Show 22.[12] He also designed art for cards used in the Diamond Dynasty game mode of MLB The Show 22, including many Baseball Hall of Fame players such as Randy Johnson, Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr, Rickey Henderson and Honus Wagner.

Bibliography
  • Afro Samurai! (dojinshi manga, 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)
  • Garo: Vanishing Line Anime (character designer, 2017)
  • Batman Ninja animated movie (character designer, 2018)
  • Sound and Fury Netflix film (artistic director, 2019)
  • Star Wars: Visions Episode 1: "The Duel" (character designer, concept artist, artistic director, 2021)

References
  1. 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.
  2. "NOU NOU HAU vol.0". Kugelblitz. 2005–2006. Archived from the original (PHP) on July 13, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  3. "NOU NOU HAU vol.6". Kugelblitz. 2005–2006. Archived from the original (PHP) on July 13, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
  4. "Funimation Acquires Afro Samurai". Anime News Network. February 27, 2006. Retrieved September 2, 2009.
  5. "Afro Samurai: Resurrection Movie Debuts Sunday Night". Anime News Network. July 25, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2009.
  6. "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.
  7. "Blade 3 OST to Include Anime". Anime News Network. November 1, 2004. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
  8. "Cho-Kouryu-Goujin Danke Choen". Kugelblitz. 2005–2006. Archived from the original (PHP) on December 2, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  9. "KUGELBLITZ:DANK-SCHON unit magazine". Kugelblitz. 2005–2006. Archived from the original (PHP) on December 1, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  10. "Afro Samurai Creator Takashi Okazaki Makes His Marvel Debut With Werewolf by Night Cover". previewsworld.com. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  11. "Golden Apple Comics: TAKASHI OKAZAKI". Golden Apple Comics. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  12. "Famous Illustrator Takashi Okazaki Creates MLB The Show 22's Collector's Edition Cover Art Featuring Shohei Ohtani". Xbox Wire. 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2022-02-07.


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