Fujio Akatsuka Dead at 72

Fujio Akatsuka, one of the giants of the manga industry, passed away of pneumonia in a Tokyo hospital on Saturday, August 2, at 4:55 p.m. He was 72. Akatsuka made his professional creative debut with Arashi o Koete in 1956, and published his first hit, the Osomatsu-kun gag manga, in 1962. Akatsuka went on to create popular comedies including Moretsu Atarou, Tensai Bakabon, and Hennako-chan, along with the Himitsu no Akko-chan magical girl manga. The Japan Cartoonists Association recognized Akatsuka with the Literary Giant Award in 1997.

Akatsuka’s Moretsu Ataro was adapted into anime TV series in 1969 and 1990. Tensai Bakabon was adapted into anime TV series in 1971, 1975, 1990, and 1999. Osomatsu-kun was animated for television in 1966 & 1988. Himitsu no Akko-chan had three anime TV series adaptations in 1969, 1988, and 1998. Hennako-chan premiered as a web anime series in April 2008.

Source: Anime News Network