A new studio from the creator of Akira is officially underway.
The celebrated Japanese manga artist and screenwriter Katsuhiro Otomo has established a new animation studio called Oval Gear animation studio, with both its official website and X (formerly Twitter) account now open.
According to the announcement, the studio was created with the goal of passing down the visual expression and artistic style that Otomo has cultivated throughout his career to a new generation of creators.
Who is Katsuhiro Otomo?
Katsuhiro Otomo is a legendary Japanese manga artist, animator, screenwriter, and film director, who is best known as the creator of Akira.
He first gained prominence during the 1970s as one of the key figures of manga’s New Wave movement before going on to create the original Akira manga in 1982, followed by its landmark 1988 anime film adaptation.
Otomo has received numerous international honors throughout his career. In 2005, he was named a Chevalier of France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres before later being promoted to Officier in 2014.
He also became the fourth manga artist inducted into the Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 2012 and received Japan’s Purple Medal of Honor in 2013. Additional accolades include the Winsor McCay Award at the 41st Annie Awards in 2014 and the 2015 Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême, becoming the first manga artist to receive the honor.
What is Oval Gear working on?
Although the new information is sparse, the studio and Katsuhiro Otomo confirmed that a new project is underway. Alongside the launch announcement, OVAL GEAR stated that it is currently recruiting animators and production staff. More details are expected to be revealed in the future.