The manga industry is filled with influential figures who have impacted the space with iconic works of all kinds. It is very often, however, for the reputation of a mangaka to be defined mostly by a single title. In fact, some of the most acclaimed authors are known for just one massive hit.
Yet there are creators who have managed to capture lightning in a bottle more than once, producing multiple successful series. Some with creations that have similar themes and genres, and others with significantly different titles, all delivered with stunning quality. They are truly special talents and have cemented their status as powerhouses of the industry.
Atsushi Ohkubo
Atsushi Ohkubo rose to fame with the 2004 release of the ever-popular Soul Eater. Eleven years later, he debuted Fire Force, a critically acclaimed hit and one of the most popular new-gen shonen. It was eventually revealed that the worlds depicted in the two titles are connected, with the latter serving as a prequel to the events of the former.
Despite their connection, the series are still notably different. One is centered on Meister-Weapon pairs and their battles to collect souls, while the other has its focus on superpowered firefighters faced with supernatural threats. Both titles have received renowned anime adaptations. Sadly, Ohkubo announced sometime in 2020 that Fire Force would be his last manga.
ONE
ONE began his career as a webcomic creator, self-publishing his projects on the website Nitosha. He initially garnered major attention for his work on One Punch Man, released in 2009. This attracted the talented artist Yusuke Murata, who agreed to illustrate the remake of the story as a manga, one that eventually became a global phenomenon.
On his own this time, ONE would go on to create the series Mob Psycho 100, another resounding success. His strengths lie in impressive panelling and storytelling, able to draw audiences in even without a traditional art style. Notably, he also created Versus, an award-winning manga, illustrated by Kyoutarou Azuma.
Makoto Yukimura
Though he is largely known today as the creator of Vinland Saga, Makoto Yukimura debuted in 1999 with the hard science fiction series Planetes. The two titles could not be more different in terms of the setting, yet they are both highly regarded works that reflect the author’s views and extensive attention to detail.
Yukimura is famed for his obsessive research and humanist messaging. He embarked on study trips to Scandinavia to make his depiction of Vikings more authentic, and his Planetes manga features staggeringly detailed sci-fi elements. As proof of his industry standing, both projects have received high-quality adaptations from renowned studios, namely WIT, MAPPA, and Sunrise.
Hiromu Arakawa
Hiromu Arakawa is responsible for one of the most esteemed manga ever in Fullmetal Alchemist. It began serialization in 2001 and received two exceptional anime adaptations by Studio Bones in the space of 6 years. The first featured an original ending, while the second featured an ending in line with the manga.
In a dramatic change in genres, she also authored Silver Spoon, a slice-of-life comedy set on a farm. This won multiple awards as well, showcasing the vast range of her talents. Her latest manga, Daemons of the Shadow Realm, has already been adapted into an anime and is currently airing as part of the spring anime lineup.
Tatsuki Fujimoto
Tatsuki Fujimoto is a figure who broke out relatively recently in the manga industry, but his influence is undeniable. He is most famous for his dark fantasy action manga Chainsaw Man, but his first serialized work, Fire Punch, was also widely appreciated. He is also known for some amazing one-shots, the most notable of which is Look Back.
Both Look Back and Chainsaw Man have received phenomenal adaptations, each getting their own movies adapted with breathtaking excellence. Fujimoto’s impact extends further still, as many of his former assistants have also made a name for themselves with hugely successful projects. These include titles like Dandadan, Spy X Family, and Hell’s Paradise.
Rumiko Takahashi
Rumiko Takahashi is widely recognized as the Queen of Manga, and it is easy to see why. She is the creator of numerous iconic titles such as Ranma 1/2, Urusei Yatsura, and Maison Ikkoku. With these, she single-handedly defined an era of romantic comedies, and subsequently debuted the even more monumental Inuyasha.
Her works have received several remakes in recent times, and her latest endeavor, MAO, released in 2019, is presently airing. She is known all over the world and is one of the best-selling authors in history. Her distinguished character designs are immediately recognizable, and they stand out regardless of what medium they appear in.
Takehiko Inoue
Takehiko Inoue is a Japanese icon who has had a tremendous real-world impact. He is a passionate basketball fan, and his manga, Slam Dunk, sparked a massive nationwide surge in interest in the sport. It even led to the creation of a scholarship program named after the series and earned him a commendation from the Japanese Basketball Association.
Another title associated with Inoue is Vagabond, a historical epic featuring the legendary Miyamoto Musashi. It highlights his incredible brushwork and boasts some of the most exquisite art ever seen in manga. He has also found success in a different role, making his directorial debut in 2022 with The First Slam Dunk, the highest-grossing Japanese film of 2023.
Yoshihiro Togashi
Yoshihiro Togashi is a captivating storyteller who was identified for his talent during his college years. He rose to prominence with Yu Yu Hakusho, a series that started out as a supernatural detective-fiction but shifted its focus to martial arts. Its Dark Tournament saga is famously known as one of the best arcs in all of manga.
He is more popularly known, however, for his work on Hunter x Hunter, one of the best titles in shonen. It is praised for its complex power system and nuanced characters, especially the antagonists. Unfortunately, he has been unable to draw comfortably for an extended period, citing chronic back pain and other circumstances.
Naoki Urasawa
Naoki Urasawa is one of the most highly decorated mangaka alive, and his works have received great international attention. He is geared towards seinen and has authored some of the best titles in the category. His biggest success came with Monster, a gripping psychological thriller that holds its own across all media.
His other notable manga include, but are not limited to, 20th Century Boys and Pluto. The former is a thrilling mystery spanning different eras, while the latter is a masterful re-imagining of Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy. He is greatly respected by renowned figures in the filmmaking space and is regarded as a living legend.
Osamu Tezuka
Osamu Tezuka is known as the Father of Manga, and not only did he create several iconic titles, but he also redefined art and animation in Japan. His repertoire includes stories catered to both kids and adults, spanning a total of 700 volumes. Within these are some of his famous titles, including Astro Boy, Phoenix, Black Jack, Dororo, and many others.
Besides providing entertainment to his audience, he also skillfully inserted relevant social commentary into his creations, which was much needed at the time. He is arguably the most important figure in the history of the medium, and many brilliant minds in the industry and beyond have cited him as a source of inspiration.
- Release Date
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1963 – 1965-00-00
- Network
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Fuji TV
- Directors
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Osamu Tezuka, Fred Ladd
- Writers
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Yoshiyuki Tomino
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Esperanzita Martinez
Ham Egg
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This story originally appeared on Screenrant
