Have you ever wondered where Anime gets these fantastic plotlines and unseen characters? They are drawn with patience and passion by Manga artists. It takes a lot of hard work to create a world out of one's imagination that fans die on. Creating content for Anime is not a minimal job and requires much effort. Here, we will talk about the top 10 most popular manga artists globally recognized.
1. Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira)
Katsuhiro Otomo changed the view towards manga with his legendary Akira, which consists of a neo-version of Tokyo and a cyberpunk plot. It was an immediate success after its release and won the hearts of both critics and readers. After successful publication in 1982, he touched his peak, and the panoramic views and modern approach stole hearts.
2. Naoki Urasawa (20th Century Boys)
Having 36 million copies in circulation is not a joke for a manga that was published in the late 90s. This iconic piece by Naoki won Kodansha and Eisner, featuring untouched concepts such as haunting childhood past and fighting conspiracies.
3. Hiroya Oku (Gantz)
Hiroya Oku created his masterpiece detailing every single drop of blood spilled. It was none other than Gantz, a sci-fi horror that used 3D renders to give it its essence. The seamless look of this fantasy world was appreciated for its technical mastery and unearthly experience.
4. Hiromu Arakawa (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Hiromu stepped into the male-dominated shonen space with her Fullmetal Alchemist, which was one of the most prominent franchises of the time. It talks of two serious and disastrous consequences of their alchemy that changed their life course. The backdrop is Europe during the Industrial Revolution, which tackles serious issues with smoothing punches of comedy.
5. Makoto Yukimura (Vinland Saga)
Makoto worked to perfection, whether it meant to swift its weekly publishing or monthly publishing. He worked with realism as the key to adding as much detail as possible. The tale is about a son who wanted revenge for her deceased father via cheating by an assassin, leading him to the path of revenge.
6. CLAMP (Cardcaptor Sakura)
CLAMP collectively refers to four female artists who rocked the Shonen and Shojo genres in their time. They also created various hits in the Sci-fi genre, but their most prominent work remains Cardcaptor Sakura, featuring magical girl tropes and coming-of-age themes.
7. Yusuke Murata (One Punch Man)
Yusuke Murata is the epitome of talent and has collaborated with Marvel, Pokemon, and Capcom. The way he plays with lines, creating unmatched details and blending them with distinct character designs, is unbeatable. He is often called the new generation of Japanese artists for his unique matching storytelling phenomenon.
8. Junji Ito (Uzumaki)
Junji Ito writes horrifying yet fascinating with constant tension and a perfect climax. He grew interested in writing because of her sister's drawings and Kazuo's Comics. He is into writing horror pieces with climatic reveals, which keeps readers on his heels.
9. Inio Asano (Oyasumi Punpun)
Inio Asano likes to keep it close to reality and is not hesitant to dive into various niches. He showcases emotions using various aesthetics that profoundly impact the readers. He won the award as a young manga artist and is often called the voice of the generation. His prominent work, Oyasumi Punpun, is about adolescence and transition to adulthood.
10. Naoko Takeuchi (Sailor Moon)
Naoko plays well with light lines to create everlasting, impactful characters. Her masterpiece was Sailor Moon, which talks of a young, sensitive teen and her introduction into a magical world due to her ancient connection. The manga became so famous that it developed into both live-action and Anime.
