TOMINO, Yoshiyuki

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Birth/Death

Born: November 5, 1941 (Kanagawa prefecture)


Occupation/Title

Novelist, Animation Creator, Director, Writer


Bio Summary

As young man, Tomino had a love for movies and intended to originally work in movies. He attended college concentrating on a major in film but found that jobs were not available at the time. Instead got a job at Osamu Tezuka's Mushi Productions in 1964 working on storyboards for Tetsuwan Atom. After directing for Tezuka’s 1972 film Triton of the Sea, Tomino began doing freelance jobs for the recently formed Sunrise Studios (Today known as Sunrise Inc.). He is best known as the primary creator behind the ever-popular Gundam series.


Early Life/Family

Education/Training

Majored in film during college.


Career Outline

Began working in 1964 as a storyboard artist at Osamu Tezuka’s Mushi Productions. Later worked for Sunrise Studios working as a director and writer. This led to several series including Brave Raideen, Zambot 3, and Daitarn 3. Zambot 3 ended with a complete massacre of much of the cast and would be one of the first of several titles that would give Tomino the nickname “Kill ‘Em All Tomino”.

During April of 1979 Tomino’s most famous work Mobile Suit Gundam was aired on television, however due to conflicts with sponsors the program was unable to make it’s full run. Another chance was given in 1982 through the theater and allowed Tomino to take full dominance over the story. The movie was a big hit and immortalized Tomino’s creation. Characters such as Char Aznable have since become icons of Japanese pop culture.

While Tomino has felt often that there was no need to tell any other stories about Gundam, his fan base has constantly demanded for more. This has led to other series such as Zeta Gundam (1985), Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (1993), etc.

Tomino has since written several successful novels and has continued directing a number of successful series. In the last decade both Overman King Gainer (2002) and Brain Powered (1998) have been successful.


Comments On Style

Influences

Personality

Anecdotes

Miscellaneous

Has the nickname "Kill 'em All Tomino" for several series in which almost all the entire cast is killed in the final episodes. Protagonists and characters considered "sacred" were never spared and faced equal chances of death. This can be attributed to clinic depression he suffered from while working on certain projects.

Tomino was not a fan of giant robots and during the 1970’s was increasingly frustrated at his creativity being limited by studio sponsors. MS Gundam was born out changing the previous super-robot-of-the-week genre and giving it a more realistic, mature theme.

Tomino uses the name Rin Logi when he collaborates with musical artists and writes lyrics for several series.


Filmography

Wandering Sun (1971)
Umi no Triton (1972)
Star of the Seine (1975)
Brave Raideen (1975 )
Choudenji Machine Voltes Five (1977)
Invincible Super Man Zambot 3 (1977)
Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3 (1978)
Mobile Suit Gundam (1979)
Space Runaway Ideon (1980)
Blue Gale Xabungle (1982)
Aura Battler Dunbine (1983)
Heavy Metal L-Gaim (1984)
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985)
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986)
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (1988)
Mobile Suit Gundam F-91 (1991)
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (1993)
Garzey's Wing (1996)
Brain Powered (1998)
Turn A Gundam (1999)
Overman King Gainer (2002)
The Wings of Rean (2005)


Honors

Related Links

Bibliographic References

BIO-AAA-551

Contributors To This Listing

M. Kenji Gonzales


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