Takehiko Itō (伊東 岳彦,Itō Takehiko) is a Japanesemanga artist best known for his work on the mangaOutlaw Star from his affiliated Morning Star Studio. He was also the primary creative mind behind other works of fiction set in theToward Stars universe including theUchuu Eiyuu Monogatari manga andAngel Links anime series.
Before founding Morning Star Studio in his late 20s, Itō studied planning and editing at the design office Shindosha.[2] He began work as a manga editor, but found the job dull and began drawing manga himself.[3] Some of his earliest works, includingGood Morning Althea (グッドモーニング アルテア), were created under the pen name "Black Point".[1] Many of Itō's animation works are credited to the nameHiroyuki Hataike (幡池裕行,Hataike Hiroyuki). Under this name he designed a transforming toy that would later becomeUnicron.
Itō's science fiction mangaUchuu Eiyuu Monogatari (宇宙英雄物語, lit. "Future-Retro Hero Story") started serialization in the monthlyKadokawa Shoten magazineComic Comp in 1988 with fivetankōbon (collected volume) releases between 1989 and 1991.[4][5][6] During that time, Itō came up with initial concept of theanime television franchiseNG Knight Lamune & 40.[7] His next major manga series,Haō Taikei Ryū Knight (覇王大系リューナイト, lit. "Lord of Lords: Ryu Knight"), was serialized in theShueisha magazineV Jump beginning in 1993.[8] Threetankōbon were published between 1994 and 1995.[9][10][11]Uchuu Eiyuu Monogatari was shortly thereafter picked up by Shueisha and was published in a total of eight volumes throughout 1996.[12][13][14] He is also known as the creator ofOutlaw Star (星方武侠アウトロースター,Seihō Bukyō Autorō Sutā, lit. "Starward Warrior Knight Outlaw Star"), a manga and anime television series set within the "Toward Stars Era" universe ofUchuu Eiyuu Monogatari.
Itō was eventually offered a job atMarvel Comics, but he was unsure he would be able to fit it into his schedule.[15] However, Itō joined Marvel after talking withC.B. Cebulski in 2002.[16][17]
^ab―伊東岳彦氏・幡池裕行氏― [Mr. Takehiko Ito/Mr. Hiroyuki Hataike] (in Japanese). Morning Star Studio. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. RetrievedMay 25, 2011.
^―モーニングスタースタジオとは― [And the Morning Star Studio] (in Japanese). Morning Star Studio. Archived from the original on September 28, 2000. RetrievedMay 25, 2011.
