Leiji Matsumoto | |
|---|---|
松本零士 | |
 Matsumoto signing books in 2014 | |
| Born | Akira Matsumoto (1938-01-25)January 25, 1938 Kurume, Fukuoka, Empire of Japan |
| Died | February 13, 2023(2023-02-13) (aged 85) Tokyo, Japan |
| Known for | Character design, illustration |
| Notable work | |
| Spouse | Miyako Maki |
| Awards | |
| Website | leiji-matsumoto |
| Part of a series on |
| Anime andmanga |
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 Anime and manga portal |
Leiji Matsumoto (Japanese:松本零士,Hepburn:Matsumoto Reiji; bornAkira Matsumoto (松本晟); January 25, 1938 – February 13, 2023) was a Japanese manga artist, and creator of severalanime andmanga series. His widowMiyako Maki is also a manga artist.[3]
Matsumoto was famous for his works such asSpace Battleship Yamato,Space Pirate Captain Harlock, andGalaxy Express 999.[4] His style was characterized by mythological and often tragic storylines with strong moral themes, noble heroes, feminine heroines, and a love of strange worlds and melancholic atmosphere.[5]
Leiji Matsumoto was born on January 25, 1938, inKurume, Fukuoka.[6] He was the middle child of a family of seven brothers, and, in his early childhood, Matsumoto was given a 35mmfilm projector by his father, and watched American cartoons during thePacific War. During this time, he gained an interest in science fiction novels by authorsUnno Juza andH. G. Wells.[7] Matsumoto started drawing at the age of six, and began drawingmanga three years later after seeing the works ofOsamu Tezuka.[6] At 18, he moved to Tokyo to become amanga artist.[7]
In 1954, Matsumoto made his debut under his real name, Akira Matsumoto, withMitsubachi no bōken in the magazineManga Shōnen.[8]
Matsumoto's big break came withOtoko Oidon, a series that chronicled the life of arōnin (a young man preparing for university entrance exams), in 1971. In 1972 he created the mature-themed dark comedy Westernseinen seriesGun Frontier for thePlay Comic magazine, which ran from 1972 to 1975. Around the same time he started a series of unconnected short stories set duringWorld War II,Senjo Manga Series, which would eventually become popular under the titleThe Cockpit.[5]
He was involved inSpace Battleship Yamato (1974) and created the highly popular seriesSpace Pirate Captain Harlock (1977) andGalaxy Express 999 (1977). In 1978, he was awarded theShogakukan Manga Award forshōnen forGalaxy Express 999 andSenjo Manga Series.[9] Animated versions ofCaptain Harlock andGalaxy Express 999 are set in the same universe, which spawned several spin offs and related series, most notablyQueen Emeraldas andQueen Millennia.[5]
Matsumoto supervised the creation of several music videos for theFrench house groupDaft Punk, set to tracks from their albumDiscovery. These videos were issued end-to-end (making a full-length animated movie) on a DVD release titledInterstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem.[5]
Approximately two dozen bronze statues – each four feet tall – of characters and scenes fromSpace Battleship Yamato andGalaxy Express 999 were erected in the downtown area ofTsuruga in 1999. Each statue includes a plaque at its base explaining the character and features Matsumoto's signature.[10]
Matsumoto worked withYoshinobu Nishizaki onSpace Battleship Yamato (known outside Japan under various names, but most commonly asStar Blazers).[11][12] Matsumoto created a manga loosely based on the series, and the Yamato makes cameo appearances (sans crew) in several of his works including theGalaxy Express 999 manga.[5]
A later work by Matsumoto calledGreat Yamato featuring an updated Yamato was renamedGreat Galaxy due to legal issues with Nishizaki.[13][14][15][16] As of 2009, Matsumoto and Nishizaki were working on independent anime projects featuring the acclaimedSpace Battleship Yamato, with the conditions that Matsumoto cannot use the nameYamato or the plot or characters from the original, and Nishizaki cannot use the conceptual art, character or ship designs of the original.[17]
In August 2014, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his debut, Matsumoto launched the mangaCaptain Harlock: Jigen Kōkai (Captain Harlock: Dimensional Voyage), illustrated by Kōichi Shimahoshi, in the pages ofAkita Shoten'sChampion Red magazine.[18]Dimensional Voyage is a retelling of the original 1978Space Pirate Captain Harlock manga. It had been licensed in the United States bySeven Seas Entertainment.[19]
Matsumoto was married to manga artist andLicca-chan creatorMiyako Maki.[20]
On November 15, 2019, Matsumoto suffered severerespiratory problems and collapsed during an event inTurin, Italy, for the 40th-anniversary tour celebrating the Captain Harlock anime adaptation. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition and had a breathing tube inserted after he was admitted to the emergency unit.[21] However, he was considered to be out of danger two days later.[22]
Matsumoto died of acute heart failure at a hospital in Tokyo on February 13, 2023, at the age of 85.[20] Various manga artists offered condolences, includingYasuhiro Nightow,Nozomu Tamaki, and his wife Maki.Galaxy Express 999 voice actressMasako Nozawa and translatorZack Davisson also gave their condolences.[23]
| Name | Year | Role(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcadia of My Youth | 1982 | Story | [5] |
| Arcadia of My Youth: Endless Orbit SSX | 1982–1983 | Story | [5] |
| Arei no Kagami | 1985 | Story | [24] |
| Barairo no tenshi | 1964 | [5] | |
| Captain Harlock: Dimensional Voyage | 2014 | Story | [18] |
| Cosmo Warrior Zero | 2001 | Story | [5] |
| Dokuganryū Masamune ~Sengoku no Arcadia Gaiden~ | 2019 | [5] | |
| Fire Force DNAsights 999.9 | 1998 | [5] | |
| Galaxy Express 999 | 1977–1981 | Story | [5] |
| Ganso Dai Yojohan Dai Monogatari | 1970 | Story | [5] |
| Great Yamato | 2000–2001 | [5] | |
| Great Yamato No. Zero | 2004–2007 | Story | [5] |
| Gun Frontier | 1972–1975 | Story | [5] |
| Gun Frontier ~Harlock & Tochirō Seishun no Tabi~ | 2017 | [5] | |
| Harlock Saga | 1998–1999 | Story | [5] |
| Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem byDaft Punk | 2003 | Production Supervisor | [5] |
| Leiji Matsumoto Anime Masterpiece Theatre | 1980 | [5] | |
| Maetel Legend | 2000 | Story | [5] |
| Maeterlinck's Blue Bird: Tyltyl and Mytyl's Adventurous Journey | 1980 | Character Designer | [5] |
| Marine Snow no Densetsu | 1980 | [5] | |
| Miraizer Ban | 1976–1978 | [5] | |
| Mystery Eve | 1970 | [5] | |
| Otoko Oidon | 1971–1973 | [5] | |
| Out of Galaxy Gin no Koshika | 2009 | [5] | |
| Ozuma | 2012 | Story | [5] |
| Planet Robot Danguard Ace | 1977–1978 | Story | [5] |
| Queen Emeraldas | 1978–1979 | Story | [5] |
| Queen Millennia | 1980–1983 | Story | [5] |
| Saint Elmo – Hikari no Raihousha | 1986 | Credited | [5] |
| Senjo Manga series | 1973–1978 | [5] | |
| Sexaroid | 1968–1970 | [5] | |
| Sexaroid 4 | 2017 | [5] | |
| Shishunki 100 Man-nen | 1972-1973 | [5] | |
| Space Battleship Yamato | 1974 | [5] | |
| Space Pirate Captain Harlock | 1977–1979 | Story | [5] |
| Space Symphony Maetel | 2004–2005 | Producer | [5] |
| Starzinger | 1978–1979 | Story | [5] |
| Submarine Super 99 | 1970–1972 | Story | [5] |
| The Cockpit | 1993 | Story | [5] |
| The Galaxy Railways | 2003–2007 | Producer | [5] |
| The Ultimate Time Sweeper Mahoroba | 1993–1998 | [25] | |
| Torajima no Mii me | 1999 | Story | [5] |
(in Japanese)