| Chica Umino | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1966-08-30)30 August 1966 (age 58) Adachi,Tokyo, Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Area(s) | Character design, writer,manga artist |
Notable works | Honey and Clover March Comes In like a Lion |
| Awards |
|
| http://www13.plala.or.jp/umino/ | |
Chica Umino (Japanese:羽海野 チカ,Hepburn:Umino Chika) is the pen name of a pseudonymous Japanesemanga artist, designer and illustrator.
Umino is noted for being the author and creator of theHoney and Clover series, for which she received theKodansha Manga Award in 2003,[1] and which has been adapted into ananime series, produced byJ.C.Staff.[2]
Chica Umino aspired to be a character designer andmanga artist since elementary school.[3] In high school, she had one work published in "Bouquet".[4] Her pen name comes from her favorite location Umi no Chikaku no Yuuenchi (海の近くの遊園地, lit. an amusement park by the sea), which is also the title of herdoujinshi works prior to her debut. She likesHarry Potter and anime byHayao Miyazaki. She calls herself anotaku.[citation needed] Western children's books likeAnne of Green Gables (for which she drew the cover artwork in a republished version in 2011[5]) she read as a child had a notable influence on her work, especially how she chooses to portray unusual family constellations.[6] Some of Umino's inspirations as an artist comes from the artistsFusako Kuramochi andMoto Hagio, the latter of which she self-taught artistic techniques from.[7]
In 2000, Umino's most notable work,Honey and Clover, began serialization inTakarajimasha's manga magazineCutie Comic. The series' first fourteen chapters were published inCutie Comic; serialization was later moved toShueisha'sYoung You. With the demise ofYoung You in 2005, the series moved to the magazineChorus, where it continued its run until the series ended in July 2006 with 64 chapters. Umino received the 27th Kodansha Manga Award forHoney and Clover in 2003, which was adapted into an anime series produced by J.C. Staff.
Umino's most recent work isMarch Comes In like a Lion (3月のライオン,Sangatsu no Raion) lit. "Lion in March" or "March's Lion", which began serialization inHakusensha'sseinenmanga magazine,Young Animal.March comes in Like a Lion was inspired by Umino's editor, who suggested that her next work be about shogi or boxing.[4] Because Umino herself did not have any prior experience with shogi, the games depicted in the manga were drawn in partnership with a supervisor.
In 2009, she provided the character designs for original anime series,Eden of the East, by directorKenji Kamiyama.
Umino has also illustrated "Tobira o Akete" and theGlass Heart series, including "Boukensha-tachi", "Netsu no Shiro" and "Love Way."
In 2013, Umino was hospitalized for surgery and medical treatment, and was temporarily suspended from her activities.[8]
