Iou Kuroda

Iou Kuroda (黒田硫黄, Kuroda Iō, [kɯɾoda i.oː]; born January 5, 1971) is the pen name of a Japanese manga artist.

Biography

Born in Sapporo as one of two twins, Kuroda moved many times in his youth. He graduated from Hitotsubashi University. The pen name "Kuroda Iou" (in Japanese order) is a combination of his family name (Kuroda) and the name of a toy robot, Mars King (Kasei Daiō): Kuroda + Kasei Daiō -> Kurodaiō -> Kuroda Iō.

Kuroda's works are known for their dynamic plot developments and the rhythm of their stories. His drawings are widely praised for their almost magical appeal. Elephants, cameras, bicycles, ships, robots, and cooking are common motifs in Kuroda's manga.

In 2002, Kuroda won the Excellence Prize at the 2002 Japan Media Arts Festival for his manga Sexy Voice and Robo.[1][2][3][4][5][user-generated source] In 2007, the manga was adapted into a television drama, starring Kenichi Matsuyama and Suzuka Ohgo, which aired between April and June 2007 on Nippon Television.[5][user-generated source]

In 2003, Kuroda's work Nasu was brought to the attention of animator and director Kitarō Kōsaka by Kōsaka's long-time collaborator from Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, a fan of cycling.[6][7] He adapted the Summer in Andalusia chapter from the manga into the film, Nasu: Summer in Andalusia, which soon went on to become the first Japanese anime film ever to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival.[6][7][8][user-generated source] A sequel, Nasu: A Migratory Bird with Suitcase, was also later produced, which won the best Original Video Animation award at the seventh annual Tokyo Anime Awards, held at the 2008 Tokyo International Anime Fair.[9]

Selected works

  • Dai-Nippon Tengu-tō Ekotoba (大日本天狗党絵詞)
  • Kurofune (黒船)
  • Daiō (大王)
  • Nasu (茄子)
  • Sexy Voice and Robo (セクシーボイスアンドロボ)
  • Eiga ni Ke ga Sanbon! (映画に毛が3本!)
  • Atarashii Asa (あたらしい朝)
  • Appleseeed Alpha (アップルシードα)

References

  1. ^ "2002年 文化庁メディア芸術祭 マンガ部門 大賞 セクシーボイス アンド ロボ 文化庁メディア芸術プラザ". Archived from the original on 2009-07-13. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  2. ^ "第10回文化庁メディア芸術祭特設ブログ: セクシーボイス アンド ロボがドラマ化". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  3. ^ "登竜門 /今週のイチオシ！コンペニュース /平成14年度［第6回］文化庁メディア芸術祭". Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  4. ^ "平成１４年度（第６回）文化庁メディア芸術祭賞の決定について". Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  5. ^ a b "セクシーボイスアンドロボ". Hate na Diary. Retrieved 2009-02-27.[user-generated source]
  6. ^ a b Ayano, Makoto (2003-11-10). "CyclingWeb.jp：Cycling People Special Interview 高坂希太郎" (in Japanese). CyclingWeb.jp. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  7. ^ a b Mes, Tom (2003-06-10). "Midnight Eye interview: Kitaro Kosaka". Midnight Eye. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  8. ^ "高坂希太郎とは - はてなダイアリー". Retrieved 2007-06-07.[user-generated source]
  9. ^ "Eva 1.0 Wins Tokyo Anime Fair's Animation of the Year". Anime News Network. 2008-02-26. Retrieved 2009-02-27.