is a Japanese graphic artist who works predominantly in
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
and
manga
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
. He first gained fame in his work on the
avant-garde
The avant-garde (; In 'advance guard' or ' vanguard', literally 'fore-guard') is a person or work that is experimental, radical, or unorthodox with respect to art, culture, or society.John Picchione, The New Avant-garde in Italy: Theoretical ...
anime ''
Serial Experiments Lain
''Serial Experiments Lain'' (stylized as ''serial experiments lain'') is a Japanese anime television series created and co-produced by Yasuyuki Ueda, written by Chiaki J. Konaka and directed by Ryūtarō Nakamura. Animated by Triangle Staff ...
''. He is also responsible for the concept and character design for the series ''
NieA_7
, also known as ''NieA under 7'', is a doujinshi manga series created by graphic designer Yoshitoshi ABe and later published by Kadokawa Shoten on their monthly ''Shōnen'' magazine ''Monthly Ace Next'' from October 1999 to January 2001. ...
''. He is the creator of the
dōjinshi
, also romanized as ', is the Japanese term for self-published print works, such as magazines, manga, and novels. Part of a wider category of '' doujin'' (self-published) works, ''doujinshi'' are often derivative of existing works and created ...
''
Haibane Renmei
is a Japanese anime television series. It is based on an original ''dōjinshi'' manga series by Yoshitoshi ABe, , which was released from 1998 to 2002 and left unfinished as work on the anime began. The 13-episode series was animated by Radix ...
'', which was also adapted into an anime.
He is a colleague and friend of
Chiaki J. Konaka
is a Japanese writer and novelist. He was the head writer of the anime series ''Serial Experiments Lain'', ''Digimon Tamers'', and ''Hellsing'', as well as the television drama ''Ultraman Gaia''.
Personal life
Konaka gave himself the middle ini ...
, with whom he collaborated on the series ''
Serial Experiments Lain
''Serial Experiments Lain'' (stylized as ''serial experiments lain'') is a Japanese anime television series created and co-produced by Yasuyuki Ueda, written by Chiaki J. Konaka and directed by Ryūtarō Nakamura. Animated by Triangle Staff ...
'' and ''
Texhnolyze
''Texhnolyze'' (stylized as ''TEXHNOLYZE'') is a Japanese experimental film, experimental anime television series animated by Madhouse (company), Madhouse and directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki, with screenplay by Chiaki J. Konaka, with original char ...
''. He usually uses the
romaji
The romanization of Japanese is the use of Latin script to write the Japanese language. This method of writing is sometimes referred to in Japanese as .
Japanese is normally written in a combination of logographic characters borrowed from Ch ...
form of his name instead of the
kanji
are the logographic Chinese characters taken from the Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script and used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese ...
, with the "B" in "ABe" capitalized, as a reminder of his early works, for which he used the pen name "AB".
Abe first began his career as a teen in Tokyo who was first recognized as a
graffiti artist
Graffiti (plural; singular ''graffiti'' or ''graffito'', the latter rarely used except in archeology) is art that is written, painted or drawn on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from s ...
, who regularly got into legal problems with his art. His concepts for all his later works are said to be inspired by this time of his life and has projected a dark theme into his
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
character designs.
He is known to be a fairly tech-savvy manga artist,
drawing a sketch with just his finger and an application on an
iPad
The iPad is a brand of iOS and iPadOS-based tablet computers that are developed by Apple Inc. The iPad was conceived before the related iPhone but the iPhone was developed and released first. Speculation about the development, operating s ...
.
He released self-published ''
dōjinshi
, also romanized as ', is the Japanese term for self-published print works, such as magazines, manga, and novels. Part of a wider category of '' doujin'' (self-published) works, ''doujinshi'' are often derivative of existing works and created ...
'' on digital support bypassing the traditional print publishers with ''Pochiyama at the Pharmacy'' in 2008 aimed at
iPhone and
iPod Touch
The iPod Touch (stylized as iPod touch) is a discontinued line of iOS-based mobile devices designed and marketed by Apple Inc. with a touchscreen-controlled user interface. As with other iPod models, the iPod Touch can be used as a music pl ...
and ''I am an Alien, I have a Question'' in 2010 for
Kindle.
Personal life
On November 11, 2011, ABe married artist Sasaki Yukari, his manga assistant since 2010. Their daughter was born on September 21, 2012.
Works
![Yoshitoshi Abe 20110630](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Yoshitoshi_Abe_20110630.jpg)
Anime
* ''
Serial Experiments Lain
''Serial Experiments Lain'' (stylized as ''serial experiments lain'') is a Japanese anime television series created and co-produced by Yasuyuki Ueda, written by Chiaki J. Konaka and directed by Ryūtarō Nakamura. Animated by Triangle Staff ...
'' (1998) (original character design)
* ''
NieA_7
, also known as ''NieA under 7'', is a doujinshi manga series created by graphic designer Yoshitoshi ABe and later published by Kadokawa Shoten on their monthly ''Shōnen'' magazine ''Monthly Ace Next'' from October 1999 to January 2001. ...
'' (2000) (original character design, scenario)
* ''
Haibane Renmei
is a Japanese anime television series. It is based on an original ''dōjinshi'' manga series by Yoshitoshi ABe, , which was released from 1998 to 2002 and left unfinished as work on the anime began. The 13-episode series was animated by Radix ...
'' (2002) (original creator, original character design, series composition, screenplay)
* ''
Texhnolyze
''Texhnolyze'' (stylized as ''TEXHNOLYZE'') is a Japanese experimental film, experimental anime television series animated by Madhouse (company), Madhouse and directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki, with screenplay by Chiaki J. Konaka, with original char ...
'' (2003) (original character design)
* ''
Welcome to the N.H.K.
is a Japanese novel written by Tatsuhiko Takimoto. It was published by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan in January 2002, and in English by Tokyopop in October 2007. The story revolves around a 22-year-old ''hikikomori'', an asocial recluse, who gets ...
'' (2006) (original character design)
* ''
RErideD: Derrida, who leaps through time'' (2018) (original character design, screenplay for episodes 4, 8, and 10)
* ''
Housing Complex C
is a Japanese anime television miniseries that aired in the United States on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block in October 2022.
Plot
Kimi Shirokado is an eccentric little girl who lives at a low-cost housing complex called Housing Complex ...
'' (2022) (original character design)
* ''
Despera
is a planned anime series, written by Chiaki J. Konaka and featuring character designs by Yoshitoshi Abe. It is Abe and Konaka's third collaboration, following ''Texhnolyze'' and '' Serial Experiments Lain''. Ryūtarō Nakamura, who directed ...
'' (TBA) (original character design)
Music
* ''
Love Song
A love song is a song about romantic love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. A comprehensive list of even the best known performers and composers of love songs would be a large order. ...
'' (2005) (cover art and booklet illustrations)
Video games
* ''
Wachenröder
is a 1998 Japanese Simulation role-playing game, simulation role playing game. It was developed by TNS Co., Ltd. and published by Sega for the Sega Saturn. It was never released outside of Japan.
Gameplay
''Wachenröder'' is a Simulation role ...
'' (1998)
* ''Phenomeno'' (2012)
Printed works
*
Dōjinshi
, also romanized as ', is the Japanese term for self-published print works, such as magazines, manga, and novels. Part of a wider category of '' doujin'' (self-published) works, ''doujinshi'' are often derivative of existing works and created ...
** ''Furumachi'' (August, 1996)
** ''Shooting Star'' (December, 1996)
** ''White Rain'' (July, 1997)
** ''Sui-Rin'' (August, 1998)
** ''Charcoal Feather Federation'' (Haibane Renmei) (December, 1998)
** ''T.Prevue Version 0.9'' (August, 1999)
** ''Faces'' (December, 1999)
** ''K.S.M.E'' (July, 2000)
** ''Sketches'' (December, 2000)
** ''NieA Under 7'' - Under (August, 2001)
** ''Haibane Renmei - The Haibanes of Old Home'' (Ch.1) (August, 2001)
** ''Haibane Renmei - The Haibanes of Old Home'' (Ch.2) (December, 2001)
** ''Haibane Renmei - Haibane Lifestyle Diary'' (August, 2002)
** ''Haibane Renmei - The Haibanes of Old Home'' (Extra) (December, 2002)
** ''Ryuu Tai'' (July, 2003)
** ''Not Found'' (December, 2003)
** ''Haibane Renmei - Kyakuhonshuu - Volume 1'' (August, 2004)
** ''Haibane Renmei - Kyakuhonshuu - Volume 2'' (December, 2004)
** ''Haibane Renmei - Kyakuhonshuu - Volume 3'' (December, 2004)
** ''Miscellaneous'' (December, 2004)
** ''GRID.'' (August, 2005)
** ''Haibane Renmei - Kyakuhonshuu - Volume 4'' (December, 2005)
** ''Haibane Renmei - Kyakuhonshuu - Volume 5'' (December, 2005)
** ''Yakkyoku no Pochiyamasan'' (December, 2005)
** ''Haibane Renmei - Kyakuhonshuu - Volume 6'' (August, 2006)
** ''Yakkyoku no Pochiyamasan 2.0'' (August, 2006)
** ''Yakkyoku no Pochiyamasan 3.0'' (August 19, 2007)
** ''f.p.o. (Fixed Point Observation)'' (August 17, 2008)
** ''Ryuhshika'' (August 17, 2008)
** ''Yakkyoku no Pochiyamasan 4.0'' (December 30, 2008)
*Artbooks
** ''Serial Experiments Lain - An Omnipresence in the Wired'' (May, 1999)
** ''Visual Experiments Lain''
** ''Essence'' (May, 2001) *Released in the US*
** ''NieA Under 7 - Scrap'' (July, 2001)
** ''Haibane Renmei - In the Town of Guri, in the Garden of Charcoal Feathers'' (December, 2003)
** ''yoshitoshi ABe lain illustrations - ab# rebuild an omnipresence in the wired'' (Japan: December 2005; US: April 2006)
** ''Gaisokyu'' (August, 2007)
*
Manga
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
** ''Ame no Furu Basho'' (debut) ''
Afternoon
Afternoon is the time after solar noon. It is the time when the sun is descending from its peak in the sky to somewhat before its terminus at the horizon in the west. In human life, it occupies roughly the latter half of the standard work and s ...
'' (April 1994)
** ''NieA Under 7'' (Vol. 1) (June, 2001)
** ''NieA Under 7'' (Vol. 2) (August, 2001)
** ''
All You Need Is Kill
''All You Need Is Kill'' is a Japanese science fiction light novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka with illustrations by Yoshitoshi Abe. The book was published in Japanese by Shueisha under their Super Dash Bunko imprint in December 2004, and was late ...
'' (December, 2004)
** ''Ryushika Ryushika'' (2009)
*Contributions
** ''Mutekei Fire - Tarame Paradise Doujins''
** ''Mutekei Fire - Great Pictorial Guide of Uki-Uki in the World Doujins''
** ''Mutekei Fire - Tokimeki Shitsumon Bako Doujins''
** ''Range Murata - Flat''
** ''Range Murata - Rule - Fa Documenta 003''
** ''Range Murata -
Robot
A robot is a machine—especially one programmable by a computer—capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically. A robot can be guided by an external control device, or the control may be embedded within. Robots may be c ...
- Volume 01''
** ''Range Murata - Robot - Volume 02''
** ''Range Murata - Robot - Volume 03''
** ''Range Murata - Robot - Volume 04''
** ''Range Murata - Robot - Volume 05''
** ''Range Murata - Robot - Volume 06''
** ''Range Murata - Robot - Volume 07''
** ''Range Murata - Robot - Volume 08''
** ''Range Murata - Robot - Volume 09''
** ''Range Murata - Robot - Volume 10'' with "U.C.O."
** ''Foo Swee Chin - Muzz Doujins 1-2''
** ''Akai Kiba (Red Fang) - Volumes 1-4''
** ''
Hell Girl
, also known as ''Jigoku Shōjo: Girl from Hell'', is a Japanese anime series conceptualized by Hiroshi Watanabe (animator), Hiroshi Watanabe and produced by SKY Perfect Well Think, Tokyo MX, Wakasa Seikatsu, Fujishoji, Aniplex and ...
, episode 13 - sketches and wallpaint''
*Cover Illustrations
** ''Kami no Keifu Novels 1-3''
** ''
Welcome to the N.H.K.
is a Japanese novel written by Tatsuhiko Takimoto. It was published by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan in January 2002, and in English by Tokyopop in October 2007. The story revolves around a 22-year-old ''hikikomori'', an asocial recluse, who gets ...
''
** ''Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge''
** ''Chojin Keikaku'' (bunko edition only)
** ''Slip Manga Collection''
** ''
All You Need is Kill
''All You Need Is Kill'' is a Japanese science fiction light novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka with illustrations by Yoshitoshi Abe. The book was published in Japanese by Shueisha under their Super Dash Bunko imprint in December 2004, and was late ...
''
*Misc.
** "AB Note" yoshitoshi ABe Sketchbook (GoFa 2003)
** "GoFa Portfolio Collection A" 20 A4 Prints (sold by GoFa at AX2003 - 100 made)
** "GoFa Portfolio Collection B" 20 A4 Prints (Sold by GoFa at AX2003 - 100 made)
** "Kaira"
Wani Magazine Comics Special (July, 2008)
References
External links
*
*
*
Yoshitoshi ABe mangaanimeat Media Arts Database
Pixiv account*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abe, Yoshitoshi
1971 births
Living people
Manga artists from Tokyo
Anime character designers
Japanese bloggers
Tokyo University of the Arts alumni