Masami SUDA
It’s been 50 years since Masami SUDA started a career as a freelance animator, before working for some of the major studios and legendary anime such as Gatchaman, Hokuto no Ken, or Yo-kai Watch. Come meet him at the festival to celebrate Animé 100!
Biography
Masami SUDA was born in 1943 in Saitama prefecture. After he applied for a job as an animator at Tatsunoko Pro and failed, he became a freelancer. He worked on many productions and ended up working on Mach Gogogo! (Speed Racer) and this way for the studio he had first tried to join, Tatsunoko Pro. It was in 1967, exactly 50 years ago.
That was only the beginning as he kept working on some of Tatsunoko Pro’s major productions such as Gatchaman or Kurenai Sanshirô (Judo Boy). A few years later, as a freelancer, studio Toei Animation contacted him and he started as a chara-designer on the anime series Sci-Fi West Saga Starzinger. Soon he was entrusted with the chara-design of Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star). His stroke is fast and dynamic, which is a major asset for this talented artist. And he will be part of many more anime such as Dragon Ball, Jigoku Sensei Nûbê (Hell Teacher Nûbê), or Slam Dunk. He also worked on the opening of Candy Candy.
Masami SUDA is now retired from animation but keeps working as an illustrator. He also designs characters once in a while but does not make animation strictly speaking. In 2014, as he was over 70 years old, he auditioned and got the job of chara-designer for the first season of Yo-kai Watch. Lately, in 2015, he also designed the characters of Lupin the Third Part 4.
Don’t miss Masami SUDA, a major animator and chara-designer, at panels and signings at Japan Expo, and celebrate with him the 100th anniversary of Japanese animation!
If you're a fan of Japanese animation, don't miss the chance to experience the meeting of your dreams: spend an hour with Masami SUDA, Masao MARUYAMA and another talented animator with the Zen+ Animé 100 Ticket [Friday]!
Japanese animation is 100 years old: come celebrate with us!