Katsuhiro Otomo is a Japanese manga artist, screenwriter, and film director. He is best known for his work on the manga series Akira, which was later adapted into an animated film of the same name. Otomo has been credited with revolutionizing the manga and anime industry, and is considered one of the most influential creators in the medium. Otomo's career began in the early 1980s, when he published his first manga series, Fireball. He quickly gained recognition for his unique art style and storytelling, and went on to create several other series, including Domu, Short Peace, and Memories. In 1988, he released Akira, which quickly became a sensation in Japan and around the world. The manga was adapted into an animated film in 1988, and was the first animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award. Otomo has since gone on to direct several live-action films, including Steamboy and Short Peace. He has also written and directed several animated films, including Spriggan and Combustible. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the Grand Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival and the Grand Prize at the Angoulême International Comics Festival. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential creators in the manga and anime industry.