Hiroshi Sasagawa (笹川 ひろし, Sasagawa Hiroshi, born July 9, 1936) is a Japanese anime director, writer, and manga artist who was prolific at Tatsunoko Production and has served as a continued advisor for the company.
Bio[]
Hiroshi Sasagawa was born in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. He initially became a lacquer craftsman , but was unable to give up his dream of becoming a manga artist, so he formed the Aizu Manga Study Group with Shogo Hirata and others, and continued to submit manga to Osamu Tezuka, an author he had admired. This led to Tezuka inviting him to move to Tokyo in 1957, where he became Tezuka's first full-time exclusive assistant. Sasagawa then made his debut as a manga artist with Detective School, which was serialized in the monthly magazine Shonen Gaho from the September 1958 issue to the March 1959 issue.
The Path to Tatsunoko[]
In 1959, he left his position as Tezuka's chief assistant and went independent with manga. He continued to serialize The Iron Baby in Shonen Gaho magazine. Sasagawa then became fascinated with animation after drawing two storyboards for Mushi Production 's TV anime adaptation of The Mighty Atom/Astro Boy and approached Tatsuo Yoshida, who he was friends with at the time, about producing an anime. At the time, Tatsunoko Production was a manga studio run by the Yoshida brothers, but around the same time, Toei Animation approached Tatsunoko with a plan to co-produce a TV anime for Space Ace. Although the talks fell through, Yoshida decided to go ahead with anime production on his own with Tatsunoko Production. Sasagawa and Yoshida's assistant, Seitaro Hara (who had received training as an animator at Toei Animation) supported him as directing staff members from the moment Tatsunoko's animation studio was founded.
In 1967, the series I'm Gazula, based off a manga of Sasagawa's, launched Tatsunoko into a new direction of comedy animation. However, while Sasagawa would direct various comedic and serious anime at the company, the Time Bokan series, which began airing in 1975, became his representative work. As a chief director at Tatsunoko, he recruited trainees in 1975 and hired Koichi Mashimo, Hidehito Ueda, Mizuho Nishikubo, and Mamoru Oshii as new directors (who would later be known as "Tatsunoko's Four Heavenly Kings").
As Hisayuki Toriumi declined to direct Gatchaman II and no other directors stepped up, Sasagawa felt he had no other choice but to take on the project, bringing Seitaro Hara along with him as co-director. Sasagawa would bow out after II, leaving Gatchaman Fighter for Hara to be the chief director of.
Shin-Ei era[]
At the invitation of his old friend Shogo Hirata, Sasagawa left Tatsunoko in September 1979 and moved to Yoshinobu Nishizaki's Office Academy. He also set up his own agency, Sasagawa Office. After leaving Tatsunoko, he continued to work on the Time Bokan series, and at Office Academy, he worked on Maeterlinck's Blue Bird: Tytyl and Mytyl's Adventure and Space Battleship Yamato III.
Office Academy also became a subcontractor for Shin-Ei Animation, and Sasagawa was appointed as the general director of Ninja Hattori-kun. Even after Office Academy was dissolved in 1983 and his contract with Yoshinobu Nishizaki ended, he continued his focus on Shin-Ei Animation's works. At this time, Sasagawa was regularly directing two or three series a week, and at Hirata's urging he also began writing children's novels, so he was extremely busy.
Animation 21[]
In 1990, Tetsuo Kanno, the first TV Asahi producer for Doraemon and president of the video planning company Staff 21, approached Sasagawa about starting an animation studio, and in 1991 he participated in the launch of Animation 21, a subsidiary of the company. Sasagawa supervised the production of Salad Ten Braves Tomatoman, Oi! Ryoma, Pokonyan, and The Lottery of Cambyses, but due to the effects of the collapse of the bubble economy , the business did not last long, and after a few years it was dissolved along with Staff 21.
Return to Tatsunoko[]
After participating as a supervisor in the OVA Time Bokan: Royal Revival, Sasagawa would make his way back to Tatsunoko Production in 1994 as an advisor and director of the planning department. He would wind up being in charge of many revival projects at the company, but only one (Mach Go Go Go 1997) would make its way out.
He would later make a cameo appearance in the live-action film Yatterman, released in March 2009, as a customer who is tricked by the Doronbo gang's fraudulent business practices.
Body of Work[]
Manga[]
- Detective School (探偵学校): September 1958 to March 1959, Shonen Gaho
- The Wolf on the Last Bus (最終バスの狼): Omoshiro Book summer special edition for 1958
- The Girl from the Stars (星からきた少女): Shojo Book summer special edition for 1958
- Mr. Himana Jumps Out (日真名氏とびだす): Appendixes for November and December 1958, January 1959, Omoshiro Book.
- The Phantom of the House Chimney (えんとつ屋敷の怪人): Hinomaru New Years' special issue 1959
- Mysterious Dog Head Tower (謎の犬首塔): February 15, 1959, Akashiya Shobo kashihon
- I am Noro-kun (ぼくはノロくん): March 1959, Fun 3rd Grader
- Lili Knows (リリがしっている ): Shojo Book March 1959 appendix "The Green Pearl"
- The Iron Baby (鉄腕ベービー ): May 1959 to July 1960, Shonen Gaho
- Hito-san (ヒットさん ): Shojo Book May 1959 appendix "The Green Pearl"
- Thiller Club (スリラークラブ): Shojo Book summer special edition for 1959
- The Boy from the Future (未来からきた少年): April to September 1959, Junior High 2nd Year
- Baseball Knowledge Book (野球物知りブック): July 1959 appendix, Elementary School 5th Grade
- Poole Knew (プールは知っていた): April 1960, X #8 (Suzuki Publishing). Work by Tosumi Koshida
- The Lens Aimed at the Earth (地球をねらうレンズ): April to September 1960, Junior High 2nd Year
- Giant Gan-san (巨人ガンさん): May 1960, Hinomaru
- The Invisible Man Part 1 (透明人間 一): May 15, 1960 (Suzuki Publishing)
- Boy Temujin (少年テムジン): June to December 1960, Shonen. Work by Mayumi Norimasa
- The Invisible Man Part 2 (透明人間 二): June 15, 1960 (Suzuki Publishing).
- The Monster Marine Kong (怪獣マリンコング): July 1960 appendix, August 1960, Manga King. Work by Sozo Yanagawa.
- The Invisible Man Part 3 (透明人間 三): July 15, 1960 (Suzuki Publishing)
- Revenge of the Monster Marine Kong (怪獣マリンコングの逆襲): Summer vacation special issue, September to November 1960, Manga King. Work by Sozo Yanagawa.
- Detective Chief Ghost Tower (探偵長 幽霊塔): Shojo Book summer vacation special issue for 1960
- Magic Man (マジックマン): Hinomaru New Years' special issue for 1961
- Who is the Phantom Thief (怪盗はだれだっ): Shonen New Years' special "Detective Book"
- Fossil Man V (化石人間Ｖ): Adventure King New Years' special edition
- Guess the Culprit Quiz Manga: A Captain's Confession (犯人あてクイズまんが ある船長の告白): March 1961, Adventure King
- Phantom Submarine Marine K (まぼろし潜隊マリンＫ): May to June 1961, Hinomaru.
- Wanwan Detective (ワンワン刑事): November 16, 1961 to July 22, 1962, Weekly Shonen Magazine
- Bullet Tommy (弾丸トミー): Hinomaru New Years' special issue for 1962
- Boy President (少年社長): July 29th to December 23rd, 1962, Weekly Shonen Magazine
- The Secret of 72 Hours (七十二時間のひみつ): August 1962 appendix, Fun 3rd Grader
- Spark Detective (スパークたんていちょう): September 1962 to March 1963, Fun 2nd Grader
- Hoihoi Momotaro (ホイホイ桃太郎): May 1963, Elementary School 4th Grade
- Demon Dog Goro (魔犬五郎): August 1st to December 22nd, 1963, Weekly Shonen Magazine
- Boro War Squad (ボロ戦部隊): Separate Edition Shonen Sunday summer vacation 1963 special, "Manga and the Pacific War"
- The Shabby Fleet (おんぼろ艦隊): March 1, 1964, Weekly Shonen Sunday
- Charge! The Borotan Corps. (とつげき！！ボロタン部隊): Separate Edition Shonen Sunday spring 1964 special, "Fun Manga and Professional Baseball"
- The Shabby Bomb Squad (おんぼろばくげき隊 ): Separate Edition Shonen Sunday summer vacation 1964 special
- Shabby Coach (おんぼろコーチ): Separate Edition Shonen Sunday autumn 1964 special
- A Shabby Curse on You~ (おんぼろうらめしや～): Weekly Shonen Sunday summer vacation extra number for July 27, 1966
- The Shabby Monster Gazula (オンボロ怪獣クズラ): March 13th and May 22nd issues of Weekly Shonen Sunday, 1966
- Sunday Mystery Theater (サンデー迷作劇場): October 30, 1966, Weekly Shonen Sunday
- The Shabby Monster Gazula's First Laugh (オンボロ怪獣グズラの初笑い): January 8, 1967, Weekly Shonen Sunday
- The Shabby Monster Gazula: The Space Pilot Story (オンボロ怪獣クズラ 宇宙パイロットの巻): New Years' Masterpiece special issue, Weekly Shonen Sunday
- A Fake Story (ニセモノ物語): March 1967, Elementary School Fourth Grade
- Shabby Grand Prix (おんぼろグランプリ): Weekly Shonen Sunday spring break Ultra Manga issue for April 1, 1967
- The Blood Sucker Norocula (吸血ノロキュラ～): October 1st to December 31, 1971, Mainichi Elementary School Newspaper
- Space Nomidar (宇宙ノミダー): July 1st to September 30th, 1972, Mainichi Elementary School Newspaper
- Transforming Panta (変身パン太): April 2nd to June 30th, 1973, Mainichi Elementary School Newspaper
- Mirror Tunnel (鏡のトンネル ): April 1st to June 29th, 1974, Mainichi Elementary School Newspaper
- The Funny Barabot (おかしなバラボット): July 2nd to September 30th, 1975, Mainichi Elementary School Newspaper
- Seven Big Robos (七人のビッグロボ): October 1st to December 31st, 1976, Mainichi Elementary School Newspaper
- Clown Planet (ピエロの惑星): May 1979, Ryu
- Big and Small Villages (大きくて小さな村): January 1, 1981, Mainichi Elementary School Newspaper
Direction Department (Tatsunoko)[]
These works are ones he was the General Director for, vs. episodic directing
- Space Ace
- Mach Go Go Go- this was decided retroactively, as Sasagawa points out the series actually had a few people that could be considered "general directors" but that Tatsunoko did not keep proper surviving records from then
- I'm Gazula
- Dokachin
- Hakushon Daimao
- Inakappe Taisho
- Kabatotto
- Tamagon the Counselor
- Kerokko Demetan
- Neo-Human Casshan
- The Song of Ladybug
- Tekkaman the Space Knight (episodes 1-13)
- Time Bokan
- Paul's Miraculous Adventure
- Time Bokan Series: Yatterman
- Ippatsu Kanta-kun
- Gatchaman II
- Time Bokan Series: Zenderman
- Phantom Thief Lupin: The Mystery of 813
- Time Bokan Series: Time Patrol Team Otasukeman
- Time Bokan Series: Yattodetaman
- Time Bokan Series: Gyakuten! Ippatsuman
- Time Bokan Series: Itadakiman
- I'm Gazula (remake)
- Time Bokan: Royal Revival - Supervisor
- Dokkan! Robotendon
- Cinderella Story
- Mach Go Go Go (1997) - General director/supervisor
- Legend of the End of the Century: Wonderful Tatsunokoland -The Disc Alien UBO-
- Time Bokan 2000: Phantom Thieves Kiramekiman - General director/supervisor
- Call On Me, I'll Jump Out! Akubi-chan - General director/supervisor
- Time Bokan Series: Yatterman (2008) - General director/supervisor
- One Hit! Devander
- Yatterman Night - Supervisor
- MUTEKING THE DANCING HERO - Executive director
Direction Department (Other companies)[]
- Maeterlinck's Blue Bird: Tytyl and Mytyl's Adventure (Office Academy)
- Space Battleship Yamato III (Office Academy)- Storyboards and direction
- Ninja Hattori-kun (Shin-Ei)
- Tokimeki Tonight (Toho, Group TAC)
- Perman (Shin-Ei)
- Oyoneko Bu-Nyan (Shin-Ei)
- Q-taro the Ghost (Shin-Ei)
- Ultra B (Shin-Ei)
- Tsurupikahagemaru-kun (Shin-Ei)
- Don Don Dommel and Ron (Wako Production)
- Biriken (Shin-Ei)
- Dash! Yonkuro (Staff 21)
- Heisei Genius Bakabon (Studio Pierrot)
- Ultraman Graffiti: Come to Ultraman Country (Tsuburaya Productions)
- Chronicles of the Sengoku Warlords: The Blast Boy Hissatsuman (Artmic)
- Gatapishi (Shin-Ei)
- The Lottery of Cambyses (Animation 21)
- Dodge Danpei: The Blazing Ball Fighter (Animation 21)
- Salad Ten Braves Tomatoman (Animation 21)
- Oi! Ryoma (Animation 21)
- Pokonyan! (Animation 21)
Light Novels[]
- "The Stories of Detective Chief Halley" Poplar Publishing SF/Mystery Series (1986-1989)
- "The Prank Twin Detectives" Poplar Publishing SF/Mystery Series (1987-1995)
Bibliography[]
- "Even a Pig Will Climb a Tree if You Flatter It": My Path in Manga and Anime (Wanibooks, 2000)
Trivia[]
- His manga series Demon Dog Goro, which he serialized in the weekly manga magazine Shonen King, launched in 1963, was eventually made into an animated feature film by Toei Animation in 1972 as Demon Dog Liner 0011: Transform!, but Sasagawa was not involved in the animated adaptation as he was still employed at Tatsunoko Production at the time. Demon Dog Goro would also be the prototype for the robot dog Friender that appeared in Neo-Human Casshan.
- Dr. Sasayabu and the Whispering Reporter from the Time Bokan series were modeled after Sasagawa. It is also said that the brainy men of the wicked trios in each series, excluding Julie Kokematsu, were also modeled after him.
- There are two anime pitches believed to be linked to Sasagawa, Wan Bullemon and an adaptation of his novel series The Prank Twin Detectives. Going by the late '80s/early '90s period they were considered to have been drafted in, these may have possibly been for Animation 21 rather than Tatsunoko, though the Wan Bullemon description is somewhat reminiscent of Tatsunoko's scrapped Excessive Wantaro/Excessive Transformer Jardeman pitch (complete with a superhero-themed draft).