Ippei Kuri, who co-founded Japanese anime studio Tatsunoko Production and served as its President from 1987 to 2005, died July 1 at age 83. A funeral for immediate family was held on July 10. No cause of death was mentioned in the brief announcement shared by Tatsunoko Representative Director Hibiki Ito, who expressed “sincere gratitude to the deceased for his kindness during his lifetime.”
Born Toyoharu Yoshida on January 1, 1940, Kuri was the youngest of the three Yoshida brothers, who founded Tatsunoko in 1962. As a child, Kuri was enamored with comics such as Superman that came to Japan with the American soldiers occupying the country after World War II.
He left high school early in 1958 to work as an assistant to his eldest brother, Tatsuo, who found early success as an illustrator and manga artist. The next year saw the publication of Kuri’s first manga, Abare Tengu, in Shueisha’s Z-Boy magazine. He would later write and illustrate for manga adaptations of Judo Boy and Messenger of Allah, and on Minoru Kume’s Mach Sanshirou, among other titles.
At Tatsunoko, Kuri wore any number of hats — from character design and planning to writing, directing and producing. Among the classic 20th century series and movies he helped bring to screen were Space Ace, Speed Racer, Judo Boy, The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee as well as the enduring Gatchaman, Time Bokan and Casshern franchises.
Kuri’s executive roles included Managing Director of Tatsunoko’s subsidiary, Anime Friend — a position he held until his older brother Kenji Yoshida retired, and Kuri assumed the role of President of Tatsunoko. Anime Friend dissolved in 1990. Then in 2005, Tatsunoko Productions became a subsidiary of the Takara toy company, and Kuri stepped down. He was honored with a special award for his lifetime contributions to anime at Animation Kobe 2005.
Kuri was predeceased by Tatsuo, who died at the age of 45 in 1977, and is survived by 88-year-old Kenji.
[Source: Anime News Network]
