Yuki Kikuchi
Description
Yuki Kikuchi is a freelance animator and manga creator from Hokkaido, Japan. In addition to his work in the animation industry, he also serves as a part-time lecturer, teaching design and drawing at Japanese vocational schools and universities.
Kikuchi first gained widespread public attention as an original creator through his self-published manga, 100-nichi go ni Shinu Wani (A Crocodile Who Dies in 100 Days). The series, which depicts the final 100 days in the life of a crocodile as he spends time with his friends and colleagues, was released as a four-panel daily comic on his Twitter (now X) account. He began posting the series in December 2019, and it quickly became a viral sensation in Japan, with each new chapter receiving thousands of likes. He concluded the daily installments in March 2020.
The success of the online series led to a print compilation, which was published by Shogakukan in April 2020. The story was subsequently adapted into an anime film titled 100 Nichikan Ikita Wani (A Crocodile Who Lived for 100 Days), produced by TIA. The film was originally scheduled for release in May 2021 but was postponed to July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2024, it was announced that a sequel manga, 100-Nichi Go ni Shinu Nezumi, focusing on the character Nezumi, began serialization on Kikuchi's X account.
Parallel to his work as a manga author, Kikuchi has maintained an extensive career as an animator and animation director. He has noted that becoming an animator to work on the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series was a personal goal, and he has been involved with the franchise in multiple capacities. His credits for the series include serving as animation director for episodes of the 2012 television series, as well as key animation and animation director roles for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean. He has also contributed to a wide range of high-profile productions as a key animator or animation director, including Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, Spy x Family, Cyberpunk Edgerunners, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, DAN DA DAN, and Orb: On the Movements of the Earth.
Kikuchi's artistic identity is rooted in his versatility across both original storytelling and high-level animation production. His work on the 100-nichi go ni Shinu Wani series demonstrates a talent for character-driven narratives that resonate with a broad audience, while his extensive animation credits showcase his technical skill and adaptability across various genres and styles. Within the industry, he is recognized for his significant contributions as a freelance animator on many of the most acclaimed anime productions of the 2010s and 2020s, as well as for creating one of the notable viral manga successes to emerge from the daily social media publishing format.
Kikuchi first gained widespread public attention as an original creator through his self-published manga, 100-nichi go ni Shinu Wani (A Crocodile Who Dies in 100 Days). The series, which depicts the final 100 days in the life of a crocodile as he spends time with his friends and colleagues, was released as a four-panel daily comic on his Twitter (now X) account. He began posting the series in December 2019, and it quickly became a viral sensation in Japan, with each new chapter receiving thousands of likes. He concluded the daily installments in March 2020.
The success of the online series led to a print compilation, which was published by Shogakukan in April 2020. The story was subsequently adapted into an anime film titled 100 Nichikan Ikita Wani (A Crocodile Who Lived for 100 Days), produced by TIA. The film was originally scheduled for release in May 2021 but was postponed to July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2024, it was announced that a sequel manga, 100-Nichi Go ni Shinu Nezumi, focusing on the character Nezumi, began serialization on Kikuchi's X account.
Parallel to his work as a manga author, Kikuchi has maintained an extensive career as an animator and animation director. He has noted that becoming an animator to work on the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series was a personal goal, and he has been involved with the franchise in multiple capacities. His credits for the series include serving as animation director for episodes of the 2012 television series, as well as key animation and animation director roles for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean. He has also contributed to a wide range of high-profile productions as a key animator or animation director, including Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, Spy x Family, Cyberpunk Edgerunners, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, DAN DA DAN, and Orb: On the Movements of the Earth.
Kikuchi's artistic identity is rooted in his versatility across both original storytelling and high-level animation production. His work on the 100-nichi go ni Shinu Wani series demonstrates a talent for character-driven narratives that resonate with a broad audience, while his extensive animation credits showcase his technical skill and adaptability across various genres and styles. Within the industry, he is recognized for his significant contributions as a freelance animator on many of the most acclaimed anime productions of the 2010s and 2020s, as well as for creating one of the notable viral manga successes to emerge from the daily social media publishing format.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview