Umanosuke Iida
Description
Umanosuke Iida, also known as Tsutomu Iida, was a Japanese anime creator, director, screenwriter, and manga artist. He was born on April 30, 1961, in Hokkaido, Japan. Iida began his career in the animation industry as an in-between animator, working on Hayao Miyazaki's film Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind in 1984. His early work included key animation for Lupin III Part III and the film Legend of the Gold of Babylon. Miyazaki recognized Iida's talent for direction and his knowledge of military matters, subsequently appointing him as an assistant director on the 1986 film Castle in the Sky.
Iida made his directorial debut with the 1987 original video animation Devilman: Tanjou Hen, which he also wrote. He followed this with the sequel Devilman: Yocho Sirène Hen in 1990. These works adapted the manga by Go Nagai and established Iida as a director capable of handling dark, action-oriented material. In the 1990s, he directed several OVA series, including Mighty Space Miners and took over directing duties on the popular series Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team. His work on the Gundam franchise extended into manga, as he wrote and illustrated the series Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team U.C.0079+α and Mobile Suit Gundam: Ixtab, Goddess of the Fallen Soldiers. He also served as the director of the Hellsing television anime in 2001.
As an original creator, Iida is best known for the 2005 television series Tide-Line Blue. He co-created the series with Satoru Ozawa and served as its director. The show was produced by Bandai Visual and animated by Telecom Animation Film. Set in a world where a catastrophic event has flooded most of the Earth, the series blends political drama and maritime adventure. For this work, Iida is credited as an original creator, director, and storyboard artist. The series represents a clear example of his own distinct concept being brought to the screen, as opposed to adapting an existing property.
Throughout his career, Iida was known for a powerful and detailed directorial style, which he demonstrated in various storyboard and direction roles for other major series, including episodes of Cowboy Bebop, The Big O, and The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final. He was also a founding member of the influential studio GONZO and contributed to the planning of notable titles such as Blue Submarine No. 6 and Yukikaze. Iida passed away on November 26, 2010, from lung cancer at the age of 49. At the time of his death, he was set to direct the anime Towa no Quon. The project was completed posthumously by co-director Takeshi Mori. His funeral was attended by many industry figures, and Hayao Miyazaki read a eulogy, reflecting Iida's significant but often behind-the-scenes impact on the anime industry from the 1980s until his final years.
Iida made his directorial debut with the 1987 original video animation Devilman: Tanjou Hen, which he also wrote. He followed this with the sequel Devilman: Yocho Sirène Hen in 1990. These works adapted the manga by Go Nagai and established Iida as a director capable of handling dark, action-oriented material. In the 1990s, he directed several OVA series, including Mighty Space Miners and took over directing duties on the popular series Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team. His work on the Gundam franchise extended into manga, as he wrote and illustrated the series Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team U.C.0079+α and Mobile Suit Gundam: Ixtab, Goddess of the Fallen Soldiers. He also served as the director of the Hellsing television anime in 2001.
As an original creator, Iida is best known for the 2005 television series Tide-Line Blue. He co-created the series with Satoru Ozawa and served as its director. The show was produced by Bandai Visual and animated by Telecom Animation Film. Set in a world where a catastrophic event has flooded most of the Earth, the series blends political drama and maritime adventure. For this work, Iida is credited as an original creator, director, and storyboard artist. The series represents a clear example of his own distinct concept being brought to the screen, as opposed to adapting an existing property.
Throughout his career, Iida was known for a powerful and detailed directorial style, which he demonstrated in various storyboard and direction roles for other major series, including episodes of Cowboy Bebop, The Big O, and The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final. He was also a founding member of the influential studio GONZO and contributed to the planning of notable titles such as Blue Submarine No. 6 and Yukikaze. Iida passed away on November 26, 2010, from lung cancer at the age of 49. At the time of his death, he was set to direct the anime Towa no Quon. The project was completed posthumously by co-director Takeshi Mori. His funeral was attended by many industry figures, and Hayao Miyazaki read a eulogy, reflecting Iida's significant but often behind-the-scenes impact on the anime industry from the 1980s until his final years.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview