Takao Saitō is the original creator of the long-running Japanese manga series Golgo 13. As the author and illustrator of this property, his work has served as the source material for numerous anime adaptations, including the original video animation Golgo 13: Queen Bee.

Saitō created Golgo 13, a manga that follows the professional assassin known as Golgo 13. The series has been published in Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine since October 1968. The manga has received significant industry recognition, winning the 21st Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga in 1975 and the Grand Prize at the 2002 Japan Cartoonists Association Awards.

The anime adaptation Golgo 13: Queen Bee, released in 1998, is an original video animation that was produced by several companies including Saito Production and Shogakukan. The film was directed by Osamu Dezaki, with a screenplay by Akihiro Tago, and is explicitly based on the manga by Takao Saitō. In this production, Saitō is credited as the adapted author, meaning his original manga work was the foundation for the animated story.

Beyond Queen Bee, Saitō's creation has also been adapted into other animated works and live-action films. The character of Golgo 13 has been a recurring figure in Japanese popular culture since the early 1970s. Saitō's significance in the manga industry is primarily defined by the longevity and consistent popularity of Golgo 13, which stands as one of the longest-running manga series ever published.