✅ Key Takeaways
The most famous manga artists didn’t just create stories—they shaped global culture, each defining their era with iconic characters and groundbreaking storytelling.
From Tezuka’s pioneering vision to Otomo’s cyberpunk revolution, and Oda’s world-building mastery, these mangaka set the standard for what manga and anime could be.
Their influence is generational—mentoring, inspiring, and evolving the art form while reaching audiences far beyond Japan.
What Is a Manga Artist (Mangaka)?
The Most Famous Japanese Manga Artists
Masashi Kishimoto – Naruto
Birth Date: November 8, 1974
Main Work: Naruto (Anime: October 3, 2002)
Genre: Shonen, Action, Adventure, Martial Arts
Masashi Kishimoto is one of the most famous Japanese manga artists, known for creating Naruto—a global phenomenon that has sold over 250 million copies. The series follows a misfit ninja chasing recognition, blending action, emotion, and folklore.
Kishimoto’s storytelling was shaped by his rural upbringing and his love for the tanuki from Japanese myth. He faced multiple rejections before Naruto was serialized in 1999, proving that persistence pays off in the world of famous mangaka.
He credits Dragon Ball and manga’s global boom for Naruto’s success. The franchise expanded into Naruto Shippuden, Boruto, and 11 movies—cementing his legacy as one of the most famous manga artists of all time.
“Part of what made Naruto successful was the globalization of manga…” — Masashi Kishimoto
Akira Toriyama – Dragon Ball
Birth Date: April 5, 1955
Main Work: Dragon Ball (Manga: 1984–1995; Anime: First aired February 26, 1986)
Genre: Shonen, Adventure, Martial Arts, Comedy, Fantasy
Akira Toriyama is one of the most famous mangaka in history, best known for Dragon Ball, which sold over 300 million copies worldwide. His clean linework, expressive characters, and dynamic panel flow helped define the visual style of shonen manga and 90s anime.
Dragon Ball’s anime adaptation boosted the global popularity of anime, especially in the West. Toriyama’s art influenced countless famous anime artists and inspired future legends like Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto). He also created characters for Dragon Quest, blending manga and game design seamlessly.
“I don’t remember the very first animation I saw, but the one that stays deepest in my memory is definitely Astro Boy…” — Akira Toriyama
Eiichiro Oda – One Piece
Birth Date: January 1, 1975
Main Work: One Piece (Anime: First aired October 20, 1999; still ongoing as of June 2025)
Genre: Shonen, Adventure, Fantasy, Action, Comedy
Eiichiro Oda is one of the most famous manga artists of all time, best known for One Piece—the best-selling manga in history with over 520 million copies sold worldwide. Since its 1997 debut, the series has become a cultural icon, praised for its rich world-building, inventive powers, and emotional storytelling.
Deeply inspired by Dragon Ball, Oda often cites Akira Toriyama as his greatest influence. The admiration is mutual—Toriyama invited Oda to preview Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ in 2015 and even referenced him in the film, a gesture Oda called an honor.
With One Piece still going strong decades later, Oda’s legacy is one of creative ambition, humor, and storytelling on a scale few mangaka have ever matched.
Tite Kubo – Bleach
Birth Date: June 26, 1977
Main Work: Bleach (Anime: Oct 5, 2004; Final Arc airing 2022–2025)
Genre: Shonen, Supernatural, Action, Adventure
Tite Kubo is a famous mangaka best known for Bleach, a supernatural action series that ran from 2001 to 2016 and sold over 130 million copies. The story follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a teen who gains Soul Reaper powers and battles spirits from the afterlife.
Kubo drew inspiration from Saint Seiya, GeGeGe no Kitaro, and Dragon Ball, combining yokai folklore with stylish, armor-inspired character design. His clean lines and bold fashion sensibility gave Bleach a distinct visual identity that stood out in the 2000s.
The franchise expanded into a long-running anime, four movies, novels, and more than 20 video games. Its final arc, Thousand-Year Blood War, is currently airing—reaffirming Kubo’s lasting influence on both manga and anime.
Hajime Isayama – Attack on Titan
Birth Date: August 29, 1986
Main Work: Attack on Titan (Anime: April 7, 2013 – Nov 5, 2023)
Genre: Shonen, Dark Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic, Action
Hajime Isayama burst onto the scene with Attack on Titan, his first professional manga—and one of the most famous manga series ever, with over 140 million copies sold. Its bleak world, political complexity, and brutal action redefined modern shonen storytelling.
Initially rejected by Weekly Shonen Jump for being too dark, Isayama stuck to his vision and found a home at Bessatsu Shonen Magazine in 2009. The gamble paid off—by 2011, Attack on Titan had won the Kodansha Manga Award and gone global.
Inspired by martial arts and childhood fears from reading Hell Teacher Nube, Isayama crafted battles with unsettling Titans and grounded realism. Today, he’s not just a famous mangaka, but one of the most distinctive storytellers in manga history.
Yoshihiro Togashi – Hunter x Hunter, Yu Yu Hakusho
Birth Date: April 27, 1966
Main Work: Hunter x Hunter (Anime: Oct 2, 2011)
Genre: Shonen, Adventure, Fantasy, Action, Supernatural
Yoshihiro Togashi is a legendary mangaka known for crafting psychologically rich, genre-defying shonen series. His breakout hit, Yu Yu Hakusho, and the still-running Hunter x Hunter have earned him critical and commercial acclaim, with the latter reaching 84 million copies in circulation by 2022.
Togashi is praised for his strategic battle systems, deep character arcs, and philosophical themes. Hunter x Hunter‘s villain Meruem was even inspired by Dragon Ball‘s Cell—reflecting Togashi’s respect for Akira Toriyama.
He’s also part of manga’s ultimate power couple, married to Sailor Moon creator Naoko Takeuchi. Together, their impact spans both shonen and shojo, shaping two sides of the manga world.
Iconic Female Manga Artists
Some of the most famous manga artists of all time are women whose work has shaped major genres like romance, fantasy, and action.
These famous mangaka have created stories that are both commercially successful and culturally influential, with many adapted into long-running anime and global franchises.
Below is a look at the most iconic female creators whose work continues to influence manga, anime, and popular culture today.
Rumiko Takahashi – Inuyasha, Ranma ½
Birth Date: October 10, 1957
Main Works: Inuyasha (Anime: Oct 16, 2000), Ranma ½ (Anime: April 15, 1989), Urusei Yatsura
Genre: Shonen, Comedy, Romance, Fantasy, Supernatural
Rumiko Takahashi is the best-selling female manga artist in history, with over 200 million copies sold worldwide. Her breakout hit Urusei Yatsura and later successes like Ranma ½ and Inuyasha made her one of the most famous manga authors of all time.
Ranma ½, a romantic comedy with gender-bending themes, became a cultural touchstone and even a trans icon in fandom circles. Her most commercially successful work, Inuyasha, mixed fantasy, folklore, and action in a time-traveling saga that sold over 50 million copies in Japan and led to multiple anime series, films, and a sequel, Yashahime.
Whether in comedy or action, Takahashi’s storytelling continues to resonate—earning her a lasting place among the most influential manga creators in the world.
Naoko Takeuchi – Sailor Moon
Birth Date: March 15, 1967
Main Work: Sailor Moon (Anime: March 7, 1992)
Genre: Shoujo, Magical Girl, Romance, Fantasy
Naoko Takeuchi is the creator of Sailor Moon, one of the most famous manga franchises of all time. First serialized in 1991, the series redefined the magical girl genre by combining school life, romance, and sentai-style action.
Unlike most manga, Sailor Moon was developed alongside its anime adaptation, giving it a strong, unified vision. It became a global hit, with over 1.3 million copies sold on its first edition and a massive wave of merchandise that topped ¥200 million in sales.
With its broad appeal and empowering themes, Sailor Moon broke barriers across gender and culture, cementing Takeuchi’s legacy as one of the most iconic manga artists in history.
CLAMP – Cardcaptor Sakura, xxxHolic
Formed: 1987
Main Works: Cardcaptor Sakura (Anime: April 7, 1998), xxxHolic (Anime: April 6, 2006)
Genre: Shoujo, Fantasy, Supernatural, Romance
CLAMP is a renowned all-female manga team known for their intricate art and emotionally rich storytelling. Formed in the late ’80s, the group evolved into a core team of four and has sold over 100 million manga copies worldwide.
Their standout titles like Cardcaptor Sakura and xxxHolic mix fantasy, folklore, and coming-of-age themes, with many adapted into successful anime. CLAMP’s influence continues today, including recent work on Netflix’s The Grimm Variations.
Hiromu Arakawa – Fullmetal Alchemist
Birth Date: May 8, 1973
Main Work: Fullmetal Alchemist (Anime: Oct 4, 2003; Brotherhood: April 5, 2009)
Genre: Shonen, Adventure, Fantasy, Drama
Hiromu Arakawa is the famous manga artist behind Fullmetal Alchemist, a globally acclaimed series known for its complex world, ethical depth, and emotional storytelling. The manga has sold over 64 million copies worldwide and inspired two anime adaptations, multiple films, and a live-action remake.
Arakawa’s story of two brothers seeking redemption through alchemy struck a chord across cultures, with Brotherhood often ranked among the most popular anime of all time. The franchise also expanded into novels, video games, and merchandise—further solidifying its legacy.
With strong characters and philosophical themes, Arakawa stands out as one of the most influential mangaka in modern shonen.
The Most Famous Horror Manga Artists
Some of the most famous mangaka have made their mark by exploring fear, suspense, and the supernatural through manga.
These artists are known for pushing the boundaries of visual horror, blending psychological tension with unforgettable imagery that has influenced not only manga but horror storytelling worldwide.
Below is a look at the most iconic horror manga artists whose dark and disturbing works have redefined the genre and built lasting global fanbases.
Junji Ito – Uzumaki, Tomie
Birth Date: July 31, 1963
Main Works: Tomie (1987), Uzumaki (1998–1999)
Genre: Horror, Supernatural
Junji Ito is a household name in Japan and one of the most famous mangaka in the horror genre worldwide. His eerie masterpieces—Tomie, about a woman who returns from the dead, and Uzumaki, set in a town haunted by spirals—are celebrated for their haunting imagery and psychological depth.
Ito’s influence has grown far beyond manga. From 2020 to 2022, he sold over 1.5 million copies of his work in the U.S. alone. Unlike many manga artists, he’s known for actively engaging with fans, appearing at events like San Diego Comic-Con and participating in virtual panels.
Winner of the 2022 Eisner Award, Junji Ito has built a rare legacy: an artist whose name is synonymous with horror itself.
Sui Ishida – Tokyo Ghoul
Birth Date: December 28, 1986
Main Work: Tokyo Ghoul (Anime: July 4, 2014)
Genre: Seinen, Horror, Dark Fantasy
Sui Ishida is the famous mangaka behind Tokyo Ghoul, a dark fantasy series known for its blend of horror and psychological depth. Centered on Ken Kaneki, a human-turned-ghoul, the story explores identity, alienation, and survival.
The series became a global hit after its 2014 anime debut, with Tokyo Ghoul and its sequel Tokyo Ghoul:re reaching nearly 50 million copies in circulation. Despite the success, Ishida has said he doesn’t view it as a personal triumph, valuing creative satisfaction over popularity.
He’s since returned with Choujin X, continuing to push his storytelling on his own terms.
Kentaro Miura – Berserk
Birth Date: July 11, 1966 (d. May 6, 2021)
Main Work: Berserk (Manga: 1989–2021; Anime: October 7, 1997)
Genre: Seinen, Dark Fantasy, Horror
Kentaro Miura’s Berserk is a towering work of dark fantasy, celebrated for its intricate artwork, psychological depth, and unflinching brutality. Its influence spans generations of creators across manga, anime, and even video games.
Despite Miura’s passing in 2021, Berserk remains a top-selling manga—topping the U.S. charts again in 2023, outselling even One Piece and Demon Slayer. Miura’s close friend Kouji Mori, along with Studio Gaga, continues the series with Miura’s blessing and notes.
With over 40 volumes and a legacy still growing, Berserk stands as one of the most revered and impactful manga of all time.
Kazuo Umezu – The Drifting Classroom, Reptilia, Cat Eyed Boy
Birth Date: September 3, 1936 (d. October 28, 2024)
Main Work: The Drifting Classroom (1972–1974)
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Shōjo, Psychological
Kazuo Umezu is remembered as the ”Godfather of Japanese Horror Manga”. Fusing grotesque imagery with shōjo manga aesthetics, he redefined horror in manga with titles like Reptilia, Cat Eyed Boy, and The Drifting Classroom, which won the Shogakukan Manga Award in 1974.
Umezu’s work pushed emotional and artistic boundaries, introducing themes of trauma, paranoia, and the surreal at a time when mainstream manga rarely ventured into such territory. His influence on artists like Junji Ito is profound, and his legacy lives on through decades of adaptations, awards, and international acclaim.
Even after retiring in 1995, Umezu remained a cult icon—instantly recognizable in his red-and-white stripes and forever linked to the strange, the eerie, and the unforgettable.
The Most Influential Manga Artists of All Time
Manga as we know it today owes much to a handful of visionary artists whose creativity and innovation shaped the industry from the ground up.
These pioneers didn’t just entertain—they introduced new ways of storytelling, elevated the art form, and opened manga to global audiences. Their influence can be seen across genres and generations, from the structure of modern panel layouts to the emotional complexity of today’s most celebrated characters.
This section highlights the artists whose work set the foundation for manga’s evolution and whose impact continues to resonate through every new series that follows.
Osamu Tezuka – Astro Boy, Black Jack, Kimba the White Lion
Birth Date: November 3, 1928 (d. February 9, 1989)
Main Works: Astro Boy (1952–1968), Black Jack (1973–1983), Kimba the White Lion (1965)
Genre: Shonen, Sci-Fi, Drama, Medical, Adventure
Osamu Tezuka is widely regarded as the “Godfather of Manga and Anime,” a visionary who redefined what comics could be in postwar Japan. At a time when manga was still seen as simple entertainment for children, Tezuka introduced cinematic storytelling, emotional depth, and complex themes that elevated the medium.
His work shaped the entire landscape of manga and anime. Astro Boy became a national and international sensation, selling over 100 million copies and spawning multiple animated series and films produced by his own studios.
As his career progressed, Tezuka’s stories tackled more universal themes—philosophy, science, and morality—while maintaining a style accessible to younger readers.
With over 700 manga titles and 60 anime projects, Tezuka didn’t just influence the industry—he built its foundation.
Hayao Miyazaki – Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Birth Date: January 5, 1941
Main Work: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1982–1994)
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Environmental Drama, Philosophical Fiction
Although best known as a master filmmaker, Hayao Miyazaki’s work as a manga artist is equally profound.
His magnum opus, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, began as a side project but evolved into a 1,000-page epic that explores war, ecology, and the human spirit. Its depth and nuance surpass even its film adaptation, laying the groundwork for many themes that would later define Studio Ghibli.
Miyazaki’s manga is known for richly imagined worlds, morally complex characters, and powerful female leads.
Nausicaä sold millions of copies and became a cornerstone of environmental storytelling in manga, influencing generations of artists and writers. Even beyond manga, its legacy lives on in anime, cinema, and pop culture around the world.
Katsuhiro Otomo – Akira
Birth Date: April 14, 1954
Main Work: Akira (1982–1990)
Genre: Cyberpunk, Sci-Fi, Action
Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira is one of the most influential manga series ever published.
Serialized from 1982 to 1990, it introduced cinematic storytelling techniques and dense, detailed art rarely seen in manga at the time. Its depiction of political instability, psychic power, and social decay helped establish Japanese cyberpunk as a genre in its own right.
The manga’s global impact was unmatched.
Akira became one of the first manga fully translated and published in English, opening the door for the medium in Western markets. It was also adapted into the landmark 1988 animated film, which brought Japanese animation to mainstream attention abroad.
In Japan, Akira has gone through more than 100 printings, and worldwide, it continues to influence creators in comics, film, and animation. Even Osamu Tezuka, often regarded as the godfather of manga, praised Otomo’s work—underscoring Akira’s importance in manga history.
Final Thoughts on The Most Famous Manga Artists & Their Work
Each artist on this list represents more than just a hit series—they defined the spirit of their era. Tezuka laid the foundation in postwar Japan, pioneering the language of manga. Toriyama and Takahashi brought it to the mainstream in the ’80s and ’90s. Today, creators like Oda, Isayama, and Ito continue to push the medium in bold, unexpected directions.
What’s remarkable is how their legacies intertwine—Oda cites Toriyama as a mentor, Togashi is married to Takeuchi, and Junji Ito carries the eerie torch passed down by Kazuo Umezu. Their influence stretches across generations, genres, and borders, making their success not just rare, but extraordinary.
These are the creators who shaped how we imagine, feel, and escape. And their work continues to inspire fans and artists around the world.
If you’re ready to learn more about anime culture, explore our post on the 6 Most Unique Anime Stores in South Africa. And order a custom anime t-shirt inspired by your favorite mangaka’s universe—designed just for you.