Tomoharu Katsumata, a renowned Japanese animator and director, was born in Shimoda City. He began his career in the late 1950s by joining Toei Doga, where he took on planning and assistance tasks. As his skills and experience grew, Katsumata started directing episodes of TV animation series, including "Boy Ninja Fujimaru" and "Rainbow Squadron Robin", in the mid-1960s.
Katsumata's debut in long-feature format film came with "The Three Musketeers' n Boots" in 1972, a sequel to the popular "Puss 'n Boots". This marked the beginning of a prolific period in his career, during which he directed several notable animation TV series based on popular manga by renowned creators. These included "Devil Man" (1972-73),"Mazinger Z" (1972-74),and "Cutie Honey" (1973-74).
Katsumata's impressive resume also features his work on adaptations of mangas by Reiji Matsumoto, such as "Space Battleship Yamato" and "Captain Harlock". In the late 1970s, he formed a long-standing professional partnership with live-action film director Toshio Masuda, with Katsumata focusing on animation and Masuda overseeing the entire project.
The 1990s saw Katsumata work on his most personal and ambitious project to date: a trilogy film adaptation of the classic manga "Sangokushi", which was released between 1992 and 1994. Throughout his illustrious career, Katsumata has left an indelible mark on the world of Japanese animation, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and entertain audiences to this day.
