Biography of Yoshinobu Yamamoto:
Born in the Kyôto Prefecture, Yamamoto's career in animation began in Ryûichi Yokoyama's Studio Otogi, where he worked as an animator for several years before joining forces with the legendary Osamu Tezuka to found Mushi Production in 1961.
Yamamoto's tenure at Mushi Production spanned an impressive 12 years, during which he held various roles, including producer, supervising director, and director. His first collaboration with the company was on the short film "The Male" in 1962, followed by his executive director role in the groundbreaking TV series "Iron Arm Atom" (also known as "Astro Boy") the very next year.
As the years went by, Yamamoto continued to make significant contributions to Mushi Production, overseeing the theatrical re-edited versions of "Iron Arm Atom" and "Jungle Great Emperor" in 1966. His directorial debut in a full-length feature film came in 1969 with "1001 Arabian Nights", a testament to his growing expertise and versatility.
Yamamoto's final project with Mushi Production was the 1973 film "Belladonna", marking the end of an era for the company. He then joined Toei, where he went on to direct and supervise the first TV series and films of the beloved franchise "Space Battleship Yamato".
After dedicating over four decades to the animation industry, Yamamoto finally retired in 1991, leaving behind a legacy of innovative and groundbreaking work that continues to inspire generations of animators and fans alike.
