The manga industry has been a major part of Japanese pop culture for a while. By the 21st century, anime and manga's popularity has skyrocketed and created tons of jobs in Japan. There's no denying that the medium has had a major role in entertaining people domestically and worldwide.
Some manga authors, or mangakas, struck gold with their series and created timeless classics that fans will watch for generations to come. Whether they write shonen, seinen, josei, or shojo, these mangakas have reinvented the wheel with their legendary series and, ultimately, shaped the industry.
Updated on July 13th, 2022 by Sarah Martin: Since this list was published in 2020, we've added some new information about the mangakas already included and added give more iconic authors whose series have invented the wheel. Manga and anime are a cultural phenomenon, but we wouldn't have them if it weren't for the masterminds behind our favorite series.
13 Masahi Kishimoto Wrote Naruto
Naruto is one of the most iconic animanga series of all time, with the titular protagonist becoming a mascot for the entire medium. Masahi Kishimoto is the mastermind behind this iconic series. Naruto was published from 1999 to 2014 in Shonen Jump, with 700 chapters and 72 volumes.
Naruto instantly caught worldwide attention, and Masahi expressed gratitude that global readers appreciated the concept of ninja. Naruto became the blueprint for the hundreds of other shonen series that were released after it, so it's a must-watch or must-read for every fan of the genre.
12 CLAMP Is A Team Of Female Mangakas
CLAMP is a team of women mangakas known for creating many amazing works. Formed during the mid-1980s, they have sold over 100 million copies of work as of 2007. Together they have created works such as Cardcaptor Sakura, Clamp School Detectives and xxxHolic, demonstrating their genre versatility.
Because of their unique team, CLAMP has established different types of drawing styles. Practically all of their abilities as artists are generally self-taught. This diversity results in highly experimental works that are heavily respected. Not only that, but their writing is also praised for their strong themes.
11 Sui Ishida's Artwork Is Instantly Recognizable
Sui Ishida is the mastermind behind Tokyo Ghoul. The anime adaptation didn't do his brilliant artwork justice, but manga readers know just how talented he is. His artwork is instantly recognizable, and all of his work looks like it belongs in a museum.
Artwork aside, Ishida is a gifted storyteller who makes the audience think with his stories. He combines nightmarish body horror with meaningful statements about society while telling an entertaining story that fans can immerse themselves in.
10 Natsuki Takaya Wrote Fruits Basket
Fruits Basket is the juggernaut of shojo, and Natsuki Takaya is the mastermind behind it all. She said that she created the series solely because her sister wanted her to. She became interested in art because she used to watch her sister draw in first grade. In 2001, she won the Kodansha Manga Award for the series.
Natsuki is gifted at evoking emotions through her storytelling. She singlehandedly created a masterpiece full of well-thought-out characters with unique story arcs, each concluding with a meaningful lesson for the audience.
9 Naoko Takeuchi Created Sailor Moon
Naoko Takeuchi is the legendary creator responsible for Sailor Moon. Winning several awards, Naoko Takeuchi is best recognized for her unique writing and art style.
With her writing, Takeuchi was able to combine powerful action with the romantic writing shojo is known for. Her art style is incredibly bright and colorful, with an almost wispy look to her creations, giving them a unique identity. Fans can point out some of her work and recognize it as the creation of the mastermind behind Sailor Moon.
8 Moto Hagio Is The Goddess Of Shojo Manga
Moto Hagio is considered the goddess of shojo manga. Because of her long life as a mangaka, her works have influenced many other influential creators. Considered a pioneer within the industry, her style is best known for its delicate and mystical appearance.
A sense of maturity runs prominently throughout all of Moto Hagio's works. All of this results in an award-winning creator who has captivated audiences for decades.
7 Takehiko Inoue Is An Award-Winning Mangaka
Takehiko Inoue's art evolution is captivating, proving why he's such a decorated, award-winning mangaka. From Slam Dunk to Vagabond, his storytelling and art style have become more impressive over time. His work ages like the best fine wine.
However, Takehiko's art isn't the only reason he's legendary. His profound writing about humanity and questioning people's inherent morality makes him one of the industry's most important seinen mangakas, and fans appreciate his thought-provoking work.
6 Naoki Urasawa Is A Legend In The Manga Industry
Naoki Urasawa has been in the manga industry for years, and his works on titles like Monster and Pluto have cemented him as an absolute legend. His art style may not be as intricate or detailed as other artists, but his storytelling skills compensate for it.
Urasawa tells enriching, emotional stories that immerse the reader with each page turn. His plots are always filled with interesting plot twists and unexpectedly intricate weavings that reading his work can be a surreal experience sometimes, even if he opts for a simpler plot.
5 Kentaro Miura Was The Mastermind Behind Berserk
Berserk is the juggernaut of seinen manga. It's dark, gritty, thought-provoking, and full of well-written characters who drive the story. Kentaro Miura was the mastermind behind the series, known for his dark imagery and grim storytelling.
Miura was incredibly hard working, and it shows with how consistent the series has always been, despite his constant art style changes. The series became grander and more detailed with time, and Miura even won the Tezuka Osuma Cultural Prize in 2002. He passed away in 2021, leaving behind a legendary series and a dedicated fanbase.
4 Hirohiko Araki Is The Author Of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
Hirohiko Araki's career has been nothing short of legendary. As the author of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, he's been toiling away at the series since the late 80s and isn't showing any signs of slowing down soon. He started out with a bulky, muscular silhouette for all of his characters but gradually evolved into drawing lankier, supermodel-looking characters.
Araki has always been a master at creating visually appealing designs and has quite an eye for fashion. Because of this, the series has collaborated with luxury fashion brands like Gucci and Balenciaga. His art is also displayed at the Louvre, the same museum as the Mona Lisa.
3 Eiichiro Oda Created One Piece
Easily one of the most popular mangakas currently working today, Eiichiro Oda has turned One Piece an iconic series, instantly recognizable worldwide. His cartoony yet heavily detailed art style helped make it recognizable all over the world. His writing and immense worldbuilding have made him legendary to the entire industry.
A lot of One Piece's success has to do with Eiichiro Oda's workaholic tendencies since his work output has also made him infamous. Even when he's hospitalized, nothing can stop Oda from making art.
2 Akira Toriyama Is One Of The Most Recognizable Names In The Industry
Akira Toriyama is one of the most recognizable names in the industry. Thanks to his wonderful work, from Dr. Slump to Dragon Ball, his books have sold millions all over the world. Not only that, but his works have also gotten numerous adaptations from anime and even a few movie works. His art has stuck around in the public subconscious for many decades.
A lot of this is thanks to Toriyama's simple yet bold approach to his storytelling and art. While they aren't as complex as what other creators have put out over the years, his charming worlds and recognizable art style have stuck around with fans to this very day. Not only that, but Akira Toriyama has introduced conventions that help influence the shonen industry.
1 Osamu Tezuka Laid The Foundations For Many Genres
Osamu Tezuka is by far the most prolific creators in the entire medium. He has brought many conventions that have laid the foundations for many genres from shonen to seinen. His Disney-esque art style is nothing short of iconic, and his writing has captivated creators of all generations.
Tezuka has created iconic series such as Astro Boy, a story about a robotic child who deals with themes regarding robotics and humanity. He has also created darker works like Dororo, which dealt with the recovery of a Ronin who regains his body parts by killing demons. Finally, he talked about the concept of immortality with his ambitious work Phoenix.