"Dr. Stone" is a manga series that was serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" and tells a science-themed survival story. As of the end of serialization in March 2022, it was a huge hit, with a total circulation of over 12 million copies, including digital versions. The first and second series of the anime adaptation have already aired, and the special edition, "Dr. Stone Ryusui," is scheduled to air in the summer of 2022, generating a lot of buzz. In this article, we'll introduce the original author, Inagaki Riichiro, while also touching on his other works!
Introduction: What kind of story is it?
Senku Ishigami, a young science student with an incredible mind, and Taiju Oki, a man of confident physical strength and straightforward personality, are best friends. Taiju has a crush on a childhood friend and is about to confess his feelings to her. However, the next moment, the sky is covered in a dazzling light, and a mysterious phenomenon occurs in which all of humanity is "petrified." Approximately 3,700 years later, in the "Stone World," a world where all civilization has disappeared, Senku and Taiju are freed from stone and reunite, vowing to rebuild civilization from scratch.
Original Author: Riichiro Inagaki
The original author of Dr. STONE is Riichiro Inagaki. Born in 1976, he is a male manga artist and also serves as the representative of a manga production and copyright management company. He first became interested in manga in junior high school, and after reading Fujiko Fujio's autobiographical manga work "Manga Michi," he decided to become a manga artist. During high school, he became immersed in the world of manga, even competing in the Manga Koshien tournament. He then went on to work for a manga and film production company, where he also worked as a drawing assistant.
Moved to Shonen Jump
Inagaki submitted a one-shot version of "Eyeshield 21" to Weekly Shonen Jump in 2001, winning the first-ever Grand Prize in the storyboard category. The manga was then adapted by Yusuke Murata, who was in charge of illustrations, and a weekly serialization was announced. When the editorial department asked Inagaki if he wanted to draw the illustrations himself for "Eyeshield 21," he replied that he wasn't very good at drawing, so he would focus on the storyboards and have someone with more skill draw the illustrations. He expressed his intention to devote himself to being a manga original author. As a result, the series was serialized with Inagaki as the original story and Murata as the illustrator. "Dr. Stone" also had separate writers and illustrators. "Eyeshield 21" became a huge hit and became Inagaki's signature work before "Dr. Stone."
Can Inagaki draw? ?
In addition, Inagaki has previously drawn manga for "Big Comic Spirits," so he can draw. Apparently, when asked to sign autographs, he sometimes adds his own style of illustrations to the characters.
Respect for Staff
He's known for caring deeply about his staff and showing them respect. He doesn't particularly like the term "assistant," and believes that even assistants are still doing great creative work, so they should be called "art staff" like in the movies. Because Murata uses staff in his illustrations, the "Eyeshield 21" manga always includes a staff credits. This episode shows how much he cares about and respects his staff. The staff members whose names are listed are sure to be happy and motivated.
About Inagaki's Hobbies
One of Inagaki's hobbies is gaming. He's been creating computer games since he was in elementary and junior high school, and continues to create games even while his own works are still being serialized. He even waited in line for an hour at a toy store to buy a Wii on its release date, and participated in the national online tournament for the DS version of the quiz game "Quiz Magic Academy." Creating games as an elementary or junior high school student requires more than just curiosity; it seems like it requires knowledge, talent, and a spirit of inquiry. Perhaps he would have been a highly successful person even if he had worked for a game development company.
Summary of Inagaki Riichiro
This article introduces the original author, Inagaki Riichiro. It may take courage for someone involved in manga to become an original author just because he's not good at drawing. However, I believe it's his dedication to his role as original author that has allowed him to create works with such wonderful settings and storylines. I'm looking forward to Inagaki's new work! That's all for now. Thank you for reading.
