Toyoo Ashida

Joined Mushi Animation Production in the 60s and was very soon promoted to animation direction of several TV Series including "Moomin" and "Wansa-kun". After his collaboration on the TV series "Space Battleship Yamato" (1974-75), he made his film debut in its theatrical version in 1977. His debut as a director in a long-feature format couldn't have been more successful: "Vampire Hunter D" (1985), made for the Video Animation market. Shortly after he directed his only long-feature film, "Fist of the North Star" in 1986.