Toshio Okada

is an anime producer, author, and lecturer. He is a co-founder and former president of the production company Gainax. He is portrayed by actor Gaku Hamada in the 2014 J-drama Aoi Honō based on the autobiographical manga by his fellow Kazuhiko Shimamoto. He is representative director of Otaking Inc. and Cloud City Inc., as well as the founder of FREEex Inc. He also served as a part-time lecturer at the University of Tokyo's college of art and sciences and as a visiting scholar at Osaka University of Arts' character creative arts department.

Biography Childhood Okada was born on July 1, 1958, in Osaka, Japan. He has written several Japanese-language books on otaku culture, and lectured on the topic as an adjunct instructor at University of Tokyo from 1996 to 1997. He is considered the foremost authority on otaku and in addition, in a tribute to his own otaku-ness"In those days, we didn't have the word "otaku" yet, but my first impression of Okada was, Here's a geek if I've ever seen one.''' With his girly long hair and his freakishly excited way of speaking, all I could think was, This guy is exactly like me?"

University, Daicon Film and General Products Okada was admitted to Osaka Electro-Communication University to learn to use computer in 1978, but he could not obtain any credits in the first year because he had forgotten to hand in his course registration form. For this reason, he stopped completing all the courses necessary for a university degree, and he joined a group of SF fans and went into its activity. He lived on a monthly allowance from his parents who did not know of his dropping out. In the same year, he saw Star Wars as he was dressed as Darth Vader.

In 1981, his group promoted 20th Japanese SF convention (aka Daicon III), and he put DAICON III Opening Animation on the screen. Okada and Yasuhiro Takeda and their group established "Daicon Film" as an anime producing team and commissioned undergraduates of Osaka University of Arts to produce DAICON III and IV Opening Animations for the SF convention. Hideaki Anno, Takami Akai, and Hiroyuki Yamaga who were undergraduates of that university worked on those animations.

Okada realized that he could make a business out of selling SciFi products because he made a large profit selling garage kits and videos of opening animations at this convention. In 1981, he was formally expelled from his university. On February 14, 1982, he opened General Products as a part of his parents company to sell SF Goods in Osaka. Before opening his shop, he borrowed money from his parents and got permission to use term of general products from Larry Niven. In this year, he got married.

Gainax In 1986, he established Gainax as an Anime studio and isolated General Products from his parents company. Okada assumed office as CEO of Gainax and Yasuhiro Takeda assumed office as CEO of General Products. In 1989, Okada's first child was born, a daughter. In 1992, Okada retired from Gainax.

Works Anime Title Year Post Daicon III Opening Film 1981 Planner Daicon IV Opening Film 1983 Planner Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise 1987 Planner Gunbuster 1988 Scriptwriter Otaku no Video 1991 ScriptwriterPlanner

Books Japanese Title English Title Year ISBN ぼくたちの洗脳社会Bokutachi No Sennou Shakai Our Brainwashing Society 1995 オタク学入門Otaku-gaku Nyumon Introduction to Otakuology 1996 東大オタク学講座Toudai Otaku-gaku Kouza University of Tokyo Otaku Studies Course 1997 国際おたく大学 1998年 最前線からの研究報告Kokusai Otaku-gaku 1998-nen Saizensen Kara No Kenkyuuhoukusha International Otaku Studies: 1998 Report From The Front Line 1998 失われた未来Ushinawareta Mirai Lost Future 2000 フロン 結婚生活・19の絶対法則Furon Kekkon Seikatsu: 19 No Zettai Housoku Furon Married Life: 19 Absolute Rules 2001 日本オタク大賞Nippon Otaku Taishou Japan Otaku Award 2003 恋愛自由市場主義宣言!—確実に「ラブ」と「セックス」を手に入れる鉄則Renai Jyuushijyou Shuki Senken! Kakujitsu Ni "Rabu" To "Sekkusu" Wo Te Ni Ireru Tessoku Declaration of Love's Free-market Principles! Absolute Rules Certain To Obtain "Love" and "Sex" 2003 プチクリ!—好き=才能!Puchikuri Suki = Sainou! Little Creator: Love = Talent! 2005 世界征服」は可能か?Sekaiseifuku Wa Kanouka? Is World Conquest Possible? 2007 いつまでもデブと思うなよItsu Made Mo Debu To Omou Na Yo Don't Think You Have To Be Fat Forever 2007 オタクはすでに死んでいるOtaku Wa Sude Ni Shindeiru You Otaku Are Already Dead 2008

Video games Title Year Post Cybernetic Hi-School 1989 Planner Cybernetic Hi-School Scenario I Ver2.0 1989 Planner Cybernetic Hi-School II 1989 Planner Cybernetic Hi-School III 1990 Planner Cybernetic Hi-School IV 1991 Planner

Movie Title Year Post Aikoku Sentai Dai Nippon 1982 Scriptwriter Kaiketsu Noutenki 1982 Actor (as Goro Asuka) The Return of Ultraman 1983 Scriptwriter Noutenki in USA 1984 Director

Career Post Period Organization Shop manager 1982–1984 General Products President 1984–1992 Gainax Company, Limited Visiting scholar 2005–2015 Character Creative Arts Department, Osaka University of Arts Lecturer 2003 Massachusetts Institute of Technology President 1997–current Otaking Co., Ltd Part‐time teacher 1994–1995 College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo President 2011–current Cloud City Co., Ltd

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