The Osamu Tezuka Story: A Life in Manga and Anime to be published in English this July

Anyone who has spent any time around anime and manga will probably have at least heard of the name Osamu Tezuka, and it doesn't take much digging to discover just what a massive influence he is upon the media we all love.

However, such is the size and scale of Tezuka's legacy that is still plenty to be said about his career, which brings us to The Osamu Tezuka Story: A Life in Manga and Anime. This mammoth tome, written by Toshio Ban in liasion with Tezuka Productions, has now been translated into English by Frederik L. Schodt, and courtesy of Stone Bridge Press it's now enjoying a western release.

Having reported on plans to translate the book last October, we can now confirm that this 928-page behemoth is set for a release on 12th July 2016, telling the biographical tale of Tezuka's life and career in manga form, appropriately enough. Here's the full blurb on the book:

A documentary manga biography of the influential artist and the birth and evolution of manga and anime in Japan  

This graphic-format biography of Osamu Tezuka—Japan's "God of Manga"—looks at one of the twentieth century's great creative artists (Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, Black Jack). It is also an anecdotal study of the evolution of Japan's early manga and anime business and its heroes. A never-before-seen popular culture history of postwar Japan, it is sure to fascinate fans and anyone interested in manga, anime, and the potential of the graphic storytelling medium.

Toshio Ban joined Tezuka Productions in 1974 as one of Tezuka's assistants. After working for a period as a free-lancer, he later re-joined Tezuka Productions in 1978 as the sub-chief of manga production for magazines, supporting Tezuka's creative work until the end.

Tezuka Productions Co., Ltd., is the now-legendary company founded by Osamu Tezuka in 1968 to produce his own manga and anime. In the wake of Tezuka's death in 1989, it has continued as a family enterprise, responsible for the development, production, merchandising, licensing, and distribution of his many manga and anime creations, including books, films, and characters. 

Frederik L. Schodt is a translator, conference interpreter, and award-winning author of books on Japanese history and pop culture. He often served as Osamu Tezuka’s English interpreter and was a consultant on one of his animated features and a TV series.

You can find more on the Stone Bridge Press web site, while the book is already available for pre-order on Amazon UK.