Toyoo Ashida

was an anime character designer, animation director and director. He was most notable for directing the original Vampire Hunter D anime, as well as for providing character designs for Vifam, Mashin Hero Wataru, Minky Momo and F-Zero GP Legend. He is the founder of the anime production studio, Studio Live and as well as the Japanese Animation Creators Association (JAniCA) along with Satoshi Kon. His designs are similar to those of Akira Toriyama. Toyoo got his style while working on Dr. Slump. He was also heavily inspired by Tex Avery, Bob Clampett, the Fleischer Brothers, Harvey Kurtzman and Jack Davis. Notable works as character design and animator Uchū Shōnen Soran (1965) (in-between animation) Space Boy Soran (1965) (animation) Bōken Gabotenjima (1967) (animation) Moomin (1969) (animation director) Cleopatra (1970) (animation) New Moomin (1972) (animation director) Wansa-kun (1973) (art director) Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1974) (co-character design and animation director) Space Battleship Yamato Series (1974) (animation director on the series from 1974 to 1981) Candy Candy (1976) (animation director) UFO Warrior Dai Apolon (1976–1977) (character design) Manga Sekai Mukashi Banashi (1976–1979) (animation director) Jetter Mars (1977) (animation director) Manga Nihon Emaki (1977) (animation director and storyboard, also director of episode 30) Yatterman (1977) (animation director) Cyborg 009 (1979) (character design) Zendaman (1979) (animation supervisor and animation director) Muteking, The Dashing Warrior (1980) (animation director) Maeterlinck's Blue Bird (1980) (co-character design) Dr. Slump and Arale-chan (1981) (animation director and animation supervisor) Ulysses 31 (1981) (animation director) Space Warrior Baldios: the Movie (1981) (animation director) Kyoufu Densetsu – Kaiki! Frankenstein (1981) (animation and design) Fairy Princess Minky Momo (1982–1994) (series character design) Ginga Hyōryū Vifam (1983–1998) (series character design) Doctor Mambo vs.