Birth: February 1, 1929

Death: January 17, 2008

Birthplace: Hokkaido, Japan

Toriumi Jinzou was a screenwriter who became one of the defining voices of Japanese animation's golden age. He's best known for his work on landmark series like Mach Go Go Go, Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, and Yatterman—shows that helped shape what anime could be.

He started in live-action film at Nikkatsu before transitioning to animation in the mid-1960s. His big break came writing for Astro Boy at Mushi Productions in 1964, but he really made his mark after moving to Tatsunoko Production in 1965, where he contributed scripts to Casshern, Tekkaman, and Time Bokan. Later in his career, he worked extensively with Sunrise on series including Armored Trooper VOTOMS and Ronin Warriors, as well as more experimental fare like Mister Ajikko.

Beyond TV scripts, Toriumi adapted several classics into novels, including Gatchaman and Dororo. He also authored Anime Scenario Nyuumon, a foundational textbook on anime scriptwriting that became essential reading for the industry.

In his later years, he shifted into education and mentorship, teaching at vocational schools and chairing Ohtori Koubou, an organization supporting screenwriters. The Japan Writers Guild honored him with their Scriptwriting Award in May 2000, acknowledging his influence on generations of creators.

He died from liver cancer on January 17, 2008, at age 78. He was survived by his wife, Kazuyo.