Working under the biggest names in the manga industry is a huge privilege. It’s obviously tiring given the long and difficult process of manga creation, but for Tatsuki Fujimoto’s former assistants, the experience significantly shaped them into becoming the biggest names in manga today.
It’s not uncommon for famous mangakas to have assistants, since the workload takes a huge toll on their mind and body, especially if they’re releasing weekly chapters.
Not because they have the talent and skills for it; they can do everything from the conceptualization down to the inking and coloring, especially when there’s a deadline they have to meet.
Who Are Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Most Famous Assistants?
Tatsuki Fujimoto has three former assistants who continue to impress manga readers and anime viewers alike with their famous works.
The first one is Tatsuya Endo, who created Spy x Family, one of the hottest anime and manga series of the current generation, starring the beloved Forger family.
The second one is Yuji Kaku, who created Hell’s Paradise, which tells the story of Gabimaru and the prisoners.
Last but not least is Yukinobu Tatsu, who is renowned for the Dandadan manga series which will debut its anime adaptation in late 2024.
All of them assisted Tatsuki Fujimoto in creating the dark fantasy, dystopian, and supernatural thriller manga series called Fire Punch before releasing their own hit manga series.
What the Experience Was Like Working for Tatsuki Fujimoto
Fujimoto’s assistants had a positive time working alongside him on Fire Punch.
In a special interview, it was revealed that they would often discuss the reality of their characters in an izakaya, where Tatsuki Fujimoto would have a peaceful reaction while Yoshinobu Tatsu and Yuji Kaku would have conflicting answers when asked about what a character should eat.
Lin Shihei, Shonen Jump’s prolific manga editor, even said in the same interview that Fujimoto’s assistants are not like assistants to him but rather more like friends in the same profession.
Fans are quick to note the inspirations that Tatsuki Fujimoto's assistants derive from his works, resulting in both positive and negative online discussions.
Some argue that their works are simply replicas of Tatsuki Fujimoto's masterpieces, but many believe otherwise.
After all, it is not uncommon for mangakas to be inspired by each other's work because they have been collaborating and acquiring knowledge from each other for so long, which has influenced their creative and thinking processes in the long run.
How Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Assistants Became the Biggest Names in Manga
Tatsuki Fujimoto's impact on his former assistants is simply one of the many reasons they've achieved success in the manga industry.
Despite parallels in their works, there are significant distinctions between these manga artists and how they approach the most technical aspects.
Yuji Kaku, for example, stated in an interview that if he were to draw the same subject as Tatsuki Fujimoto, their approaches would differ.
Accordingly, Tatsuki Fujimoto would just depict his favorite thing as is, whereas Yuji Kaku would consider how he might represent his favorite characteristic in the simplest way possible, resulting in more detail.
Tatsuki Fujimoto, on the other hand, stated in a subsequent interview that witnessing Hell's Paradise and Dandadan inspired him to improve his manga skills. He not only resumed watching movies, but he also resolved to practice drawing extensively.
More than anything else, these mangakas have a fantastic relationship that motivates them to grow and improve as time goes on.
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