Yoshitaka Amano(Japanese, b.1952) is an illustrator and animator best known for his work on comic books and video games. Born in Shizuoka, Japan, he developed an interest in art at an early age. After taking a job at Tatsunoko Productions in 1967, he discovered the world of anime. He worked on a number of different anime shows and movies for the company, including Speed Racer, Gatchaman, and Honeybee Hutch. Amano often drew inspiration from Western art, including the Art Nouveau and Pop Art.