Born in 1954 in Miyagi, Katsuhiro Otomo moves to Tokyo in 1973 after the end of his studies. He then adapts a novel by writer Mirime Mateo Falcone into a comic strip Gun Report and works for the Action magazine where he creates short stories.

In 1979, Fireball becomes his first manga of scale, which is followed by Domu in 1980. The writing of Domu continues until 1982 and becomes an immense success. The comic strip gains even the Grande Prix of Science Fiction, hitherto reserved only for novels.

In 1982, he begins publishing the work that will cement his fame, Akira.

Set in a science fiction image of apocaliptic Tokyo, the manga of Akira consumes Katsuhiro for a decade. (Akira)Becomes a famous manga, and Otomo exhibits other talents and is involved with the creation of animes. In 1987, he signs one of the three sketches of Mania-mania Meikyu Monogatari, Koji Chushi Meiri, as well as overseeing the creation of Carnival Robot.

With the same team, he then launches an adaption of Akira for full-length film, in 1988. He then in 1991 created another full-length film, Roujin Z, before continuing on in 1995, with the Memories film, where he focuses in particular on the sketch, Cannon fodder.