Waku Yaniko

Waku Yaniko (Yaniko Waku, August 2, 1926-June 2, 2001) was a Japanese Manga Artist, Character Designer, Writer, Novelist, Musician, Director, Producer, Editor and Animator. He began his career as a musician at the age of 20 though he became a manga artist in 1950 until he died from a heart attack at the age of 74.
== Early Life ==
Waku Yaniko was born in Tokyo, Japan to parents Taku Yaniko and Sakura Nakito. Yaniko was the oldest brother of Rikit Yaniko (1927-2010) and Harako Yaniko (1928-2019).
== Personal Life ==
Waku married businesswoman Masako Marinoko (1927-2010) in 1957 and had four children: Manga artist and producer Machiko Yaniko (born 1966), Writer and Illustrator Tarou Yaniko (born 1970), Record producer and musician Hacomimi Yaniko (born 1974) and Businessman Takashi Yaniko (born 1980).
Waku was the personal friend of many comic artists including Ziraldo (Creator of O Menino Maluquinho), Charles M. Schulz (Creator of Peanuts) and Akira Toriyama (Creator of Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump) but he had a special friendship with Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, whom he met in 1959 and Akira Shigino, who worked on Chiro and Tamako and Tantan and Naoko and the Bakas. 
Waku was fluent in English, German, Italian and Spanish, the languages he learnt from many of his friends and taught to Masako and his children. 
Yaniko, despite most of the religious and political themes in his works, is actually agnostic and apolitical and even frequently accused his colleagues (including himself) of implying that people from minority groups only exist to talk about social issues. 
== Works ==
Bold = Created by Machiko Yaniko
Kaneta & Yumika
Yono Makitos
Asahi and Nippon and Co
Tantan and Naoko and the Bakas
Rikit
The Picomakos
Dr. Morso
Teena-Chan
Kuka
Our Sakura
Chiro & Yamako
Princess Nakatu
Karukangirl
Zilla-kun
Lolaneko
Masako Yaniko
Tajimo-Chan
Sagami-San
Dandy
Kimi
Three Little Pigs
Puruko and Fujio
Fanda-Chan
Masaru
Doragon
Mato & Naka
Yaru the Pig-face
Sakura the Pig-face
Gogo-Kun
Suka
Onigiri
Miriri's Baddish Day
Kaoku & Tokugawa
Psychic Sheep
Grumpu and Tippo
Waku Yaniko's Manga School
Mirrie the Witch
The Children
Narra-Chan
Nana
Ookami-Chan
Paku
Airi
Tikus
Mara
Kappa no Tokuro
Furukobots
Room Life
Pamiko, Akatsuka & Tomoko
Pogotaka
Bekiro Toris
The Gara Book
Pokie's Farm
Bokabat
Mikiko
Butako
Kedamono
Ultraboy and Ultragirl
Rumila
Alien Marī
Ferona Toni and the Evil Peas
Pippi II
Biino
Fujikata
Prince of Hearts
Guro & Ruby
Dr. Tamiko & Yuko
Pan the Pirate
Sisi the Ant
Mizaz & Mukov
Tuba
Baba
Koburos
NyaNya-Chan
Buto Nakuro
Bato Nakuro
Ninja Kasumi
Doroko
Pumpko
Darya
World of Animals
Queen Dokano
Barupon
Witch Cat Suki
Chīsawa Ankā
The Magic Land
Gahminla
Narī
Himiko Nakino
Little Guba
Yoshi & Buta
Mewkon
Marīnume & Heidi
Itazura Zamaru
Naruma's Mama
Journey of the Monkey Queen
PowGirl
Taro's Gags
Makori & Nachira
Super Animals
Chisato-San
Hashire Miiko
Marru
Tooko the Dragon
Nariko
Umemura Tateoko
Dracuko
Catinia
Paraba Botos
Dragon Pig Rumiko
Panda Ling
Night of Wishes
Alijects
The Con Artist and The Dwarf
The Yaniko Chorus
Pagachu
Motoo Yukayama
The Miss Westeria Show
Super Kids
Randel & Snitch
Naneta the Jungle Girl
Robo-Chan
Beekichan
Cluck, Buck and Muck
== Discography ==
Yaniko Chorus
Little List
Witch Doctor
Strange
The Folklorino
Monster Town
Yokai Girl
Gamo
Paku
Mimi
Sora
4 Little Girls
Princess Kaguya
Doroinu
Space Cowgirl Millie
Kayoko & Bada
Makaro
Zombies
The Christmas Song
Robo-Chan
Hashire Miiko
Rana Horrin
Mando is Coming to You
== Breakout Characters ==
Fujiko Mirinoto, a 16-year old girl genius who often helps her uncle try to take over the world.
Pamiko, a 10-year old girl who moved into an apartment with her sister and pets.
Pogotaka, an animal who can bounce on it's tail.
Pagachu, an alien who was banished from her home planet to Earth.
==Trivia==
*Since Yaniko never liked three fingers (something which was inherited by his children), all of his non-human characters would either have five fingers or no fingers at all.
*All of Waku's mangas (except Onigiri and Dandy) were always exclusive to both Shogakukan and Shueisha due to his families' ties with the Ōga family.
*Unlike most Manga Artists, Waku, throughout his career, had worked on all of his Mangas by himself without an assistant.
*Just like Stan Lee, he would often make cameos in many of his work.
*Although he supported LGBT Rights, he has been very critical of Yaoi and Yuri works (especially in manga/animes taking place in high school) due to the fact that a majority of yaoi and yuri works involves rape as well as it just enforces stereotypes.
Category:Writers
Category:Directors
Category:1926 births