Person: Ashida Toyoo

Ashida Toyoo was born April 21, 1944 in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He was an animator and director. Ashida was the representative director of Studio Live.

After graduating from Chiba Commercial High School he started working in the advertising department at Yamazaki Bakery but left shortly afterwards and started his carreer as animator. In 1969 he joined Tezuka Osamu's Mushi Pro., where he stayed at till it went out of business. 1974 he marked his debut as animation director on the hit series Uchuu Senkan Yamato. In 1976 he founded his own animation studio, Studio Live. In the same year he became character designer for UFO Senshi Daiapolon.

Following that he took over the character design position for hit series like Mahou no Princess Minky Momo and Ginga Houryuu Vifam and established himself as one of the most popular character designers in the '80. 1984 finally, he debuted as director on the tv series Fist Of The North Star which is to date one of his most popular works and is associated with his name.

He is also known under the pseudonyms 江古田豊 and いんどり小屋 as well as マンドリルクラブ.