Lynn Okamoto

Lynn Okamoto, born on January 6, 1970, in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, is a manga artist and former employee of Bandai and Arc System Works. His entry into the creative industries began with part-time work at Arc System Works during his student years, contributing to the development of TV and Windows games based on the Sailor Moon series. After graduating, Okamoto joined Bandai, where he continued his involvement in game development, specifically planning puzzle games for Sailor Moon. Although game development was an early ambition, he eventually shifted his focus. At the age of 28, he resigned from Bandai to pursue his aspiration of becoming a professional manga writer, marking a significant career turning point.

Okamoto made his manga debut in January 2000 with a short story also titled “Elfen Lied,” which is distinct from his later well-known series. This initial work was a romantic drama focusing on young musicians and was his only manga before becoming a professional artist. His professional career as a mangaka is primarily recognized for creating original manga series. His major works include “Elfen Lied” (2002–2005), which was serialized in Weekly Young Jump and later adapted into a 13-episode anime series, and “Brynhildr in the Darkness” (2012–2016), also serialized in Weekly Young Jump. He is recognized for his contributions as both a writer and artist across many of his projects, with the exception of “Kimi wa Midara na Boku no Joou” (2012), for which Mengo Yokoyari provided the art.

His other notable works include “Nononono” (2007–2010), a romantic drama centered on ski jumping, and his current ongoing series, “Parallel Paradise,” which began serialization in Kodansha’s Weekly Young Magazine in 2017. Okamoto also wrote a short story named “MOL,” which is considered a prototype for both “Elfen Lied” and “Brynhildr in the Darkness.” This story featured a boy encountering a girl who was the subject of experiments, and it was officially published a year after “Elfen Lied” concluded. He has maintained a private personal life, residing in Tokyo, Japan, while continuing his work in the manga industry.