Kenichi Sonoda

Kenichi Sonoda, born December 13, 1962, in Japan, is a manga artist and animation character designer best known for his action-packed, gun-heavy series *Gunsmith Cats*. He began his career in anime, working as a character designer on projects like *Bubblegum Crisis* before transitioning to manga. His signature style blends detailed mechanical and firearm illustration with dynamic, kinetic action sequences and a touch of playful, character-driven humor.

Sonoda is the sole creator of *Gunsmith Cats*, which follows the adventures of gun shop owner and bounty hunter Rally Vincent and her partner Minnie May. The series, along with its spin-offs like *Gunsmith Cats: Bean Bandit* and *Gunsmith Cats: Goldie vs Misty*, showcases his deep knowledge of weaponry and car chases, earning him a dedicated Western audience. He also co-created the manga *Riding Bean* and *Ex-Driver*, further cementing his reputation for automotive and firearm-centric stories. His key collaborator is often himself, as he writes, pencils, and inks his own work.

Later in his career, Sonoda continued to produce manga and occasionally returned to character design for anime. He has received recognition for his contributions to the medium, including a Harvey Award nomination for *Gunsmith Cats*. His work remains influential for its meticulous action choreography and strong, capable female protagonists.