Gigantor creator dies after fire: (update to earlier entry) The Mainichi Daily News reports that cartoonist Mitsuteru Yokoyama, best known as the creator of the Gigantor series, has died from injuries suffered in a fire at his Tokyo home. Yokoyama was 69.

Gigantor (Tetsujin 28-go), which first appeared on TV in 1963, is considered to be the first of the Japanese giant robots. The original series ran for 96 episodes, while the U.S. version lasted for 52. Yokoyama, who was particularly prolific in the 1960s, created Rokushin Gattai God Mars, Babel II and Kamen No Ninja Akakage.

Yokoyama also was responsible for Mahoutsukai Sari (Sally, the Witch), which the Ultimate Manga Guide calls "the basis for the first shoujo and magical girls-anime ever."