The ongoing broadcast of the Thunder 3 anime has brought to light one of the most unexpected creator reveals in recent industry history. For months, internet forums and social media platforms buzzed with speculation regarding the series' distinctive art style, with fans drawing immediate comparisons to Hiroya Oku, the visionary creator behind the landmark sci-fi seinen manga GANTZ. On September 24, 2026, those theories were officially confirmed when Oku took to social media to make a stunning confession.
Hiroya Oku explicitly stated that Yuki Ikeda—credited as the original manga author serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Shonen Magazine starting in 2022—is his secondary pen name. According to the creator, the pseudonym was an intentional storytelling device designed to preserve the narrative punch of the manga's opening chapter. By keeping his established name off the cover, readers approached the cutesy, unassuming character designs without preconceived notions, maximizing the jarring impact when the narrative transitions into its signature hyper-realistic, dangerous alternate reality.
