On September 24, 2026, one of anime fandom’s most hotly debated mysteries was put to rest when Oku Hiroya, the acclaimed creator of GANTZ, publicly revealed on social media that he is the true author of Thunder 3 — the summer anime series whose credits list a certain “Ikeda Yuki” as its manga writer. That name, it turns out, was a pen name Oku had been using all along.
What Is Thunder 3?
Thunder 3 began serialization in Kodansha’s Monthly Shōnen Magazine in 2022 under the Ikeda Yuki byline. The story follows Tezuka Pyontaro, a middle-school student who accidentally plays a disc borrowed from his homeroom teacher and finds himself pulled into a shockingly “real” parallel world. In that world, Pyontaro wields extraordinary power — but he soon discovers it is also home to extraterrestrial beings.
The series earned a nomination for the Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taisho 2022 award early in its run and concluded in June 2026, before being adapted into the currently airing anime. The finale, Episode #12 “FINAL ATTACK,” is scheduled to broadcast on September 30, 2026.
Why the Pen Name?
Ever since the anime began airing, online communities had been buzzing with observations that the art style of Thunder 3 bore a striking resemblance to GANTZ. Speculation ranged from Ikeda Yuki being a former Oku assistant to outright plagiarism accusations.
At 5:29 p.m. on September 24, Oku settled the debate himself with a candid social-media post:
“Yes. As everyone now knows, Ikeda Yuki is my pen name. The reason I used a pseudonym is that if my real name had been on it, the twist in chapter one would have lost its impact. I wanted first-time readers to be genuinely surprised. I’m grateful to the anime staff — I watch every episode with my heart pounding.”
Oku explained that readers already familiar with GANTZ would have anticipated the arrival of the hyper-realistic parallel world the moment they saw his name on the cover, robbing the story’s central reveal of its punch. By publishing under a pseudonym, the pen name itself became part of the narrative device — arguably the manga’s biggest twist before the story even begins.
Morikawa George: “An Invention-Level Technique”
Hajime no Ippo creator Morikawa George was among those who responded to Oku’s post, writing that he was “amazed by an expressive technique that rises to the level of an invention.” Morikawa also shared that during the serialization he had quietly asked someone at Monthly Magazine whether Ikeda Yuki was in fact Oku — only to receive a non-committal “Well…” in reply. “It was a fun manga, a wonderful work in terms of expression, and a genuine invention,” he added. “The anime is great too.”
Reactions from Fans and the Anime Team
Online reaction ranged from triumphant (“I knew it all along!”) to genuinely stunned (“I bought it without having any idea”). Members of the anime production were apparently just as surprised: series chief director Seshimo Hiroyuki called it “the most shocking reveal in the past five years — number one,” while ending-theme artist otoha exclaimed, “What an unexpected twist!!”
After making his confession, Oku followed up with a warm note befitting a creator reunited with his work: “The characters of Thunder 3 are my children too. Please take care of them.”
The official Thunder 3 account has described the series as Oku Hiroya’s “‘quasi’-new work” — and with the finale just days away, it has never been more essential viewing.
Where to Watch
Thunder 3 airs every Wednesday at 24:45 on Fuji TV’s “+Ultra” block and other channels. Netflix holds worldwide exclusive streaming rights.
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