auteurs

Anime

bythe40thwriter
Sep 01 2023, 11:52 PM | Updated Dec 17, 2023 1:36 AM

NOTE: Credit for a large portion of this material goes to user beflygelt on RYM. I lifted quite a bit from the list linked below to create this stack.
https://rateyourmusic.com/list/beflygelt/anime-auteurs-guide-series-films/1/
I also used Wikipedia for the making of this stack.

The purpose of this is to highlight the work of certain visionaries within this medium. The works I chose for each person are not always their first/breakout hit, but moreso what they could be known for by people who don't recognize them by name. If you have any suggestions or believe I've omitted someone really important, please leave a comment on my profile and I'll try to update this promptly.

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Namakura Gatana

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Movie, 1917, 1 ep Me:- Author:5

Directed by Junichi Kouchi. Known as one of the "fathers of anime". https://myanimelist.net/people/29463/Junichi_Kouchi

Saru to Kani no Gassen

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Movie, 1917, 1 ep Me:- Author:4

Animated/Directed by Seitarou Kitayama. Known as one of the "fathers of anime". Founded the first Japanese animation studio, Kitayama Movie Factory.
https://myanimelist.net/people/21981/Seitarou_Kitayama?q=seitaro%20kitayama&cat=person
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitayama_Eiga_Seisakujo

Kumo to Tulip

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Movie, 1943, 1 ep Me:- Author:-

Directed by Kenzou Masaoka. Was the first animator to use cel animation and recorded sound in anime.
https://myanimelist.net/people/9084/Kenzou_Masaoka?q=kenzo%20masaoka&cat=person

Ari-chan

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Movie, 1941, 1 ep Me:- Author:-

Directed by Mitsuyo Seo. Was the first to use the multiplane camera technique
in anime.
https://myanimelist.net/people/36898/Mitsuyo_Seo?q=mitsuyo%20seo&cat=person

Tetsuwan Atom

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TV, 1963, 193 eps Me:- Author:-

Created and directed by Osamu Tezuka. Founder of Mushi Production. Known for popularizing the signature "anime" character look - big eyes, big heads, big mouths. Also influenced the popularity of sci-fi and mecha in the medium.
https://myanimelist.net/people/1938/Osamu_Tezuka?q=tezuka&cat=person
https://myanimelist.net/anime/producer/68/Mushi_Production

Lupin III

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TV, 1971, 23 eps Me:- Author:-

Animation Director was Yasuo Ootsuka. Known for pioneering the "money shot" for Toei Animation.
https://myanimelist.net/people/25399/Yasuo_Ootsuka?q=yasuo%20otsuka&cat=person

Kanashimi no Belladonna

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Movie, 1973, 1 ep Me:- Author:-

Directed by Eiichi Yamamoto.
https://myanimelist.net/people/10570/Eiichi_Yamamoto?q=Eiichi%20Yamamoto&cat=person

Uchuu Senkan Yamato

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TV, 1974, 26 eps Me:- Author:-

Created by Leiji Matsumoto. Known for classic space operas.
https://myanimelist.net/people/2597/Leiji_Matsumoto

Uchuu Kaizoku Captain Herlock

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TV, 1978, 42 eps Me:- Author:-

Directed by Rintarou. Cofounder of Madhouse.
https://myanimelist.net/people/7305/Rintarou?q=りんたろう&cat=person
https://myanimelist.net/anime/producer/11/Madhouse

Kidou Senshi Gundam

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TV, 1979, 43 eps Me:- Author:-

Created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino.
https://myanimelist.net/people/2337/Yoshiyuki_Tomino?q=Yoshiyuki%20Tomino&cat=person

Macross: Do You Remember Love?

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Movie, 1984, 1 ep Me:- Author:-

Directed by Noboru Ishiguro.
https://myanimelist.net/people/5095/Noboru_Ishiguro?q=ishiguro&cat=person

Macross Plus

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OVA, 1994, 4 eps Me:- Author:-

Directed by Shoji Kawamori; associated with Macross in general.
https://myanimelist.net/people/2501/Shouji_Kawamori?q=Shoji%20Kawamori&cat=person

Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi

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Movie, 2001, 1 ep Me:- Author:9

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Cofounder of Studio Ghibli. Known for embedding environmentalism and young female leads into his films.
https://myanimelist.net/people/1870/Hayao_Miyazaki?q=miyaz&cat=person
https://myanimelist.net/anime/producer/21/Studio_Ghibli

Hotaru no Haka

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Movie, 1988, 1 ep Me:- Author:9

Directed by Isao Takahata. Cofounder of Studio Ghibli. Also epitomized Toei Animation's focus on individual directors' visions in their productions with the film Horus: Prince of the Sun.
https://myanimelist.net/people/5579/Isao_Takahata?q=takahata&cat=person
https://myanimelist.net/anime/producer/18/Toei_Animation

Ginga Tetsudou no Yoru

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Movie, 1985, 1 ep Me:- Author:-

Directed by Gisaburou Sugii.
https://myanimelist.net/people/8537/Gisaburou_Sugii?q=Gisaburo%20Sugii&cat=person

Akira

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Movie, 1988, 1 ep Me:- Author:9

Created and directed by Katsuhiro Otomo.
https://myanimelist.net/people/1872/Katsuhiro_Otomo?q=Katsuhiro%20Otomo&cat=person

Koukaku Kidoutai

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Movie, 1995, 1 ep Me:- Author:8

Directed by Mamoru Oshii. Associated heavily with Production IG.
https://myanimelist.net/people/4097/Mamoru_Oshii?q=Mamoru%20Oshii&cat=person
https://myanimelist.net/anime/producer/10/Production_IG

Shinseiki Evangelion

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TV, 1995, 26 eps Me:- Author:10

Created and Directed by Hideaki Anno. Cofounder of Gainax and Khara. Couple of trademarks are train signals/tracks & powerlines, text on screen, and stills of empty cities.
https://myanimelist.net/people/5111/Hideaki_Anno?q=anno&cat=person
https://myanimelist.net/anime/producer/6/Gainax
https://myanimelist.net/anime/producer/47/Khara

Shoujo Kakumei Utena

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TV, 1997, 39 eps Me:- Author:8

Created and directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara.
https://myanimelist.net/people/5082/Kunihiko_Ikuhara?q=Kunihiko%20Ikuhara&cat=person

Tekkon Kinkreet

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Movie, 2006, 1 ep Me:- Author:-

Directed by Michael Arias. Known for 3D special effects blending in 2D mediums.
https://myanimelist.net/people/6060/Michael_Arias?q=michael%20arias&cat=person

Cowboy Bebop

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TV, 1998, 26 eps Me:- Author:10

Directed by Shinichirou Watanabe.
https://myanimelist.net/people/2009/Shinichirou_Watanabe?q=watanabe&cat=person

Serial Experiments Lain

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TV, 1998, 13 eps Me:- Author:-

Heavily contributed to by Chiaki Konaka.
https://myanimelist.net/people/6160/Chiaki_Konaka?q=Chiaki%20J.%20Konaka&cat=person

Perfect Blue

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Movie, 1998, 1 ep Me:- Author:8

Directed by Satoshi Kon. Known for playing with the characters' and audience's concept of reality.
https://myanimelist.net/people/4580/Satoshi_Kon?q=satoshi%20kon&cat=person

FLCL

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OVA, 2000, 6 eps Me:- Author:8

Directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki. Gainax collaborator, also directed the Eva rebuilds.
https://myanimelist.net/people/6076/Kazuya_Tsurumaki?q=Kazuya%20Tsurumaki&cat=person

Kimi no Na wa.

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Movie, 2016, 1 ep Me:- Author:8

Directed by Makoto Shinkai. Works with CoMix Wave Films.
https://myanimelist.net/people/1117/Makoto_Shinkai
https://myanimelist.net/anime/producer/291/CoMix_Wave_Films

Memories

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Movie, 1995, 3 eps Me:- Author:-

One of these episodes was directed by Koji Morimoto. Founded studio 4°C; shows up in anthologies like this.
https://myanimelist.net/people/5066/Kouji_Morimoto?q=Koji%20Morimoto&cat=person
https://myanimelist.net/anime/producer/13/Studio_4°C

Mind Game

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Movie, 2004, 1 ep Me:- Author:8

Directed by Masaaki Yuasa. Associated with Studio 4°C.
https://myanimelist.net/people/5068/Masaaki_Yuasa?q=Masaaki%20Yuasa&cat=person

One Piece Movie 06: Omatsuri Danshaku to Himitsu no Shima

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Movie, 2005, 1 ep Me:- Author:8

Directed by Mamoru Hosoda. Dude's famous for more than this but I'm a One Piece simp so here this is.
https://myanimelist.net/people/5067/Mamoru_Hosoda?q=mamoru%20hoso&cat=person

Mushishi

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TV, 2005, 26 eps Me:- Author:-

Directed by Hiroshi Nagahama.
https://myanimelist.net/people/4346/Hiroshi_Nagahama?q=Hiroshi%20Nagahama&cat=person

Black Lagoon

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TV, 2006, 12 eps Me:- Author:-

Directed by Sunao Katabuchi.
https://myanimelist.net/people/8947/Sunao_Katabuchi?q=Sunao%20Katabuchi&cat=person

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

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TV, 2007, 27 eps Me:- Author:9

Directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi. Worked for Gainax, then split off and formed Trigger.
https://myanimelist.net/people/2349/Hiroyuki_Imaishi?q=imaishi&cat=person
https://myanimelist.net/anime/producer/803/Trigger