Yoshiaki Kawajiri
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Yoshiaki Kawajiri (川尻善昭 Kawajiri Yoshiaki) is a critically acclaimed writer / director of Japanese animation. He is the creator of titles such as Yoju Toshi (Wicked City), Jubei ninpucho (Ninja Scroll), and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, and is considered one of the more revolutionary directors in Anime history.
[edit] Background
Kawajiri was born in 1950 and grew up in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. After he graduated from Yokohama High School in 1968 he began working for a few years as an animator at Mushi Production Animation until it closed in 1972. He then joined Madhouse Studio and in the 1970s was promoted to animation director and finally debuted as a film director in 1984's SF Shinseiki Lensman, jointly with the more experienced Kazuyuki Hirokawa (Kawajiri also did the character design along with Kazuo Tomizawa). Gaining an interest in darker animation, he began directing The Running Man then after that was completed he was instructed to make a 35 minute short based on Hideyuki Kikuchi's novels, which was released as Yoju Toshi. However after completing it, his producers were so impressed he was asked to make it feature length. Kawajiri enjoyed the dark tone so much he agreed and managed to complete the entire film in under a year. Yoju toshi was the first film Kawajiri had been involved from conception to completion.
After Yoju toshi received such critical and commercial success when released in 1987, Kawajiri gained a lot more freedom and began scripting and designing his own film set in feudal Japan, which was released as Jubei ninpucho a homage about the Japanese folk hero Jubei Yagyu. After the western release in 1996, Kawajiris status as a director received international recognition and was asked in 2002 to guest direct episode 6, Program of the Animatrix, considered as a showcase of the best directors Japanese animation has to offer. Before the Animatrix, he also directed Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust which was also based by a novel by Hideyuki Kikuchi.
Kawajiri is now filming and directing Highlander: Vengeance. He is also directing Jubei Ninpuuchous sequel, which is slated to be released in 2006.
[edit] Movies & programs worked on
- Highlander: Vengeance (2006) - Director
- Jubei ninpuchô 2 (2006) (production) - Writer, Director
- The Animatrix (2003) (episode Program,World Record) - Writer, Director (Program)
- X(TV Series) (2001)
- Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000) - Writer, Director
- The Cockpit (1994) (segment 1) - Writer
- Jubei ninpucho (1993) - Writer, Director
- Cyber City Oedo 808 (1990)
- Goku Midnight Eye (1989)
- Makaitoshi Shinjuku (1988) - Director
- Yoju toshi (1987) - Director
- Meikyu monogatari (1987) (segment The Running Man)
- Lensman: Kozumosu no daisenso (1987)
- SF Shinseiki Lensman (1984)
- A Wind Named Amnesia: Screenplay, Supervision
- Azuki-chan: Character Design
- Azumi 2: Death or Love (live-action movie) : Screenplay
- Barefoot Gen: Key Animation
- Biohunter: Script
- Birdy the Mighty: Director, Screenplay
- Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card : Storyboard, Key Animation
- Cleopatra (movie) : Animation
- Dagger of Kamui: Key Animation
- Future Boy Conan (TV) : Key Animation
- Judo Sanka (TV) : Animation director
- Legend of the Forest (movie) : Key Animation
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars (movie) : Scriptor
- Master Keaton (TV) : Script (ep 34), Storyboard (ep 34)
- Metropolis (movie) : Key Animation, Layout
- Natsu e no Tobira (movie) : Design
- Ninja Scroll: The Series : Script, Original creator, Original Character Design
- Pet Shop of Horrors (TV) : Storyboard (ep 3), Animation Supervisor
- Phantom Quest Corp. (OAV) : Animation (OP)
- Slipstream (OAV) : Director, Screenplay, Character Design, Animation director
- Space Pirate Captain Herlock The Endless Odyssey (OAV) : Storyboard (ep 11)
- Stink Bomb (movie) : Key Animation
- The New Adventures of Kimba The White Lion (TV) : Character Design
- Unico (movie) : Art, Settings
- Unico: To The Magic Island (movie) : Storyboard
- X OAV : Script, Storyboard
