Anime Anime Directors of our Time

[Guest Hikaru Ichijyo]

Ok, this is an interesting topic that I think has never been done before on OtakuBoards ever. ^_^ Go figure I came up with this idea first. This discussion will be about Anime directors that have severly contributed to the anime world for many years already.

I'm talking about Miyazaki, Watanabe, Shoji Kawamori and many others. So who do you think has set the standard for anime in japan and america?

Personally I'd have to say the men listed above, Shoji Kawamori is responsible for animes such as Macross, Escaflowne, Arujna, and has done various mech designs for over 50 animes including Gundam Stardust Memory, Raxpheon, and even Galaxy Express and Harlock.

Miyazaki although I generally don't like his work, has quite a great standing in the anime world. Just recently Spirited Away's success with winning an oscar, and the more so the cult classics of Kiki's Delivery service and Princess Mononoke Hime.

Lastly I have to say Watanabe is the third most influential anime director/designer today. He's responsible mostly for his worth with Cowboy Bebop which he teamed up with Shoji Kawamori for the mech designs.

So who do you think are the most influential anime directors today, feel free to add some names that aren't on the list, and give reasons.

[TheShinje]

[size=1][color=darkblue] I'd like to add Akira Toryama to the list, seen as Dragonball is one of the most, if not the most, well rated animes in the western world today. Toryama's talen is also commadingly obvious through is other works, such as Dr.Slump.

I have only seen a few shorts of Sprited away, but am already so eager to see this movie, Sprirted away became anime history when it snapped up the oscar for best animated film, and that is thanks to Miyazaki's talent and direction which has made this film an up and coming classic.

I have only seen still images of Cowboy Beebop and Escaflowne ect, So i can't really comment on the direction of Watinabe ect, but the stills look awesome. [/size][/color]

[amibasuki]

[FONT=arial]well, I don't know a whole lot about the subject topic, but I'd definitely have to say that Hayao Miyazaki is my favorite director. and I would certainly think that he's contributed quite a bit, considering he's been doing work for decades now. from what I've seen, there hasn't been a single movie directed by Miyazaki that I don't like. [/FONT]

[Kent]

Aren't we forgeting some one?

A person of great influence who changed the face of anime permenantly after his great work came out and held high acclaim for years after... even to this date, one of his works is considered an anime classic.

Almost the bread and butter of anime...

Thats right...

Katsuhiro Otomo

Can we all say AKIRA

Umm yea, that is the only name that comes to mind which hasn't been mentioned, but there are others out there.

Thing is, it takes a different kind of person to look at the director of a film, and an even more different person to pay attention to, and remember the names of anime directors.

So it is very possible that this thread just doesn't have the steam it should, being that directors just arent what we remember.

However, I might do some research and find the names of directors who did things I love... So I might be back soon.

Till then...

[Posthumous]

[color=teal][size=1][b]What about Mamoru Oshii for Jin-Roh?And Ghost in a Shell?

Those both movies are extremely good.Watanabe and Toriyama are my two favorite though.Anime like "Cowboy Bebop" and "Dragonball" have revolutionized anime.[/b][/size][/color]

[Roxie Faye]

[color=#9933ff]Though he isn't quite an influential director of today's anime world (he sadly passed away in early 1989), I think we all have to give Osamu Tezuka (Tezkua Osamu in Japanese) some credit. Without him anime, yes, would have developed, but probably not as rapidly. For me, and I'm sure for others, I consider Tezuka the "Disney of anime" if you will (incidentally, he started his own production company because he liked the Disney films he saw).

Think about it. Tezuka created one of the first mangas (I think in the '50's), "Astro Boy", which later became an anime, in 1963. AFTER Tezuka started his animation company, other producers like Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira) followed his footsteps. He really gave anime the boost it needed to launch itsself into the popularity it is today. Without him, not a lot of other anime directors would have followed. Or, that's my opinion, anyways.

[size=1](Did any of this make sense? O_o)[/size][/color]

[Ben Holiday]

I am not too sure how much he has contributed or of what he has done since but I've always liked Hiroyuki Yamaga for The Wings Of Honneamise.

Isao Takahata is another director that should definitely be on the list for his work on Nausicaä, Grave of the Fireflies and a few episodes of Lupin III to name a few. You can't really list Miyazaki without Takahata they always seem to have a hand in the majority of each others projects since The Adventures of Hols, Prince of the Sun.

[Guest Hikaru Ichijyo]

To add to the list one that revolutionized the manga/anime world in the 70's and even still to this day Leji Masumoto. The creator of Galaxy Express 999, Harlock Saga, Queen Esmeraldas, and Arcadia of my Youth! His anime and manga installments were very popular back in the day and his Galaxy Express 999 manga can still be found in Animerica Publications last time I checked.

[Wintermute]

I'll side with Psyco on Mamoru Oshii. Ghost in the Shell is a little masterpiece of film-making. Beautifully dark, well-paced, and some unmatched visuals and juxtaposition.

Throw in the concept, storyline and artwork by the great Masamune Shirow, and you have one of the greatest films around.

And wasn't Mamoru Oshii behind Blood : the Last Vampire as well? Now there was a film with a dark stylish edge.

[Change]

Hediek Anno- Evangelion is one of the greatest series and we owe it all to him :P

[Hittokiri Zero]

hmmm... tsk tsk... one of the most influencial and one of my personal favorites Nobuhiro Watsuki, the sole force behind, and creator of Rurouni Kenshin.

[Yu Yu Hakusho!]

Miyazaki is brillant with his movies
'Spirited Away' and 'Princess Monoke' (hope I spelled it right I don't feel like getting it out at the moment).
I know a lot of people that never watch Anime that like those movies. Americans take a lot of things for granted...but overall, as a Japanese movie producer, he would have to be the most popular/famous/excepted or well liked in the US.
As for Anime....Akira Toriyama. Yoshihiro Togashi is on my list!

[future girl]

ahh, quite simply put Miyazaki is GOD!!!
his movies are original and always have a message that transcend all genders, species, and race. his style also is something that no one can compare to, the man is a genius.:love:

[Heaven's Cloud]

[color=indigo]Miyazaki is an incredible director; I loved both Kiki's Delivery Service and Princess Mononke. About a week ago, I bought Spirited Away. I loved it. The movie was so powerful and magical that I felt like a young child enthralled in a Disney cartoon.

As good as Miyazaki's films are, Watinabe is my favorite director solely because of his work on Cowboy Bebop. There are some scenes in Bebop that are absolutely breathtaking. The one that comes to mind most frequently is when the scenes flash from Jet frying his "special beef with bell peppers" to Spike's silhouette training against the vastness of space. The music, the choreography for the fight scenes, and the entire plot is absolutely stunning.

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