Was meeting with the big boss of Satelight at their offices yesterday in Asagaya - they be the folks who produced the latest Macross title "Macross Frontier" and a load of other anime.
A familiar face walked in during our meeting - t'was Shoji Kawamori - the man who brought us the original Macross movie (Original Story / Director / Story Composition / Mecha Design). He also brought us Macross Frontier which many of you will be more familiar with.
Had a very interesting chat about this n that before having the customary photo-while-holding-valkyrie.
A long list of titles that Shoji-san worked on copy n pasted below from Anime News Network. Another list of his work that includes non anime work listed at his official site.
Ani-Kuri 15 (special) : Director (ep 4)
Anyamaru Tantei Kiruminzuu (TV) : Original creator
Aquarion (movie) : Director, Screenplay, Original creator
Aquarion (OAV) : Director, Series Composition, Original creator
Aquarion (TV) : Director, Series Composition, Screenplay, Storyboard (eps 1, 13, 26), Original creator, Aquarion Design, Key Animation (eps 1, 26)
Aquarion Evol (TV) : Original creator
Arjuna (TV) : Director, Series Composition, Script, Storyboard, Original creator, Planning
Basquash! (TV) : Original creator, Project Director
Blue Submarine No.6 (OAV) : Mechanical design
Cowboy Bebop (TV) : Script (ep 18), Stage Setting Cooperation
Crusher Joe: The Movie : Mechanical design
Crusher Joe: The OVA's : Mechanical design
(The) Daichis - Earth Defence Family (TV) : Script (eps 1-6, 11-13), Original creator, Mechanical design, Creature Design, Series Concept
Dangaioh (OAV) : Mecha design, Key Animation
Engage Planet Kiss Dum (TV) : Mechanical design
Escaflowne: The Movie : Original creator, Animation
Eureka Seven (TV) : Main Mechanical Design
Eureka Seven - good night, sleep tight, young lovers (movie) : Main Mecha Design
Future GPX Cyber Formula (TV) : Mechanical design
Future GPX Cyber Formula 11 (OAV) : Machine Design
Future GPX Cyber Formula Saga (OAV) : Machine Design
Future GPX Cyber Formula Sin (OAV) : Machine Design (Studio Nue)
Future GPX Cyber Formula Zero (OAV) : Machine Design
Ghost in the Shell (movie) : Mechanical design
Glass Fleet (TV) : Mechanical design
HITOMI - The Vision of Escaflowne (manga) : Original creator
Kishin Taisen Gigantic Formula (TV) : Mechanical design (Eunova-VIII)
Macross 7 (TV) : Mechanical design, Mechanical Specifications, Story Concept, Supervision
Macross 7 Encore (OAV) : Mechanical design, Story Concept
Macross 7 the Movie: The Galaxy's Calling Me! : Mechanical design
Macross Dynamite 7 (OAV) : Original creator, Mecha design, Story Concept
Macross Frontier (manga) : Original creator
Macross Frontier (TV) : Chief Director, Storyboard (eps 1-2), Original creator, Story Composition, Theme Song Lyrics ("SMS Shoutai no Uta"), Valkyrie Design
Macross Frontier ~Itsuwari no Utahime~ (movie) : Director, Screenplay, Original creator, Valkyrie Design
Macross Frontier ~Sayonara no Tsubasa~ (movie) : Director, Original creator
Macross Plus (OAV) : Chief Director, Storyboard, Original creator, Mechanical design
Macross Plus Movie Edition : Chief Director, Storyboard, Original creator, Mechanical design
Macross XX (OAV Promo) : Original creator, Mechanical design
Macross Zero (OAV) : Director, Storyboard, Original creator, Mechanical design, Story Concept
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (OAV) : Mechanical design
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: The Last Blitz of Zeon (movie) : Mechanical design
Noein - to your other self (TV) : Storyboard (ep 20)
Outlaw Star (TV) : Mechanical design
Patlabor 2: The Movie : Mechanical design
Patlabor WXIII (movie 3) : Mechanical design
Patlabor: The Movie : Mechanical Design Cooperation
RahXephon (TV) : Storyboard (ep 9)
Shanghai Dragon (movie) : Director, Script, Mechanical design
Sheryl ~Kiss in the Galaxy~ (manga) : Original story
Spring and Chaos (movie) : Director, Screenplay
(The) Super Dimension Fortress Macross (TV) : Mechanical design
(The) Super Dimension Fortress Macross II: Lovers, Again (OAV) : Original Mechanical Design
(The) Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? (movie) : Chief Director, Director, Original story, Mechanical design, Mechanical Design Cooperation, Story Supervisor
(The) Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012 (OAV) : Director, Mechanical design
Talking Head (hybrid movie) : Mecha design
Techno Police 21C (movie) : Action Choreography Assistance
Toshi Gordian (TV) : Mechanical design
Tosho Daimos (TV) : Guest Mechanical Design
Transformers (U.S. TV) : Original Mechanical Design
Transformers: Scramble City (OAV) : Original Mechanical Design
Transformers: The Movie (U.S.) : Original Mechanical Design
Ulysses 31 (TV) : Mechanical design
(The) Vision of Escaflowne (manga) : Original creator
(The) Vision of Escaflowne (TV) : Script (ep 1), Screenplay, Storyboard (ep 20), Original creator, Story Editor, Supervision
Growing up in the UK, one of the first Japanese titles I watched as a kid was "Gatcha Man" which was called "G-Force." I had no idea that it was of Japanese produce - not that it mattered back then anyway.
It wasn't until I got hold of a copy of Super Dimension Fortress Macross on VHS when I learned how awesome Japanese animation was. Macross had a captivating story, awesome mecha designs and lovely 2D girlies.
At that period in life however, it *did* matter that I knew that Macross was of Japanese produce which lead me to seek and discover more anime titles and learn more about Japanese culture too. Back then there were no Internets and the only way to have pictures of the girls (Minmay and Misa) was to take photos of the TV! Ah the good ol days.
Macross has really influenced my life a lot and was pleased to be able to get acquainted with the man behind it all. Hardly spoke a word of Japanese when I discovered Macross which was also a time where I was wondering what on earth to do in life.
Then after many moons, making an opportunity to live and work in Japan and acquire anime companies as clients *and* meeting Kawamori-san was like reaching a goal I guess.
I also met his manager who had an interesting story - he was working for a figure magazine and he approached Satelight saying that he was a big fan of Kawamori-san and that he wanted to be his manager ^^;
No dream is too big.
If there was an anime title that had a large influence impact on your life, which title would it be and why? Not particularly your fave title but something that really meant something to you. Maybe the first anime title you watched?
There is a poll embedded in this article.
Aquarion mecha guarding the door at the lobby.
BTW, cant remember if I asked before (tingling feeling that I have) but which is your most fave Macross title?
There is a poll embedded in this article.
