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Mahiro Maeda

Mahiro Maeda

Director · Born March 14, 1963 · Yonago, Tottori, Japan

IMDb

Biography

Mahiro Maeda (前田 真宏 Maeda Mahiro) born March 14, 1963 is one of the most prominent Japanese anime creators working today, having worked as director, character designer, and animator for many of Japan's top series. Helen McCarthy in 500 Essential Anime Movies called him "one of the most imaginative visualists in anime". He also worked on Concept Art and Design for Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), which won six Academy Awards. He has been one of the top contributors at the anime studio GONZO for many years, having directed Blue Submarine No. 6, Final Fantasy: Unlimited and Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. His design work ranges from 2 of the "Angels" in Neon Genesis Evangelion to production and mechanical design for such series as Magic User's Club (魔法使いTai! Mahō Tsukai Tai!), The Vision of Escaflowne and Last Exile. He was also the designer of the invaders in Gatekeepers 21. His earlier years were spent mostly at the famed Studio Ghibli, where he helped animate classics such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, and Porco Rosso. Maeda is also one of the select Japanese directors to actively collaborate with the international film media on various projects. He provided key animation for the animation sequence in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 1. His directorial work has also been featured in such exclusive package films as The Animatrix (segment: "The Second Renaissance Parts I and II"), Genius Party Beyond (segment: "Gala"), and Ani*Kuri15 (segment: "Princess Onmitsu"). He has also visited the American Anime Expo convention in 2000 and 2003.

Directed 21

2000s

  1. 2008

    Genius Party Beyond

    Director

  2. Genius Party Beyond

    Director

  3. Ani*Kuri15

    Director

  4. 2007

    Ani*Kuri15

    Director

    63
  5. 2006

    Brave Story

    Second Unit Director

    65
  6. 2004

    Gankutsuou

    Series Director, Director

    77
  7. 2003

    The Animatrix

    Director

    77

  8. The Second Renaissance Part II

    Director

  9. The Animatrix

    Director

  10. The Second Renaissance Part I

    Director

    78
  11. 2001

    Final Fantasy: Unlimited

    Series Director

    62

1990s

  1. 1998

    Blue Submarine No. 6

    Series Director, Director

    65
  2. 1991

    Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story III

    Director

  3. 1990

    Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water

    Director

    76

Visual effects 47

1980s

  1. 1988

    Gunbuster

    Key Animation

    77
  2. 1987

    The Tale of Genji

    Key Animation

    64

  3. Battle Royale High School

    Key Animation

    55

  4. Lemon Angel

    Key Animation

  5. Robot Carnival

    Animation

  6. A Tale of Two Robots, Chapter 3: Foreign Invasion

    Mechanical & Creature Designer

  7. Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honneamise

    Key Animation

    79
  8. 1986

    Castle in the Sky

    Key Animation

    83
  9. 1985

    Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise Pilot

    Key Animation

  10. 1984

    Birth

    Animation

  11. Cream Lemon

    Key Animation

Art department 19

Wrote 12

2010s

  1. 2016

    Shin Godzilla

    Storyboard

    73

  2. Last Exile: Ginyoku no Fam Movie - Over the Wishes

    Original Story

  3. 2015

    Rapid Rouge

    Original Concept

  4. Kanón

    Screenplay

  5. 2014

    Japan Animator Expo

    Storyboard, Writer

  6. 2013

    Ando Lloyd ～A.I. knows LOVE ?～

    Original Story

2000s

  1. 2008

    Genius Party Beyond

    Screenplay

  2. Genius Party Beyond

    Writer

  3. 2004

    Gankutsuou

    Original Story

    77
  4. 2003

    The Animatrix

    Writer

  5. 2002

    Gate Keepers 21

    Storyboard

Other crew 2

2010s

  1. 2012

    Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo

    Assistant Script

    63

  2. Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo

    Special Effects

Acted in 1

2010s

  1. 2015

    Anno-san and Our Reckless Challenge: Japan Animator Expo

    Movie

Costume and makeup 1

Produced 1

Created 1

2010s

  1. 2013

    Ando Lloyd ～A.I. knows LOVE ?～

    Creator

Appearances2

2020s

  1. 2023

    Documentary "Shin Kamen Rider" ~Behind the Scenes of the Hero Action Challenge~

    Self

2000s

  1. 2003

    Scrolls to Screen: A Brief History of Anime

    Self