Ichiro Itano

Ichiro Itano(板野　一郎) was born in 1959, in Yokohama in Kanagawa Prefecture. He started at Studio Musashi, then Cockpit, then "Biboo"(ビーボォー), then "Kyugetsusha"(九月社), then Artland and Artland III(with temporary leave to Anime Friend, which was a subsidiary of Tatsunoko Pro, during Macross), then D.A.S.T(dissolved in 2011), then Graphinica(as of 2017). In Graphinica he does the role of a Creative Advisor, like guiding and training the staff.

He is most known for his technique, "Itano Circus", where a swarm of missiles is launched at once at a flying target, in a dynamic way. It's said that the idea of the Circus came to him after doing a stunt with his bike as a college student, as he mounted a lot of fireworks to his bike and fired them while riding the bike.

His action scenes are top-notch, especially when it involves mecha, as he is one of the industry's top mecha animators. In terms of imitators and influence in action animation, it's said that Yoshinori Kanada and Ichiro Itano are on a class of their own.

He started standing out with Mobile Suit Gundam, even under a tight supervision. He became the talk of the industry and animation fans a like with his work on Ideon, where he used his famous circus for the first time. Even after that, he was forced to return to his job as a truck driver. Not for long though, as he was invited to work on The Super Dimension Fortress Macross. Even though Macross was a hectic production, stained by hard designs that led to animators running away and tight schedules that caused unfinished episodes to be broadcasted, Itano delivered amazing work. He was one of the main staff that kept the show afloat and delivered episode 27, an episode of magnificent quality that makes it unforgettable even today.

In the last couple of years, Itano has been more interested in CG technology, pursuing achieving the circus in CG among other things.

SakugaBooru - MAD - Entering the Itano Circus - Japanese Wiki Page

Works

• Wakusei Robo Danguard Ace(1977~1978/TV)

1. In-betweens.

• Arrow Emblem Grand Prix no Taka(1977~1978/TV)

1. In-betweens.

• SF Saiyuuki Starzinger(1978~1979/TV)

1. In-betweens: #3(As Ichiro Sakano).

• Saraba Uchuu Senkan Yamato: Ai no Senshi-tachi(1978/Movie)

1. In-betweens(NC).
   1. At the final stages of production, about 2 months, he was staying at the house rented by Moriyama and Studio Musashino.

• Captain Future(1978~1979/TV)

1. In-betweens: TVSP, OP.

• Galaxy Express 999(1978~1981/TV)

1. Key Animation: #30.

• Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2(1978~ 1979/TV)

1. In-betweens.

• Tatsu no Ko Tarou(1979/Movie)

1. In-betweens.

• Galaxy Express 999(1979/Movie)

1. In-betweens(NC).

• Shin Ace wo Nerae!(1978~1979/TV)

1. In-betweens.

• Shin Kyojin no Hoshi II(1978~1979/TV)

1. In-betweens: #11.

• Akage no Anne(1979/TV)

1. In-betweens.

• Pink Lady Monogatari: Eikou no Tenshi-tachi(1978~1979/TV)

1. In-betweens.

• Kidou Senshi Gundam(1979~1980/TV)

1. Animation: #19(NC), #21(NC), #26(NC), #29, #31, #34, #35, #38, #41, #43.
   1. #31: Where Flamingo jumps.
   2. #41: The Bit's high speed movement.
2. In-betweens: #5(NC), #12(NC).

• The Ultraman(1979~1980/TV)

1. Animation: #48.

• Space Runaway Ideon(1980~1981/TV)

1. Key Animation: #1(NC), #2, #6, #11, #15, #18, #23, #29, #34, #38.
   1. OP: Where Ideon comes from the ground. Ideon's gattai.
   2. #1: Most of the Ideon's gattai scene.
   3. #2: Battle scene.
   4. #29: The battle with Adeigo. This is where he used his famous Itano Circus.

• Kidou Senshi Gundam(1981~1982/Movie)

1. Animator: #1, #2, #3.

• Dr. Slump: Arale-chan(1981~1986/TV)

1. Key Animation: #3, #5.

• Combat Mecha Xabungle(1982~1983/TV)

1. Key Animation: #8, #12, #17.

• The Ideon: Be Invoked(1982/Movie)

1. Animator.

• The Super Dimension Fortress Macross(1982~1983/TV)

1. Opening Animation.
2. Mechanical Animation Direction: #1, #2, #5, #6, #8, #9, #14, #15, #17, #18, #21, #24, #27, #31.
3. Key Animation: #1, #2, #12(NC), #31.

• Crusher Joe(1983/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• Plawres Sanshiro(1983~1984/TV)

1. Key Animation: #28.

• Daicon IV(1983/PV)

1. Key Animation: B65~70, around where the valkyrie appears.

• Urusei Yatsura(1981~1986/TV)

1. Key Animation: #108.

• Urusei Yatsura Beautiful Dreamer(1984/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• Kagaku Kyuujo-tai TechnoVoyager(1982/TV)

1. Key Animation.

• Macross: Do You Remember Love?(1984/Movie)

1. Animation Direction(Joint).
   1. He did mecha animation direction.
2. Storyboard(NC).
3. Key Animation(NC).
   1. Other than animating some scenes, he also drew the layouts of other scenes and handed them over to other animators, and then corrected them.
4. In-betweens(NC).
   1. At the final stages of the movie there weren't enough in-betweeners, so some of the key animators had to do in-betweens too.

• Megazone 23(1985/OVA)

1. Episode Direction.
2. Action Animation Direction.
3. Storyboard(Joint).
4. Animation Direction(Joint).
5. The Voice of the Navigator.
   1. He animated the space battle with the Itano Circus.

• Hokuto no Ken(1984~1987/TV)

1. Episode Direction: #39, #49.
2. Animation Direction: #49.

• Megazone 23 Part 2 Himitsu Kudasai(1986/Movie)

1. Director.
2. Storyboard(Joint).
3. Mechanical Animation Direction.
4. Key Animation.

• Uchuusen Sagittarius(1986~1987/TV)

1. Key Animation: #29, #36.

• Bionic Six Pilot Film(1987/Pilot)

1. Mecha Design.
2. Mechanical Animation Direction.

• Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise(1987/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• Bionic Six(1987~1989/TV)

1. Character Design(Joint).

• Battle Royal High School(1987/OVA)

1. Director.
2. Draft.
3. Screenplay.
4. Storyboard.

• Good Morning Althea(1987/OVA)

1. Draft.

• Shigatsu Kaidan(1988/Movie)

1. Animation.

• Violence Jack Evil Town(1988/OVA)

1. Director.

• Angel Cop(1989~1994/TV)

1. Director.
2. Draft.
3. Storyboard: #1, #4(Joint), #5, #6.
4. Screenplay: #1(Joint), #2~#6.
5. Mechanical Animation Direction: #5.

• Mobile Police Patlabor(1988~1989/OVA)

1. Episode Direction: #6.

• Kujakuou 2 Geneijuu(1989/Movie)

1. Director.

• Souryuuden(1991~1993/OVA)

1. Special Animator: #1, #2, #3.
2. Key Animation: #1.

• Yumemakura Baku Twilight Gekijou(1991/OVA)

1. Supervision.

• Uchuu no Kishi Tekkaman Blade(1992~1993/TV)

1. Storyboard: #31, #36, #42, #49.
2. Episode Direction: #31, #36, #42, #49.
3. Animation Direction: #31, #36, #42, 49.

• Star Dust(1992/OVA)

1. Director.
2. Original Work.
3. Screenplay.
4. Storyboard.
5. Key Animation.

• Slam Dunk(1993~1996/TV)

1. Animation Direction: #5.

• Time Bokan Oudou Fukko(1993~1994/OVA)

1. Guest Animator: #2.
   1. #2: The "Oppai Missiles" scene, 4 cuts only.

• Plastic Little(1994/OVA)

1. Key Animation.

• Macross Plus(1994~1995/OVA)

1. Special Director.
2. Key Animation(NC).
   1. #1: Where the plane avoids the missiles with colourful trails.

• Oyaji Hunter Mahjong(1995/3DO)

1. Animation Director.

• Macross Plus Movie Edition(1995/Movie)

1. Special Director.
2. Key Animation.

• Ihatov Gensou: Kenji no Haru(1996/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• Mahoutsukai Tai!(1996~1997/OVA)

1. Episode Direction: #1Avant-Title.
2. Animation Direction: #1Avant-Title.

• Macross Digital Mission VF-X(1997/PS)

1. Digital Animation Director.
2. Director: OP Movie.
3. Illustrator: OP Movie.

• QUOVADIS 2(1997/SS)

1. Animation General Director.

• Nussai no Wakusei(1997/PS)

1. Character Design.
2. Storyboard.
3. Episode Direction.

• Spriggan(1998/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• PoPoLoCrois Monogatari(1998~1999/TV)

1. Key Animation: #2.

• Uchuu Kaizoku Mito no Daibouken(1999/TV)

1. Mechanical Design(Joint).
2. CG Supervision.

• Uchuu Kaizoku Mito no Daibouken: Futari no Joou-sama(1999/TV)

1. Mechanical Design(Joint).
2. CG Supervision.

• Macross VF-X-2(1999/PS)

1. Motion Supervision.
2. Episode Direction: Intermission Movies.
3. Storyboard: Intermission Movies.
4. Mecha Animation Direction: Intermission Movies.

• Vampire Hunter(1999/PS)

1. Movie Motion Supervision.

• Mito Wars Episode 0(1999/OVA)

1. Episode Direction.

• Medarott(1999~2000/TV)

1. Key Animation: #36, #45.

• Macross Plus Game Edition(2000/PS)

1. Episode Direction: OP Movie.
2. Motion Supervision.

• Doguu Senki(2000/DC)

1. Planning.
2. Draft.

• Chikyuu Bouei Kazoku(2001/TV)

1. Key Animation: #2.

• Gunbuster DVD Bonus(2001)

1. Key Animation.

• Chikyuu Shoujo Arjuna(2001/TV)

1. 3D Motion Supervision: #12, #13.
2. Episode Direction: #12, #13.
3. Animation: #12.

• Digimon Tamers: Boukensha-tachi no Tatakai(2001/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no Tobira(2001/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• Ace Combat 04 Shattered Skies(2001/PS2)

1. Animation Staff.

• Rayca(2002/OVA)

1. 3D Motion Director.

• Macross Zero(2002~2004/OVA)

1. Special Director.
2. Key Animation: #1, #2, #3.

• Tako no Marine(2002/DC)

1. Animation Direction.

• Ganz the First Stage(2004/TV)

1. Director.
2. Storyboard: #1, ED.

• Ultraman(2004/Tokusatsu)

1. Flying Sequence Director.

• Ultraman Nexus(2004~2005/Tokusatsu)

1. CGI Motion Director.

• Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga(2004/PS2)

1. Episode Direction(Joint).

• Gantz the Second Stage(2004/TV)

1. Director.
2. Storyboard: #26.

• Ultraman Max(2005~2006/Tokusatsu)

1. Monster Design: Bagudaras, Kesam, King Jaw Seperated State.
2. CGI Motion Director.

• Ultraman Moebius(2006~2007/Tokusatsu)

1. Monster Design: Kerubim.
2. CGI Motion Director.

• Ultraman Mebius & Ultraman Brothers(2006/Tokusatsu)

1. CGI Director.

• Super Robot Wars Original Generations Divine Wars(2006~2007/TV)

1. 3D Animation Supervisor.

• Blassleuter(2008/TV)

1. Director.
2. Series Composition(Joint).
3. Screenplay: #24.
4. Storyboard: OP1, ED1, OP2, ED2, OP3, #1, #3, #24.
5. Episode Direction: #OP1, ED1, #1.
6. Mecha Animation Direction: #24.
7. Key Animation: #23.

• Kurogane no Linebarrels(2008/TV)

1. Special Director.

• Naruto the Cross Roads(2009/Movie)

1. Action Cuts Motion Supervision.

• Asura's Wrath(2012/Game)

1. Special Acting Director.

• Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo(2012/Movie)

1. CGI Director.
2. Animation Material.

• Sekiseki Renren(2013/Live Action)

1. CGI Motion Director.
2. Male Insects Design.
3. Key Animation: ED.

• Expelled from Paradise(2014/Movie)

1. Motion Advice.

• Nihon Animator Expo Yamaderoid(2015/WEB)

1. Supervision.

• Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin(2015/Movie)

1. Episode Direction: Avant Title #1.
2. Storyboard: Avant Title #1.
3. Key Animation: #1.

• Chain Chronicle: Haecceitas no Hikari(2017/TV)

1. Motion Advisor.

• Juni Taisen(2017/TV)

1. Animation Advisor.