Kouichi Arai

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Kouichi Arai (新井　浩一). Toei animator who rose to prominence during the post-Akira OVA boom. Participated in realist-heavy projects like Akira and The Hakkenden early in his career. Close colleagues with Hideki Hamasu, who had a similar career trajectory from obscure OVAs to major feature films. Described by Michio Mihara as a pioneer from the shadows1.

First generated attention for his character designs and animation direction on Toei’s OVAs Xanadu: Dragonslayer Densetsu, Crying Freeman (AD only for ep1-2), and 3×3 Eyes. Arai’s designs always deviated heavily from the source material’s and bore his visual idiosyncracies. Solo animated the fifth episode of the Hana Ichi Monme OVA around the same time1.

Arai is noted for his realistic three-dimensional motion, occasionally drawing comparisons to Toshiyuki Inoue. His character drawings are lightly caricatured and strongly individuated, each character looking completely unique (unsurprisingly, he’s skilled with crowd shots). One recognizable feature is how he draws mouths with detailed teeth and gums. His cuts often have a gritty edge without sacrificing their clean, even lineart. Some of his more prominent AD jobs include the Koi Kaze OP, Dennou Coil 8, the Macross 7 OP, and Kemonozume 8 (he animated the avant himself)1.

Fan of mangaka Takako Shimura and one of the founders of studio Kinema Citrus1.


SakugaBooru - MAD - Japanese Wiki Page

Works[edit]

  • Arcadia of My Youth(1982/Movie)
  1. In-betweens.


  • Future War 198X(1982/Movie)
  1. In-betweens.


  • Uchuu Senkan Yamato: Kanketsu-hen(1983/Movie)
  1. In-betweens.


  • Manga Sekai Mukashibanashi(1983/TV)
  1. Animation Director(Joint): "Mahou no Juutan".


  • Stop!! Hibari-kun!(1983~1984/TV)
  1. In-betweens: #6.


  • Shounen Kenya(1984/Movie)
  1. In-betweens.


  • Odin: Koushi Hansen Starlight(1985/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Tatakae!! Iczer-1(1984~1987/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #3.


  • G. I. Joe: The Movie(1987/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Haja Taisei Dangaiou(1987~1989/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Shouri Toushu(1987/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Makyou Gaiden Le Deus(1987/OVA)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Daimajuu Gekitou: Hagane no Oni(1987/OVA)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Sukeban DekaIII(1988/Game)
  1. Character Designs.


  • Sakigake!! Otokojuku(1988/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP, #1, #10.


  • Xanadu Dragonslayer Densetsu(1988/OVA)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director.


  • Gegege no Kitarou: Jigoku-hen(1988/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #7.


  • Akira(1988/Movie)
  1. Key Animator(NC).


  • Crying Freeman(1988/OVA)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director.


  • Kyuuketsuhime Miyu(1988~1989/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #2, #3, #4.


  • Shounan Bakusouzoku(1989/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #5.


  • SOLBIANCA(1990/OVA)
  1. Key Animator.
  2. Animation Director.


  • Hana Ichi Monme(1990/OVA)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director.
  3. Key Animator: "Kusanojo no Hanashi - 草之丞の話".
    1. Mostly Solo.


  • NINETEEN19(1990/OVA)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Vampire Sensou(1990/OVA)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Cleopatra DC(1991/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #3.


  • Bouken! Iczer-3(1991~1992/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #2.


  • 3×3EYES(1991/OVA)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director: #1, #2, #3, #4.


  • Akai Hayate(1991~1992/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Silent Möbius: The Motion Picture(1991/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Roujin Z(1991/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Nyuuin Bokki Monogatari: Odaijini!(1991/OVA)
  1. Character Designs.


  • Getter Robo Go(1991~1992/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #49.


  • Bannou Bunka Neko-Musume(1992~1993/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #2.


  • Ai no Kusabi(1992~1994/TV)
  1. Animation Director: #1(Joint).


  • Dragon Ball Z: Gekitotsu!! 100-oku Power no Senshi-tachi(1992/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon(1992~1993/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #45.


  • Tobe! Kujira no Peek(1991/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Juubee Ninpuuchou(1993/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Sangokushi: Dai Ni Bu - Choukou Moyu!(1993/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Youseiki Suikoden(1993/OVA)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Moldiver(1993/OVA)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon R(1993/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Tenchi Muyou! Ryououki(1992~1993/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #5.


  • The Hakkenden: Shin Shou(1993~1995/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #4.


  • Yuugen Kaisha(1994~1995/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #2, #4.


  • Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture(1994/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Compiler(1994/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Compiler Festa(1995/OVA)
  1. Key Animator.


  • JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken(1993~1994/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #2, #5.


  • Macross Plus(1994~1995/OVA)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Macross Plus(1995/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Macross 7(1994~1995/TV)
  1. Animation: OP.
  2. Animation Director: OP.


  • Iczer-Girl Iczelion(1995/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Aozora Shoujo-tai(1994~1996/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #3, #5.


  • Armitage III(1995/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #4.


  • Golden Boy(1995~1996/OVA)
  1. OP Animation.


  • Shin Kaitei Gunkan(1995~1996/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Ghost in the Shell(1995/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Memories(1995/Movie)
  1. Key Animator: "Taihou no Machi", "Kanojo no Omoide".


  • Rurouni Kenshin(1996~1998/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #2.


  • Tattoon Master(1996/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • X(1996/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Fire Emblem(1996/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #2.


  • Mahou Shoujo Pretty Sammy(1995~1997/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • QUOVADIS 2〜惑星強襲オヴァン・レイ〜(1997/Game)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Ghost in the Shell(1997/Game)
  1. Key Animator: OP.


  • Dennou Sentai Voogie's Angel(1997~1998/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #2, #3.


  • Detatoko Princess(1997~1998/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #2.


  • Perfect Blue(1998/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Serial Experiments Lain(1998/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP, #12.
  2. Screen Setting: #6.


  • Soreyuke! Uchuu Senkan Yamamoto Yohko(1996/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Spriggan(1998/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Ao no 6-gou(1998~2000/OVA)
  1. Animation Character Designs: #2, #3, #4.
  2. Animation Director: #2, #4(NC).
  3. Key Animator: #1, #2, #3.


  • Digimon Adventure(1999/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Strange Dawn(2000/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #3.


  • Digimon Adventure 02 Movies(2000/Movie)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • FLCL(2000~2001/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #4, #6.


  • Chibi Neko Tom no Daibouken(Unreleased/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Cowboy Bebop: Tengoku no Tobira(2001/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • BRAND NEW DAY(2001/Short)
  1. Director.
  2. Animation Director.


  • Surveillance(2001/Game)
  1. Observer(監視者).
  2. Key Animator.


  • OVER THE MONOCHROME RAINBOW featuring SHOGO HAMADA(2003)
  1. Avan-title Animation Director.


  • Millennium Actress(2002/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence(2004/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Steamboy(2004/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Naruto: Dai Katsugeki!! Yuki Hime Shinobu Houjou Dattebayo!(2004/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Tales of Symphonia(2004/Game)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Tales of Rebirth(2004/Game)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Paranoia Agent(2004/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #8.


  • One Piece: Omatsuri Danshaku to Himitsu no Shima(2005/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Fullmetal Alchemist(2003~2004/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP2, OP3.


  • InuYasha: Guren no Houraijima(2004/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballa(2005/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Ouran Koukou Host Club(2005/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP.


  • Naruto: Dai Gekitotsu! Maboroshi no Chiteiiseki Dattebayo!(2005/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.
  2. Storyboard.


  • Paradise Kiss(2005/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP.


  • BECK(2004~2005/TV)
  1. Key Animator:#25.


  • Eureka Seven(2005/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP1, OP2, OP3, #11.


  • Hotori: Tada Saiwai wo Koinegau(2005/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Fuujin Monogatari(2005/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP, #1, #2.
  2. Animation Director: OP.


  • Peut-etre Toi(2005/Musical)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori: Nazo no Otakara Daisakusen(2005/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Gaiking: Legend of Daiku-Maryu(2005/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #31.


  • Fushigiboshi no☆Futagohime Gyu!(2006~2007/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #27.
    1. The Bank used from that episode on.


  • Kemonozume(2006/TV)
  1. Avant-title: #8.
  2. Animation Director: #8.
  3. Key Animator: #3, #13.


  • Freedom(2006/OVA)
  1. Animation Director.
  2. Key Animator: #1.


  • Nishi no Yoki Majo: Astraea Testament(2006/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #13.


  • Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpuuchou: Tou(2007)
  1. OP Key Animation.


  • Shining Tears(2007/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP, ED.


  • Dennou Coil(2007/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #3, #8.
  2. Animation Director: #8.


  • Highlander: Vengeance(2007/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone(2007/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Sword of the Stranger(2007/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Nasu: Suitcase no Wataridori(2007/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Kaiba(2008/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #2, #5, #6.


  • Freedom Seven(2008/OVA)
  1. Key Animator.


  • The Sky Crawlers(2008/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Naruto: Shippuuden - Kizuna(2008/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Batman Gotham Knight(2008/OVA)
  1. Character Draft: #2.


  • Genius Party Beyond "Toujin Kit"(2008/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Tokyo Magnitude 8.0(2009/TV)
  1. Animation: ED.


  • Summer Wars(2009/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Halo Legends Episode 4 "Prototype"(2010)
  1. Key Animator.


  • TRIGUN Badlands Rumble(2010/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Hourou Musuko(2011/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Sengoku Basara The Last Party(2011/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Onigamiden(2011/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.
  2. Animation Director Cooperation.


  • Blood-C(2011/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP.


  • Digimon Xros Wars: Toki wo Kakeru Shounen Hunter-tachi(2011/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Towa no Quon(2011/Movies)
  1. Key Animator: #6.


  • Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou(2011/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #24.


  • Zetman(2012/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #4.


  • Momo e no Tegami(2012/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Rainbow Fireflies(2012/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Psycho Pass(2012/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP.
  2. Animation Director: OP.


  • Shinsekai Yori(2012/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #8, #25.


  • Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena(2012/Game)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Nekomonogatari Kuro(2012/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #1, #4.


  • Shingeki no Kyoujin(2013/TV)
  1. Animation: ED.


  • Haiyore! Nyaruko-san W(2013/TV)
  1. Key Animator: ED2.


  • Monogatari Series Second Season(2013/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Hi no Youjin(2012/Short)
  1. Animation.


  • Buki yo Saraba(2013/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil(2014/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP, #11.


  • Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth(2014/Game)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Giovanni's Island(2014/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Ghost in the Shell Arise(2013~2014/Movies)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. General Animation Director: #4.
  3. 2nd Key Animation: #4.


  • Naruto Movie The Last(2014/Movie)
  1. Storyboard(Joint).
  2. Animation Director(Joint).
  3. Key Animator.


  • Junketsu no Maria(2015/TV)
  1. Animation Director: #3(Joint).


  • Ghost in the Shell Arise Alternative Architecture(2015/TV)
  1. General Animation Director.
  2. Sub Character Designs.
  3. 2nd Key Animation: #1, #2.


  • Nihon Animator Expo "The Three Witnesses"(2015/WEB)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Ghost in the Shell New Movie(2015/Movie)
  1. Prop Design(Joint).
  2. Animation Director(Joint).
  3. Key Animator.


  • Boruto Naruto the Movie(2015/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  1. Key Animator.


  • PERSONA 5(2016/Game)
  1. Animation Director: OP.
  2. Key Animator: OP.


  • Hirune Hime: Shiranai Watashi no Monogatari(2017/Movie)
  1. Animation Director(Joint).


  • Shingeki no Kyoujin 2(2017/TV)
  1. Illustration: ED.


  • Uchiage Hanabi, Shita kara Miru ka? Yoko kara Miru ka?(2017/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Blade Runner 2049: Blackout 2022(2017/WEB)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Birthday Wonderland(2019/Movie)
  1. Animation Director(Joint).
  2. Key Animator.
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