Mitsuo Iso

Mitsuo Iso(磯 光雄) was born in 1966, in Aichi prefecture. He joined the anime industry after dropping off from the university. Iso worked for Studio Neomedia, Studio Zaendo, Studio Emon, and Ghibli(1990~1992) before going freelance. His name became known after his base assault scene in Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket. Iso uses Mikio Odagawa, Nao Shiomi, and Takeshi Hoshino as pen names.

Iso was one of the leaders of the realistic style in the 90s, with the creation of his "Full Limited" Technique, where the key animator draws every frame with precise timing so there is no need for in-betweens, also called "All Key Frames". This technique is administrated through Asuka's fighting scene in Neon Genesis Evangelion: End of Evangelion movie. It's rumoured that Iso reenacted the fight in his apartment, annoying the neighbours.

"Iso’s animation is distinctively weighty and jerky with near-constant motion, every drawing contributing towards a strong impression of reality. His bubbling, debris-laden explosions have also earned praise. Though not associated with a particular drawing style, his cuts have an unmistakable rhythm in their subtle undulation."¹

In 2017 he released his first art book, named Mitsuo Iso ANIMATION WORKS vol.1.

Twitter - Personal Website - Sakuga AMV - Japanese Wiki Page - SakugaBooru

Works

• Ninja Senshi Tobikage(1985~1986/TV)

1. Key Animation: #35, #40.

• Machine Robo: Cronos no Dai Gyakushuu(1986~1987/TV)

1. Key Animation: #18, #38.

• Kikou Senki Dragonar(1987~1988/TV)

1. Key Animation: #4(NC?), #32(NC?), #36(NC?), #39(NC?).

• GeGeGe no Kitarou(1985~1988/TV)

1. In-betweens: #88.
2. Key Animation: #97, #99, #102, #102, #104.
   1. #102: Servants air fighting scene, right after the opening.

• Kidou Senshi Gundam: Char Gyakushuu no Char(1988/Movie)

1. Key Animation.
2. Animation Direction.

• Transformers Chojin Master Force(1988~1989/TV)

1. Key Animation: #6, #12, #18, #24.

• Chuoun Senshi Borgman(1988/TV)

1. Key Animation: #18(NC?).

• Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru(1988~1989/TV)

1. Key Animation: #27.

• Kidou Senshi Gundam 0080 Pocket no Naka no Sensou(1989/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #1, #4(NC), #5(NC), #6(NC).

• Explorer Woman Ray(1989/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #1.
   1. #1: The boat escaping scene with strong waves.

• Peter Pan no Bouken(1989/TV)

1. Key Animation: #20(NC).

• Gosenzo-sama Banbanzai!(1989~1990/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #4(NC).

• Hades Project Zeorymer(1988~1990/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #4(NC).
   1. #4: Right after the opening when missiles hit the city.

• Kumo no You ni Kaze no You ni(1990/TV SP)

1. Key Animation.
   1. When Collins is attacked by assassins.

• SD Gundam Gaiden(1990~1991/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #2(NC?).

• Dragon Quest Board Game Desparus(1990)

1. Key Animation(CM).

• Kidou Senshi SD Gundam Space Journey(1990/OVA)

1. Key Animation(NC).

• The Hakkenden(1990~1991/TV)

1. Key Animation: #1.
   1. #1: The battle after the opening.

• Only Yesterday(1991/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• Roujin Z(1991/Movie)

1. Mechanical Design.

• Yumemakura Baku Twilight Gekijou Kottouya(1991/OVA)

1. Key Animation.
   1. The sleepy smoking guy.

• Teito Monogatari(1991~1992/OVA) | Pen Name

1. Key Animation: #2.
   1. #2: The scene where Yuko falls and a man gives her a coat.

• Porco Rosso(1992/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• Hashire Melos(1992/Movie)

1. Key Animation.
   1. The scene where Alexis fights a group of men in the forest.

• Ume ga Kikoeru(1993/Movie)

1. Key Animation.
   1. Tennis scenes.
   2. The last run scene in Kichijoji station.

• Kattobase! Dreamers: Carp Tanjou Monogatari(1994/Movie) | Pen Name.

1. Key Animation(NC).
   1. All the practice scenes at the riverbed.
2. Layout Cooperation.

• Final Fantasy(1994/OVA) | Pen Name

1. Key Animation #2.

• Giant Robo The Animation(1992~1998/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #5.

• JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken(1993~1998/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #6, #13.

• Choujikuu Seiki Orguss 02(1993~1995/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #5.

• Oira Uchuu no Tankoufu(1994~1995/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #2.

• Junkers Come Here(1995/Movie)

1. Key Animation.
   1. Beach confession scene.

• Neon Genesis Evangelion(1995~1996/TV)

1. Screenplay: #13.
2. Setting Assistant: #13, #15.
   1. #15: The design of the underground titan.
3. Key Animation: #1, #19, #21(DVD version).
   1. #1: The start of The UN army with angel battle.
   2. #19: The awakening of unit 01.
   3. #21: Before the opening.

• Ghost in the Shell (1995/Movie)

1. Firearms Design.
2. Key Animation.
   1. The fight inside the museum.

• Memories Episode 1 Magnetic Rose Kanojou no Omoeide(1995/Movie)

1. Props Setting

• Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan(1996~1998/TV)

1. Key Animation: OP1.

• Golden Boy(1995~1996/OVA)

1. Key Animation: OP(NC), #4, #6(NC).
   1. #4: The swimming scene with the main character drowning.

• PoPoLoCrois(1996/Video Game)

1. Key Animation.

• Ghost in the Shell(1997/Video Game)

1. Key Animation.

• Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion(1997/Movie)

1. Key Animation.
   1. Asuka fighting scenes with the mass-produced units.

• Perfect Blue(1998/Movie)

1. Key Animation.
   1. He is credited as Key Animator, but he dropped midway working on layouts.

• Dennou Sentai Voogie's Angel(1997~1998/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #3.
   1. #3: When the girl with supernatural powers rages.

• Ao no 6-gou(1998~2000/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #1.

• Digimon Adventure(1999/Movie) | Pen Name

1. Key Animation.
   1. Graymon appearance.
   2. Where Hikari and Taichi blow the whistle(Joint).

• Blood the Last Vampire(2000/Movie)

1. Key Animation.
   1. Warehouse monster battle(source).
2. Visual Effects

• FLCL(2000~2001/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #6.

• Cowbot Bebop Tengoku no Tobira(2001/Movie)

1. Digital Works.

• RAhXePhON(2002/TV)

1. Screenplay: #15.
2. Digital Works.
3. CGI: #2, #3.
4. Special Effects: #4~#10, #12, #14~#26.
5. Storyboard: #15.
6. Episode Direction: #15.
7. Key Animation: #2, #15.
8. In-betweens: #15.

• RahXephon: Pluralitas Concentio(2003/Movie)

1. Digital Works.

• Kill Bill vol.1(2003/Movie)

1. Key Animation.
   1. When the sniper shoot the politician in the head at the end.

• Steamboy(2003/Movie)

1. Digital Works.

• Dennou Coil(2007/TV)

1. Original Work.
2. Direction.
3. Screenplay.
4. Storyboard: #1, #12, #17(Joint), #19(Joint), #26, OP, ED.
5. Key Animation: #1, #4(NC), #12, #26.
6. Eyecatch(Joint).
7. Digital Works.
8. Art Setting: #2.
9. Photography: #26.

• Mahoutsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora(2008/Movie)

1. Key Animation(NC).

• Uchuu Show e Youkoso(2010/Movie) | Pen Name.

1. Key Animation.

• ROBOTICS;NOTES(2012/TV)

1. Key Animation: #22(NC).
   1. #22: When Sumeragi launches missiles(Mitsuo Iso ANIMATION WORKS vol.1).

• Watch Waanabi.jk(2013)

1. Key Animation(NC).

• Giovanni no Shima(2014/Movie)

1. Key Animation(NC).
   1. Soviet soldiers drinking(Mitsuo Iso ANIMATIONS WORKS vol.1).

• Suisei no Gargantia: Meguru Kouro, Haruka(2014~2015/OVA)

1. Key Animation.

• Rolling Girls(2016/TV) | Pen Name.

1. Key Animation: #6.
   1. #6: Launching missiles from the bicycle scene, 3 cuts(source).

• Hana to Alice Satsujin Jiken(2015/Movie)

1. Production Cooperation(Rotoscope Animation).

• Dimension W(2016/TV)

1. Key Animation: #1(NC?).

• Hirune Hime Shiranai Watashi no Monogatari(2017/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• Atom The Beginning(2017/TV)

1. Key Animation: OP.
   1. OP: He did C6(source).

• Blade Runner 2049 Short(2017/WEB)

1. Key Animation.
2. Photography Cooperation.