Shinji Otsuka

Shinji Otsuka (大塚　伸治) was born in 1955. One of Ghibli’s main animators. Started out at Osamu Dezaki’s Studio Annapuru where he served as co-CD/AD on Space Adventure Cobra with Akio Sugino. Joined Ghibli during the late 80s and was responsible for several major cuts in Hayao Miyazaki’s and Isao Takahata’s films. He was also co-AD for Kiki’s Delivery Service and CD/AD for Pom Poko. After Princess Mononoke he temporarily left the company but later returned for Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo¹.

Known for his realistic character animation. Most of his scenes involve delicate, life-like character acting, though he’s just as capable at cartoony exaggeration as his cuts in FLCL testify. As an effects animator he’s adept at making water look tangible and solid. Hyper limited, preferring to animate without in-betweens¹.

Worked with Satoshi Kon on Millennium Actress and Tokyo Godfathers. For the latter, Otsuka was the lead animator whose expressive facial animation defined the film’s visual style. His scene of Hana’s rant in the hospital is his most famous creation¹.

MAD - SakugaBooru - Japanese Wiki Page

Works

• Ore wa Teppei(1977~1978/TV)

1. In-betweens: #9, #13, #25, #27.

• Wakakusa no Charlotte(1977~1978/TV)

1. Animation: #3, #6, #11, #17.

• Ikkyu the Little Monk(1975~1982/TV)

1. In-betweens: #104, #128.

• Ikkyuu-san(1978/TV)

1. In-betweens: #1, #3, #4, #6, #10, #13, #16, #17, #19, #22, #23, #24, #26.

• Tatsu no Ko Tarou(1979/Movie)

1. In-betweens.

• Koguma no Misha(1970~1980/TV)

1. Key Animator: #13.
2. In-betweens: #1, #5, #20.

• Doraemon: Nobita no Kyouryuu(1980/Movie)

1. In-betweens.

• Fumoon(1980/TVSP)

1. Key Animator.

• Tetsuwan Atom(1980~1981/TV)

1. Key Animator: #6.

• Ganbare Genki(1980~1981/TV)

1. Key Animator: #13, #19, #24, #30.

• Ashita no Joe 2(1980~1981/TV)

1. Key Animator: #21, #24, #26, #28, #30, #32, #35, #36, #39~#47.

• Space Cobra Pilot(1981)

1. Key Animator.

• Space Cobra(1982~1983/TV)

1. Animation Director(Joint with Akio Sugino): #1~#31.

• Urusei Yatsura(1981~1986/TV)

1. Key Animator: #70.

• Golgo 13(1983/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Cat's Eye(1983~1985/TV)

1. Key Animator: #1, #4, #8, #10.

• SF Shinseiki Lensman(1984/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Kamui no Ken(1985/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Bobby ni Kubittake(1985/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Tenshi no Tamago(1985/OVA)

1. Key Animator.

• Manie-Manie: Meikyuu Monogatari(1986/Movie)

1. Key Animator: "Running Man".

• Tenkuu no Shiro Laputa(1986/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Manga Nippon Mukashibanashi(1976~1994/TV)

1. Key Animator: #576.
2. Episode Director: #576.

• Maison Ikkoku(1986~1988/TV)

1. Key Animator: #39.

• Ouritsu Uchuugun: Honneamise no Tsubasa(1987/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Hiatari Ryoukou!(1987~1988/TV)

1. Key Animator: #20.

• Space Fantasia 2001 Nights(1987/OVA)

1. Key Animator.

• Twilight Q(1987/OVA)

1. Animation Director: File 538.
2. Key Animator: File 538.

• Devilman: Tanjou-hen(1987/OVA)

1. Key Animator.

• Tonari no Totoro(1988/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Akira(1988/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Kiki's Delivery Service(1989/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Ace wo Nerae!: Final Stage(1989~1990/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #4.

• Kumo no You ni Kaze no You ni(1990/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Only Yesterday(1991/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Porco Rosso(1992/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Pom Poko(1994/Movie)

1. Image Building.
2. Character Designs.
3. Animation Director.

• Whisper of the Heart(1995/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• On Your Mark(1995/Music Video)

1. Key Animator.

• Mononoke Hime(1997/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• My Neighbors the Yamadas(1999/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Slime Boukenki: Umi da, Yeah!(1999/Specia)

1. Key Animator.

• Akihabara Dennou-gumi: 2011-nen no Natsuyasumi(1999/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Medabots(1999~2000/TV)

1. Key Animator: #9, #52.

• Wild Arms: Twilight Venom(1999~2000/TV)

1. Key Animator: #3.

• FLCL(2000~2001/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #1~#6.
2. ED Key Animator.

• Jin-Rou(2000/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Blood: The Last Vampire(2000/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• The Cat Returns(2002/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Blood: The Last Vampire(Game)

1. Key Animator.

• Tokyo Godfathers(2003/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Portable Kuukou(2004/Music Video)

1. Key Animator.

• Howl's Moving Castle(2004/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Mizugumo Monmon(2006/Short)

1. Key Animator.

• Gedo Senki(2006/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Ponyo on the Cliff(2008/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• The Secret World of Arrietty(2010/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Ni no Kuni(2010/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• From Up on Poppy Hill(2011/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• The Wind Rises(2013/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Kaguya-hime(2013/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• When Marnie was There(2014/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Bakemono no Ko(2015/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Mary and the Witch's Flower(2017/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Okko's Inn(2018/Movie)

1. Key Animator.