Tadashi Hiramatsu

Tadashi Hiramatsu　(平松　禎史) was born in 1963.

One of the leading figures of Gainax in the 00s. Trained as an oil painter at an art college, he first experimented with conveying three-dimensionality through 2D means by doing shadow puppets as an extracurricular. Those experiences helped shape his understanding of animation¹.

Joined Sunrise offshoot Nakamura Pro because he thought it would land him a gig on Lupin III and appeared in a minor capacity on projects like Akira and Sukeban Deka. Joined Masahiro Kase’s Studio Curtain where working alongside Noriyuki Nakamura and Kenichi Shimizu encouraged his creative development. Eventually ended up at Gainax where his cuts on Nadia-Secret of the Blue Water episode 11 got him noticed by a wider audience¹.

Partially influenced by the realist tendency in late 80s animation, particularly Otomo, his most formative influence was Yasuo Otsuka’s book on animation. Otsuka’s advice to always draw from real life has inspired Hiramatsu’s approach greatly. Hiramatsu has said in interview that he strives for his animation to look like the photos taken for fashion magazines of the models relaxing after a shoot. This ‘caught-in-the-moment’, verite ethos is in stark contrast to the self-aware style of most major Gainax animators¹.

Some of his major animation contributions include Kare Kano, FLCL, Beck’s OP, Ghost in the Shell: Innocence, Dennou Coil, Kemonozume, and Space Dandy. He mixed things up for his cuts on Gurren Lagann showing a strong Obari inflection. He also tends to focus on a single character for his animation/animation direction (Nono in Diebuster, Ninamori in FLCL, Isako in Dennou Coil, Munemune in Abenobashi, Simon in TTGL)¹.

He acquired a reputation as an ace character designer during Gainax’s middle era. Hiramatsu did character designs for Kare Kano, Abenobashi, and Re Cutie Honey. His first character design gig outside of Gainax is Madhouse’s Parasyte. His designs represent a compromise between the more refined, restrained designs of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto and the hyperkinetic flavor of Gainax’s new guard. He gives his characters great fashion sense in his illustrations¹.

In addition to the above, Hiramatsu has also tried his hand at direction. He’s known for making subdued, melancholic episodes that are sometimes at odds with the rest of the material (Abenobashi 1 and 7, Fruits Basket 8 and 26, Now and Then Here and There 6, Yucie 26, Dennou Coil 10). He has range: thrilling (Witch Hunter Robin 15), grandiose (Gurren Lagann 26), parodic (Medabots 7), and romantic (Kare Kano 8). His direction is generally less schematic than his peers at Gainax, focusing in on character acting and theatrical ambiance. He isn’t afraid to experiment though as the well-timed axial cut and photo montage of Now and Then Here and There 6 and the single unbroken take of Panty and Stocking 11B demonstrate. He directed the ga-nime short “until You come to me” for Khara’s Animator Expo program and the Japacon TV Opening 2, but both were moreso showcases of various animator/artist talent than Hiramatsu’s directorial abilities¹.

Directed the OPs for Kaleido Star, Petite Princess Yucie, and Dennou Coil¹.

His solo directorial projects haven’t worked out for one reason or another. He was set to direct the feature length shoujo film Ghost Rhapsody as well as contribute the short Touni to the original Genius Party collection but neither panned out¹.

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Works

• Bug tte Honey(1986~1987/TV)

1. In-betweens: #34, #39, #44.

• Junk Boy(1987/OVA)

1. In-betweens.

• Mister Ajikko(1987~1989/TV)

1. Key Animator: #43, #48, #53, #59, #64, #69, #74, #81, #86, #91, #99.

• Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru(1988~1989/TV)

1. Key Animator: #16, #21, #25.

• Yoroiden Samurai Troopers Kikoutei Densetsu(1989~1990/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #1.

• Ranma ½(1989~1992/TV)

1. Key Animator: #30, #33, #86, #91, #97, #108, #116, #121, #132.

• Tanoshii Muumin Ikka(1991~1992/TV)

1. Key Animator: #10, #16, #22.

• Fushigi no Umi no Nadia(1990~1991/TV)

1. Animation Director: #11(Joint), #15(Joint).
2. Key Animator: #11, #20.

• Tengai Makyou: Jiraiya Oboro-hen(1990/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #2.
2. Animation Director Assistant: #2.

• Lupin III: Napoleon no Jisho wo Ubae(1991/TVSP)

1. Key Animator.

• New Dream Hunter Rem: Yume no Kishitachi(1990/OVA)

1. Key Animator.

• Sukeban Deka(1991/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #1, #2.

• Mobile Suit Gundam F91(1991/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Roujin Z(1991/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Detonator Orgun(1991~1992/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #1.

• Mama wa Shougaku 4 Nensei(1992/TV)

1. Key Animator: OP.

• Dragon Slayer Eiyuu Densetsu: Ouji no Tabidachi(1992/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #1, #2.

• Mother: Saigo no Shoujo Eve(1993/Movie)

1. Animation Director.

• Yadamon(1992~1993/TV)

1. Key Animator: #21, #40, #54, #72, #135.

• Jungle no Ouja Tar-chan(1993~1994/TV)

1. Animation Director: #7, #14, #21, #28.
2. Key Animator: #14.

• Metal Fighter Miku(1994/TV)

1. Key Animator: #2, #4.

• Haou Taikei Ryuu Knight: Adeu Legend(1994~1995/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #3.

• Nanatsu no Umi no Tico(1994/TV)

1. Key Animator: #1.

• Taiho Shichau zo(1994~1995/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #3, #4.

• Shin Cutey Honey(1994~1995/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #6.

• Lupin III: Moeyo Zantetsuken!(1994/TVSP)

1. Key Animator.

• Darkside Blues(1994/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Romeo no Aoi Sora(1995/TV)

1. Key Animator: #2, #6, #12, #15, #19, #22, #26, #29, #31.

• Yamato 2520(1995~1996/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #1.

• Shin Kaitei Gunkan(1995~1996/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #1.

• Neon Genesis Evangelion(1995~1996/TV)

1. Key Animator: #15, #19, #21, #22(DVD Version), #23, #24, #25, #26.

• Soreyuke! Uchuu Senkan Yamamoto Yohko(1996/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #2.

• Meiken Lassie(1996/TV)

1. Key Animator: #2, #5, #8, #10, #13, #15, #21.
2. Animation Director: #24.

• Mahoujin Guruguru(1996/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Fake(1996/OVA)

1. Key Animator: OP.
2. Key Animation Cooperation.

• Ie Naki Ko Remy(1996~1997/TV)

1. Key Animator: #2, #5, #8.

• Dainairan(1997/Game)

1. Key Animator.

• Kodomo no Omocha(1996~1998/TV)

1. Key Animator: #90.

• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth(1997/Movie)

1. Key Animator: "Death", "Rebirth".
2. Song Telop Adviser -楽曲テロップアドバイザー-.

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

1. Key Animator: #25 "Air", #26 "Magogoro wo, Kimi ni".
2. Animation Director: #26 "Magogoro wo, Kimi ni".

• Toilet no Hanako-san(1996/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Chuuka Ichiban!(1997~1998/TV)

1. Storyboard: #22, #27.
2. Layout: #27.
3. Key Animator: #22, ED2.

• Flanders no Inu(1997/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Yakumotatsu(1997/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #2.

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

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

• Detatoko Princess(1997~1998/OVA)

1. Key Animator: OP, #2.

• Neo Ranga(1998~1999/TV)

1. Key Animator: #5, #11.

• Xenogears(1998/Game)

1. Key Animator.

• Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou(1998~1999/TV)

1. Animation Character Designs.
2. General Animation Director.
3. Storyboard: #8.
4. Animation Director: #1, #8, #13, #18, #26.
5. Key Animator: #1, #3, #8, #13, #18.

• Master Keaton(1998~1999/TV)

1. Key Animator: #28.

• Medarot(1999~2000/TV)

1. Storyboard: #7.

• Sakura Taisen: Gouka Kenran(1999~2000/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #1.

• Jin-Rou(2000/Movie)

1. Key Animator.
2. Vehicle Setting.

• FLCL(2000~2001/OVA)

1. Setting: #1, #3, #5, #6.
2. Storyboard: #3(NC), #6.
3. Animation Director: #1, #3, #6.
4. Key Animator: #4, #5, #6.

• Ima, Soko ni Iru Boku(1999~2000/TV)

1. Storyboard: #1, #6, #12, #13.
2. Episode Director: #6.
3. Animation Director Cooperation: #2.
4. Key Animator: #1, #6.

• Argento Soma(2000~2001/TV)

1. Key Animator: #25.

• Chikyuu Bouei Kazoku(2001/TV)

1. Layout: #13.
2. Key Animator: #2, #13.

• Fruits Basket(2001/TV)

1. Storyboard: #8.
2. Episode Director: #8.
3. Key Animator: #8, #18, #26.

• Abenobashi Mahou☆Shoutengai(2002/TV)

1. Animation Character Designs.
2. Storyboard: #1, #7.
3. Episode Director: #13.
4. Animation Director: #1, #7, #13.

• Witch Hunter Robin(2002/TV)

1. Storyboard: #15, #26.
2. Key Animator: #26.

• Neko no Ongaeshi(2002/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Puchi Pri*Yucie(2002~2003/TV)

1. Storyboard: OP, #26.
2. Episode Director: OP.
3. Key Animator: #7.

• Sister Princess: Re Pure Character's(2004/TV)

1. Storyboard: #9.
2. Animation Director: 9.
3. Episode Director: #9.
4. Key Animator: #6, #9, #12.

• Texhnolyze(2003/TV)

1. Storyboard: #12.
2. Key Animator: #22.

• Gad Guard(2003/TV)

1. Key Animator: #24.

• Mahoromatic Summer Special(2003/Special)

1. Key Animator.

• Kaleido Star: Aratanaru Tsubasa(2003~2004/TV)

1. Key Animator: #51.

• Paranoia Agent(2004/TV)

1. Key Animator: #5.

• Re: Cutey Honey(2004/OVA)

1. Character Designs.
2. Title Logo.
3. Episode Director: ED.
4. Animation Director: #1.
5. Animation Director Cooperation: #2.
6. Special Animation Director -特別作監-: #3.
7. Key Animator: #3.

• Innocence(2004/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Animation Seisaku Shinkou Kuromi-chan 2(2004/OVA)

1. Key Animator.

• Peace Maker Kurogane(2003~2004/TV)

1. Key Animator: #24.

• Kono Minikuku mo Utsukushii Sekai(2004/TV)

1. Key Animator: OP.

• Juubee-chan 2: Siberia Yagyuu no Gyakushuu(2004/TV)

1. Storyboard: #12.
2. Key Animator: #1.

• Top wo Nerae 2! Diebuster(2004~2006/OVA)

1. Storyboard: #3, #6.
2. Episode Director: #3.
3. Key Animator: #1, #4, #5, #6.
4. 2nd Key Animation: #1.

• Cutie Honey(2004/Live-Action)

1. Animation Character Designs.
2. Animation Director: ED.

• Beck(2004~2005/TV)

1. Key Animator: OP.