Yoshihiko Umakoshi

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Yoshihiko Umakoshi (馬越　嘉彦) was born in 1968. Prolific animator and character designer originally from Studio Cockpit where the work of colleagues Masaaki Iwane, Takahiro Kagami, and above all Junichi Hayama helped define his unique approach to franchise animation. In fact, Umakoshi initially intended to join Sunrise and animate mecha until he encountered Hayama’s contributions to Fist of the North Star. Arguably the most prominent Shoujo animator of the 00s decade1.

Though most well-known for his work on shows where he served as character designer, Umakoshi’s KA on other shows is just as acclaimed. His cuts are rhythmic and dynamic, decisively juggling figures around one another and using comic book style speedlines for emphasis (just like his mentor Hayama). Unlike other Cockpit animators, Umakoshi’s smears are conspicuous and his timings fluctuate more readily. He’s also got a much wider range, excelling in everything from ridiculous exaggerated slapstick to stone-faced drama. Some examples of his animation can be found in the Cowboy Bebop movie, Space Battleship Yamamoto 2199, Fullmetal Alchemist, Diebuster, Giant Robo, Gurren Lagann, Ashita no Nadja, Kill la Kill, Mawaru Penguindrum, Kimi ni Todoke, Kyousougiga, Panty & Stocking, and Wolf’s Rain1.

Umakoshi started working on character designs at Toei, often in collaboration with Shigeyasu Yamauchi. His earliest designs include Boys Over Flowers, Marmalade Boy, Grappler Baki, even Berserk, but it was his encounter with Ai Yazawa’s manga while working on the Neighborhood Story adaptation that his signature rounded style developed. This led into his first masterpiece of design work: the Ojamajo Doremi series. Though distinctive in their own right (especially in the unconventional sharpness of the hair, fingers, and costumes), Umakoshi’s designs on the show were extremely pliable with easily abstracted facial features and limbs, allowing the less talented sakkans and animators to turn out surprisingly high quality results. The end product is perhaps Toei’s most consistently good-looking long running series and established Umakoshi’s reputation overnight. Umakoshi’s other Shoujo designs at Toei include Mari & Gali, Heartcatch Precure, and Kasumin1.

After Doremi Umakoshi refined his designs in various ways, something which would be evident in his collaborative work with Shigeyasu Yamauchi. He standardized the swooped nose that appeared in later episodes of Doremi, his figures were sleeker with elongated proportions, and the comic book effects often found in his KA was extended to his characters: thicker outlines, liberal highlights, and angular limbs. The best examples of Umakoshi’s work in this vein are Casshern Sins, Heartcatch Precure, and Saint Seiya Omega. These designs are the type for which Umakoshi is most famous and make for impressive action scenes whenever Umakoshi himself animates them1.

Frequent collaborator with Hiroshi Nagahama after doing the character designs for Jubei-Chan season 2 (Nagahama was assistant director). Nagahama was able to get Umakoshi to design and sakkan his debut TV anime Mushishi. Umakoshi’s designs for Mushishi were less flashy and more minimalist than his Toei work to better suit the atmosphere of the show. Moreover, Umakoshi contributed the distinctive timings that characterized both the alien motion of the mushi themselves and the subtle, barely noticeable body language of the human characters. He enforced animation for humans to be on the 2s and animation for the mushi to be on the 1s, contributing to the animation’s indelible strangeness. For the second season Mushishi Zoku Shou, Umakoshi participated in the AD for nearly every episode, these traits being even more magnified due to his constant involvement1.


MAD - SakugaBooru - Japanese Wiki Page

Works[edit]

  • Sakigake!! Otokojuku(1988/TV)
  1. In-betweens: #22.


  • Bikkuriman(1987~1989/TV)
  1. In-betweens: #56.


  • Saint Seiya(1986~1989/TV)
  1. In-betweens.


  • Himitsu no Akko-chan(1988~1989/TV)
  1. In-betweens: #8, #14, #28, #35, #48.


  • Touyama Sakura Uchuu Chou: Yatsu no Na wa Gold(1988/OVA)
  1. In-betweens.


  • Shin Bikkuriman(1989~1990/TV)
  1. Key Animator.
  2. In-betweens.


  • Himitsu no Akko-chan: Umi da! Obake da!! Natsu Matsuri(1989/Movie)
  1. In-betweens.


  • Crying Freeman(1988~1994/OVA)
  1. In-betweens: #2.


  • Mahoutsukai Sally(1989~1991/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #28, #34, #40, #44, #49, #51, #56, #61, #67, #73, #79, #85.
  2. In-betweens.


  • BE-BOP-HIGHSCHOOL(1990/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #4.
  2. Animation Director Assistant: #3, #4.


  • Kyattou Ninden Teyandee(1990~1991/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Yuusha Exkaiser(1990~1991/TV)
  1. Key Animator(NC).


  • Magical☆Taruruuto-kun(1990~1992/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #30.


  • Utsunomiko(1990~1992/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #6.


  • Taiyou no Yuusha Fighbird(1991~1992/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #41.


  • Wakusei Aton -惑星アトン-(1991/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #2.


  • Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh(1991~1992/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #30.


  • Genji Tsuushin Agedama(1991~1992/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #9, #16, #22, #29, #37, #51.


  • Ranma ½: Chuugoku Nekonron Daikessen! Okite Yaburi no Gekitou-hen!!(1991/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Gall Force: New Era(1991~1992/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Super Bikkuriman(1992~1993/TV)
  1. Animation Director: #12, #30, #40.
  2. Key Animator: #12, #30, #40.


  • Ushio to Tora(1992~1993/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #8.


  • Dragon Ball Z(1989~1996/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #174, #179.


  • Yuusha Tokkyuu Might Gaine(1993~1994/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #24, #29, #35, #40, #44.


  • Miracle Girls(1993/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #43.


  • Sangokushi: Dai San Bu - Harukanaru Taichi(1994/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken(1993~1994/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #7, #8.


  • Yuusha Keisatsu J-Decker(1994~1995/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #2.


  • Marmalade Boy(1994~1995/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director: #1, #44, #60, #68, OP1, ED1.
  3. Key Animator: #44, #60, #68, OP2, ED2.


  • Battle Heat(1994/Game)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Grappler Baki(1994/OVA)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director.
  3. Key Animator.


  • Shounan Bakusouzoku(1986~1999/OVA)
  1. Animation Director: #9, #10.
  2. In-betweens: #5, #6.
  3. Key Animator: #9, #10.


  • Marmalade Boy(1995/Movie)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Key Animator.


  • Street Fighter II V(1995/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #3.


  • Ai Tenshi Densetsu Wedding Peach(1995~1996/TV)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Giant Robo the Animation: Chikyuu ga Seishi Suru Hi(1992~1998/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #6.


  • Gokinjo Monogatari(1995~1996/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director: OP, ED1, #1, #7 #13, #33, #39, #46.
  3. Key Animator: #13, #33, #39, #46, ED2.


  • Gokinjo Monogatari(1996/Movie)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director.
  3. Key Animator: ED.


  • Kaiketsu Zorro(1996~1997/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #2, #3.


  • Jigoku Sensei Nube(1996~1997/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #6, #13.


  • Hana yori Dango(1996~1997/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director: OP, ED1, #1, #16, #25, #32, #43, #51.
  3. Key Animator: ED2, #1, #7, #16, #25, #32, #43, #51.


  • Twin Signal(1996/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: OP.


  • Chouja Raideen(1996~1997/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #18, #38.


  • Rayearth(1997/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #2.


  • Kenpuu Denki Berserk(1997~1998/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director: #10, #15, #21.
  3. Key Animator: #21, #25.
  4. Layout Check: #25.


  • Satanika(1997/PV)
  1. Animation Director(Joint).


  • Nessa no Haou Gandalla(1998/TV)
  1. Animation Director: #5.
  2. Key Animator: #15, #22.


  • Pokemon: Pikachu no Natsuyasumi(1998/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Urayasu Tekkin Kazoku(1998/TV)
  1. Animation Director: #16, #22.
  2. Key Animator: #16, #22.
    1. #16: Solo.


  • One Piece: Taose! Kaizoku Ganzack(1998/OVA)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Kocchi Muite Miiko(1998~1999/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #24.


  • Queen Emeraldas(1998~1999/OVA)
  1. Animation Director Assistant: #2.
  2. Key Animator: #2.


  • Aa! Megami-sama!: Chichaitte Koto wa Benri da ne(1998~1999/TV)
  1. Costume Design: #31.
  2. Animation Director: #31.


  • Yume de Aetara(1999/TV)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Ojamajo Doremi(1999~2000/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director: #30, #45.
  3. Key Animator: #1, #30, #45.


  • To Heart(1999/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #4.


  • Pokemon: Pikachu Tankentai(1999/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Karakuri no Kimi(2000/OVA)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Shoujo Kakumei Utena: Adolescence Mokushiroku(1999/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Ojamajo Doremi#(2000~2001/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director: ED, OP, #40.
  3. Key Animator: ED, #40, #49ED.


  • Street Fighter Zero(2000/OVA)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. General Animation Director.
  3. Animation Director: #2.
  4. Key Animator: #1, #2.


  • Ginsoukikou Ordian(2000/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #19.


  • タイピング覇王 北斗の拳 激打2(2000/Game)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Ojamajo Doremi#(2000/Movie)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. General Animation Director.
  3. Key Animator.


  • Digimon Adventure 02 Movies(2000/Movies)
  1. Animation Director(Joint): #1, #2.


  • Grappler Baki(2001/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #4, #10, #17, #23.


  • Mo~tto! Ojamajo Doremi(2001~2002/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director: #1, #40.
  3. Key Animator: #1, #2, #5, #10, #11, #40.


  • Project Arms(2001~2002/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Motto! Ojamajo Doremi: Kaeru Ishi no Himitsu(2001/Movie)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director.
  3. Key Animator.


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


  • Cyborg 009 The Cyborg Soldier(2001~2002/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #9.


  • Ojamajo Doremi Dokkaan!(2002~2003/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director: #1, #28, #40, #51.
  3. Key Animator: #9, #13, #17, #28, #31, #40, #51.


  • Saishuu Heiki Kanojo(2002/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Kasumin(2001~2002/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Key Animator: #29.


  • Yu☆Gi☆Oh! Duel Monsters(2000~2004/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #128.


  • Bomberman Jetters(2002~2003/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #5, #24, #50.


  • Little Buster Q(2002/Game)
  1. Character Designs.


  • Wolf's Rain(2003/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP, #1, #2, #7, #12, #19, #22, #26, #27.


  • Ashita no Nadja(2003~2004/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP, #24.


  • Hanada Shounen-shi(2002~2003/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #25.


  • Air Master(2003/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Key Animator: #27.
  3. General Animation Director.


  • Kaleido Star(2003/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #15.


  • Saint Seiya: Meiou Hades Juuni Kyuu-hen(2002~2003/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #13.


  • Juubee-chan 2: Siberia Yagyuu no Gyakushuu(2004/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. General Animation Director.
  3. Animation Director: #1, #9(Joint), #13.
  4. Key Animator: #1, #7.
  5. Participated in #4 as a Seiyuu


  • Animation Seisaku Shinkou Kuromi-chan(2004/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #2.


  • Futari wa Pretty Cure(2004~2005/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP, #1.


  • Fullmetal Alchemist(2003~2004/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP4, #34.


  • Ojamajo Doremi Na-i-sho(2004/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. General Animation Director.
  3. Animation Director: OP, #13.
  4. Key Animator: #4, #9~#13.


  • KURAU Phantom Memory(2004/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP, #11.


  • Otogizoushi(2004~2005/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP1, #4, #23.


  • Bouken Ou Beet(2004~2005/TV)
  1. Sub-title Lettering (サブタイトル題字).
  2. Key Animator: OP1, OP2, #26.


  • Top wo Nerae2!(2004~2006/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #1, #3.


  • Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Hachiyou Shou(2004~2005/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Zipang(2004~2005/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director: OP, ED, #26.


  • Masuda Kousuke Gekijou Gag Manga Biyori(2005/TV)
  1. OP Animation.
    1. Solo.


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


  • Universal Studios Japan Fullmetal Alchemist Premiere Tour(2005)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Kouchuu Ouja Mushiking: Mori no Tami no Densetsu(2005~2006/TV)
  1. Character Designs.


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


  • Kyoushoku Soukou Guyver(2005~2006/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director: OP.


  • Fushigiboshi no☆Futagohime(2005~2006/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #20.


  • Saishuu Heiki Kanojo: Another Love Song(2005/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #2.


  • Mushishi(2005~2006/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. General Animation Director.
  3. Animation Director: #1, #8(Joint), #26(Joint).
  4. Key Animator: #1, #6, #7, #11, #21, #23, #26.


  • Bouken Ou Beet Excellion(2005~2006/TV)
  1. Sub-title Lettering (サブタイトル題字).
  2. Key Animator: #24.


  • Masuda Kousuke Gekijou Gag Manga Biyori 2(2006/TV)
  1. OP Animation.
    1. Solo.
  2. Episode Director(Joint): #11.
  3. Animation: #11.


  • Gaiking: Legend of Daiku-Maryu(2005~2006/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #31.


  • Futari wa Precure: Splash Star(2006~2007/TV)
  1. Key Animator: ED2.


  • Futari wa Precure: Splash☆Star - Tick Tack Kiki Ippatsu!(2006/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Bokura ga Ita(2006/TV)
  1. Key Animator:#11, #16.


  • Katekyo Hitman Reborn!(2006~2010/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #1.
    1. #1: Avant-title.
  2. Revival Lettering (復活題字).


  • Digimon Savers: Kyuukyoku Power! Burst Mode Hatsudou!!(2006/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Death Note(2006~2007/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #21, #25, #31, 37.


  • Shijou Saikyou no Deshi Kenichi(2006~2007/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #33.


  • Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann(2007/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #10, #15.


  • Seirei no Moribito(2007/TV)
  1. Animation Director: #12.


  • Yes! PreCure 5(2007~2008/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #20.


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


  • Hatara Kids Mai Ham Gumi(2007~2008/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Yes! Precure: Kagami no Kuni no Miracle Daibouken(2007/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Yumedamaya Kidan(2007/TV)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Yes! Precure 5 GoGo!(2008~2009/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP.


  • Doraemon: Nobita to Midori no Kyojin Den(2008/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Zettai Karen Children(2008~2009/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP.


  • Mushishi(2008/DS Game)
  1. Character Designs.


  • Hokuto no Ken: Toki-den(2008/OVA)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Casshern Sins(2008~2009/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. General Animation Director: #3, #5~#9, #13, #14, #16, #18~#22.
  3. Animation Director: #1, #2, #4, #15, #17(Joint), #24.
  4. Key Animator: #1, #2, #3, #4, #15, #23, #24.
  5. Animation: OP1, OP2.
    1. OP1: Solo.
    2. OP2: Solo.


  • Yes! Precure 5 GoGo! Movie: Okashi no Kuni no Happy Birthday(2008/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Marie & Gali(2009~2010/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director: #13, #21, #29.


  • Negibouzu no Asatarou(2008~2009/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #32.


  • Kimi ni Todoke(2009/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #5.


  • Kobato.(2009/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #5.


  • One Piece Strong World(2009/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Masuda Kousuke Gekijou Gag Manga Biyori +(2010/TV)
  1. OP Animation.


  • Heartcatch Precure!(2010~2011/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. Animation Director: #1, #10, #23, #34, #48, #49.
  3. Key Animator: #1, #3, #10, #23, #34, #42, #48, #49.


  • Precure All Stars Movie DX2: Kibou no Hikari☆Rainbow Jewel wo Mamore!(2010/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Marie & Gali ver. 2.0(2010/TV)
  1. Character Designs.


  • Highschool of the Dead(2010/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #6, #12.


  • Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt(2010/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #2B.


  • Mokei Senshi Gunpla Builders Beginning G(2010/OVA)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Heartcatch Precure! Movie: Hana no Miyako de Fashion Show... Desu ka!?(2010/Movie)
  1. Character Designs(Joint).


  • Yumekui Merry(2011/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #1, #11.


  • Precure All Stars Movie DX3: Mirai ni Todoke! Sekai wo Tsunagu☆Nijiiro no Hana(2011/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Toriko(2011~2014/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP1.


  • X-MEN(2011/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #9.


  • Mawaru Penguindrum(2011/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP, #5, #7, #13, #18, #24.


  • Senki Zesshou Symphogear XV(2012/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Precure All Stars Movie New Stage: Mirai no Tomodachi(2012/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Saint Seiya Omega(2012~2014/TV)
  1. Character Designs: 1~#51.
  2. General Animation Director: #1~#51.
  3. Animation Director: #1, #10, #20, #27, #51.
  4. Key Animator: #1, #20, #27, #51.


  • Saint Seiya Omega - Ultimate Cosmo(2012/Game)
  1. Character Designs(Joint).


  • One Piece Film Z(2012/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Doki Doki! Precure(2013~2014/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP.


  • Kimi no iru Machi(2013/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP, #1, #2.


  • Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2199(2013/OVA)
  1. Key Animator: #20.


  • One Piece: Episode of Merry(2013/TVSP)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Kyousou Giga(2013/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #1.


  • Kill la Kill(2013~2014/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #2.


  • Mushishi: Hihamukage(2014/TVSP)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. General Animation Director.
  3. Animation Director(Joint).
  4. Key Animator.


  • Happiness Charge Precure!(2014~2015/TV)
  1. New Generation Precure Key Animator: #4, #10, #20, #28.
  2. Key Animator: #49.


  • Mushishi Zoku Shou 2nd Season(2014/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. General Animation Director.
  3. Animation Director(Joint): #1, #2, #3, #5~#10, #12, #15~#20, Special Epiosde.
  4. Key Animator: #2~#13, #15~#20, Special Episode.


  • Kekkai Sensen(2015/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #12.


  • Doukyuusei(2016/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Boku no Hero Academia(2016/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. General Animation Director.
  3. Animation Director: OP, ED, #1, #13(Joint).
  4. Animation Director Cooperation(Joint): #6, #7, #9.
  5. Key Animator: PV1, #13.


  • Tiger Mask(2016/TV)
  1. Key Animator: ED.


  • Drifters(2016/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #7.


  • Boku no Hero Academia Sukue! Kyuujo Kunren!(2016/OVA)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. General Animation Director.


  • JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 4: Diamond wa Kudakenai(2016/TV)
  1. Key Animator: #38.


  • Kirakira☆Precure A La Mode(2017/TV)
  1. Key Animator: OP.


  • Boku no Hero Academia 2(2017/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. General Animation Director: #14~#18, #19(Joint), #20, #21, #22(Joint), #24(Joint), 25(Joint), #26(Joint), #27, #30(Joint), #3(Joint), #37.
  3. Animation Director: OP1, OP2(Joint), ED1, ED2, #23, #30, #36, #38(Joint).


  • The Reflection Wave on(2017/TV)
  1. Character Designs.


  • Boku no Hero Academia 3(2018/TV)
  1. Character Designs.
  2. General Animation Director: #61.
  3. Animation Director: #61(Joint), #63(Joint).


  • Boku no Hero Academia the Movie 1: Futari no Hero(2018/Movie)
  1. Chief Animation Director.


  • Dragon Ball Super: Broly(2018/Movie)
  1. Key Animator.


  • Ojamajo Doremi: Owarai Gekijou(2019~/WEB)
  1. Character Designs.
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