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Nobuhiko Ōbayashi is a Actor, Director, Writer, Producer, Editor, Original Music Composer and Special Effects Japonais born on 9 january 1938 at Onomichi (Japon)

Nobuhiko Ōbayashi

Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
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Nationality Japon
Birth 9 january 1938 at Onomichi (Japon)
Death 10 april 2020 (at 82 years)

Nobuhiko Obayashi (大林 宣彦, Ōbayashi Nobuhiko, born 9 January 1938) is a Japanese director, screenwriter and editor of films and television advertisements who is well known for his surreal visual style. He began his career as a pioneering figure in Japanese experimental film during the 1960s before transitioning to directing more mainstream works such as television and feature films. Though he remains mostly unknown outside of Japan, he has made many films in his 50 years of working with the medium.

Biography

Obayashi was born on 9 January 1938 in the city of Onomichi, Japan. He was the eldest son of a father who was one in a long paternal line of medical doctors. As his father was called to the battlefront during World War II, he was raised in his early infancy by his maternal grandparents. Through his childhood and adolescence Obayashi followed many artistic pursuits including drawing, writing, playing the piano, and a growing interest in animation and film.

In 1955 Obayashi, at the urging of his father, began procedures to enter medical school and become a doctor. However, he shortly thereafter abandoned this initiative partway through an entrance examination in order to follow his artistic interests. In 1956 he was accepted to the liberal arts department of Seijo University where he began to work with 8 and 16mm film. Toward the end of his stay at the university Obayashi began working on a series of experimental films. Along with works by other filmmakers such as Shuji Terayama and Donald Richie, Obayshi's films would develop the tone of Japanese experimental cinema through the 1960s. In these early experimental films Obayashi employed a number of avant-garde techniques that he would carry into his later mainstream work. Though these films tended to be of a personal nature, they received public viewership due to distribution by the Art Theatre Guild.

Following his departure from university, Obayashi continued to work on his experimental films while earning a living as a director in the new field of television advertisements. Obayashi's TV commercials had a visual appeal similar to that of his experimental works. In the 1970s he began a series of Japanese ads featuring well-known American stars such as Kirk Douglas and Charles Bronson. Obayashi began directing feature films starting in 1977 with the horror comedy House. The film employed a mixture of trick photography and avant-garde techniques to achieve its distinctive, surreal visuals. Through the 1980s and onwards he continued to make feature films and broadened his mainstream appeal. He has become particularly well known for his coming-of-age movies: films such as Exchange Students (1982) and Chizuko's Younger Sister (1991) have prominent coming-of-age themes while still maintaining surreal fantasy elements and Obayashi's distinct visual flair.

His 1988 film The Discarnates was entered into the 16th Moscow International Film Festival. His 1998 film Sada was entered into the 48th Berlin International Film Festival.

Usually with

Wakaba Irie
Wakaba Irie
(7 films)
Toshinori Omi
Toshinori Omi
(5 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Nobuhiko Ōbayashi (12 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

House
House (1977)
, 1h28
Directed by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
Origin Japon
Genres Comedy, Horror comedy, Fantasy, Horror
Themes Ghost films, Comedy horror films
Actors Yōko Minamida, Tomokazu Miura, Fumi Dan, Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
Roles Husband (uncredited)
Rating72% 3.64983.64983.64983.64983.6498
In Japan, a young girl nicknamed Gorgeous (Kimiko Ikegami) has plans for a summer vacation with her father (Saho Sasazawa) who had been in Italy scoring film music. Her father returns home and surprises Gorgeous by announcing she has a new stepmother, Ryoko Ema (Haruko Wanibuchi). This upsets Gorgeous as her mother had died years earlier. Gorgeous goes to her bedroom and writes a letter to her aunt asking if she could come visit her this summer instead. Gorgeous' aunt replies and allows her to come visit. Gorgeous invites her six friends, Prof (Ai Matsubara), Melody (Eriko Tanaka), Kung Fu (Miki Jinbo), Mac (Mieko Sato), Sweet (Masayo Miyako) and Fantasy (Kumiko Oba) to come along with her. On arriving at the aunt's house, the girls are greeted by Gorgeous' aunt (Yōko Minamida) to whom they present a watermelon.

Director

Chizuko's Younger Sister
Directed by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
Genres Drama, Fantasy
Actors Hikari Ishida, Tomoko Nakajima, Sumiko Fuji, Toshinori Omi, Ittoku Kishibe, Kazuko Yoshiyuki
Rating70% 3.528143.528143.528143.528143.52814
The film centers on Mika Kitao (北尾 実加 Kitao Mika; Hikari Ishida), the clumsy and slow younger sister of Chizuko Kitao (北尾 千津子 Kitao Chizuko; Tomoko Nakajima), shortly after Chizuko dies in a freak accident. Although the sisters were very close, it is apparent that Mika lived in the shadow of her older sister's accomplishments. One night, Mika is almost raped by a stranger while walking alone outside. However, during the attack, a person resembling Chizuko silently gestures towards a rock on the ground, which Mika uses to hit her assailant and get away safely.
The Discarnates, 1h55
Directed by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
Genres Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Actors Tsurutaro Kataoka, Ishirō Honda, Kumiko Akiyoshi, Morio Kazama, Riki Takeuchi, Toshiyuki Nagashima
Rating70% 3.5309853.5309853.5309853.5309853.530985
Harada est un scénariste dont le travail rencontre un franc succès. Son meilleur ami lui d'annonce alors qu'il a l'intention de fréquenter son ex-épouse. Harada supporte mal cette annonce. Tandis qu'il est en repérage pour l'un de ses scénario, il retourne dans sa ville natale. Il assiste à un spectacle et croise dans le public un homme qui ressemble trait pour trait à son père, décédé trente ans plus tôt dans un accident avec sa mère. Ce dernier l'invite chez lui.
His Motorbike, Her Island
Directed by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
Genres Drama, Romance
Actors Noriko Watanabe, Riki Takeuchi, Tomokazu Miura, Shigeru Izumiya, Ittoku Kishibe, Nenji Kobayashi
Rating72% 3.6382853.6382853.6382853.6382853.638285
Après une série de rencontres fortuites, Ko, passionné de moto, entame une relation amoureuse avec une fille insouciante, Miyo, après lui avoir appris à conduire. Lorsque Miyo fait ses preuves en tant que prodige du motard, Ko commence à craindre qu'elle ne soit destinée à s'écraser.
Miss Lonely
Directed by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
Genres Comedy, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films
Actors Yasuko Tomita, Satomi Kobayashi, Toshinori Omi, Nenji Kobayashi, Makoto Satō, Ittoku Kishibe
Rating72% 3.618543.618543.618543.618543.61854
Hiroki, lycéen solitaire et amoureux, poursuit une fille, mais une autre apparaît mystérieusement dans sa vie. Est-elle le produit de son psychisme ou est-elle réelle ?
The Little Girl Who Conquered Time, 1h44
Directed by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
Origin Japon
Genres Science fiction, Romance
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films, Time travel films
Actors Tomoyo Harada, Ittoku Kishibe, Toshinori Omi, Takako Irie, Ken Uehara, Toshie Negishi
Rating64% 3.24513.24513.24513.24513.2451
Après avoir été retrouvée inconsciente dans une salle de chimie, une jeune lycéenne semble pouvoir voyager dans le temps.
I Are You, You Am Me, 1h52
Directed by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
Genres Drama, Comedy
Actors Satomi Kobayashi, Toshinori Omi, Makoto Satō, Wakaba Irie, Joe Shishido, Katsuhiko Nakagawa
Rating71% 3.5804453.5804453.5804453.5804453.580445
Kazuo et Kazumi, 15 ans environ, font une chute dans un temple d'une petite ville côtière du Japon. Suite à une intervention surnaturelle, leurs âmes et corps sont échangés, leur permettant de découvrir ce qu'est être du sexe opposé à l'adolescence.
Take Me Away!
Directed by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
Genres Drama, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films
Actors Momoe Yamaguchi, Tomokazu Miura, Tomoko Naraoka, Eiji Okada, Yōko Minamida
Rating60% 3.0478853.0478853.0478853.0478853.047885
A piano tuner on holiday in San Francisco, Kyoko (Yamaguchi), meets Tetsuo (Miura), a Japanese layabout on the run from his debts in Japan. Kyoko tells Tetsuo she is a pianist who has come to San Francisco to kill herself. After enjoying a night in a bar full of exciting people, they become romantically involved, and she admits she was lying. Kyoko starts living in Tetsuo's apartment but then has to leave. She persuades Tetsuo to come back to Japan in September.
House
House (1977)
, 1h28
Directed by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
Origin Japon
Genres Comedy, Horror comedy, Fantasy, Horror
Themes Ghost films, Comedy horror films
Actors Yōko Minamida, Tomokazu Miura, Fumi Dan, Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
Rating72% 3.64983.64983.64983.64983.6498
In Japan, a young girl nicknamed Gorgeous (Kimiko Ikegami) has plans for a summer vacation with her father (Saho Sasazawa) who had been in Italy scoring film music. Her father returns home and surprises Gorgeous by announcing she has a new stepmother, Ryoko Ema (Haruko Wanibuchi). This upsets Gorgeous as her mother had died years earlier. Gorgeous goes to her bedroom and writes a letter to her aunt asking if she could come visit her this summer instead. Gorgeous' aunt replies and allows her to come visit. Gorgeous invites her six friends, Prof (Ai Matsubara), Melody (Eriko Tanaka), Kung Fu (Miki Jinbo), Mac (Mieko Sato), Sweet (Masayo Miyako) and Fantasy (Kumiko Oba) to come along with her. On arriving at the aunt's house, the girls are greeted by Gorgeous' aunt (Yōko Minamida) to whom they present a watermelon.

Scriptwriter

Miss Lonely
Directed by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
Genres Comedy, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films
Actors Yasuko Tomita, Satomi Kobayashi, Toshinori Omi, Nenji Kobayashi, Makoto Satō, Ittoku Kishibe
Rating72% 3.618543.618543.618543.618543.61854
Hiroki, lycéen solitaire et amoureux, poursuit une fille, mais une autre apparaît mystérieusement dans sa vie. Est-elle le produit de son psychisme ou est-elle réelle ?
The Little Girl Who Conquered Time, 1h44
Directed by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
Origin Japon
Genres Science fiction, Romance
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films, Time travel films
Actors Tomoyo Harada, Ittoku Kishibe, Toshinori Omi, Takako Irie, Ken Uehara, Toshie Negishi
Roles Dialogue
Rating64% 3.24513.24513.24513.24513.2451
Après avoir été retrouvée inconsciente dans une salle de chimie, une jeune lycéenne semble pouvoir voyager dans le temps.
The Mouse and His Child, 1h23
Directed by Fred Wolf, Fred Wolf
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Fantasy, Adventure, Animation
Actors Peter Ustinov, Neville Brand, Cliff Norton, Andy Devine, Cliff Osmond, Sally Kellerman
Roles Lyricist
Rating67% 3.384393.384393.384393.384393.38439
The mouse and his child are two parts of a single small wind-up toy, which must be wound up by means of a key in the father's back. After having been unpacked, they discover themselves in a toy shop where they befriend a toy elephant and toy seal. The child mouse proposes staying at the shop to form a family, which the other toys ridicule. After breaking due to a fall from the counter, they are thrown in the trash. Outside, they become enslaved by Manny the rat, who runs a casino in the city dump and uses broken wind-up toys as his slave labor force. With the aid of a psychic frog, the mice escape and meet various animal characters on a quest of becoming free and independent self-winding toys. They rediscover the elephant and seal, who are somewhat broken down. Together they manage to form a family and destroy the rat empire.

Producer

Aiko 16-sai, 1h38
Genres Drama, Romance
Actors Yasuko Tomita
Roles Executive Producer
Rating51% 2.5825652.5825652.5825652.5825652.582565