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Yōichi Kotabe is a Director and Character Designer Japonais born on 15 september 1936
Yōichi Kotabe (小田部 羊一, Kotabe Yōichi, born September 15, 1936), is a Japanese manga artist and animator who has worked with Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki. He is a lecturer at Tokyo Designer Academy in their cartoon film course.
He was married to Reiko Okuyama, who is an animator and engraver, and they jointly founded the studio Atelier Rei (アトリエ玲, Atorie Rei). Kotabe sometimes works with his wife under the nom de plume Antelope (あんていろーぷ, Anteirōpu). They worked together on Hols: Prince of the Sun and Panda! Go, Panda!. He was character designer for Heidi, Girl of the Alps and 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, both of which are part of the World Masterpiece Theater series.
He works for Nintendo designing, supervising, and illustrating for the Super Mario series since the original Super Mario Bros.. He has also done design work for The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, BS Zelda no Densetsu, and Mole Mania. He also did finish design work on the Pokémon animated series—he refined the design of Pikachu—and other video games as a design and animation supervisor.
In 2003, he participated in the collaborative project Winter Days.
In order to continue working in watercolors, he adopted the nihonga, or Japanese‐style, of painting, and began studying at the Tokyo University of the Arts where they had a Japanese‐style painting department. While attending the university, he was impressed by the film The Tale of the White Serpent, and immediately applied to work at Toei Animation.
His first project there was Hols: Prince of the Sun where he met Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. He left Toei along with Miyazaki and Takahata in order to work at A Pro, and they began work on an adaptation of Pippi Longstocking. That project was eventually cancelled, and work began on the two-film series Panda! Go, Panda!.
Kotabe then worked as character designer on two anime television series from Nippon Animation: Heidi, Girl of the Alps and 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, with Miyazaki working on scene design and layout and Takahata working as series director and storyboard artist.
In 1985, he was scouted by Nintendo and assumed the position of the game development adviser where he created package illustrations for Super Mario Bros.. Until that time, he was not familiar with video games.
(1984)
(Key Animation)
Source : Wikidata
Yōichi Kotabe
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- Characters
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He was married to Reiko Okuyama, who is an animator and engraver, and they jointly founded the studio Atelier Rei (アトリエ玲, Atorie Rei). Kotabe sometimes works with his wife under the nom de plume Antelope (あんていろーぷ, Anteirōpu). They worked together on Hols: Prince of the Sun and Panda! Go, Panda!. He was character designer for Heidi, Girl of the Alps and 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, both of which are part of the World Masterpiece Theater series.
He works for Nintendo designing, supervising, and illustrating for the Super Mario series since the original Super Mario Bros.. He has also done design work for The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, BS Zelda no Densetsu, and Mole Mania. He also did finish design work on the Pokémon animated series—he refined the design of Pikachu—and other video games as a design and animation supervisor.
In 2003, he participated in the collaborative project Winter Days.
Biography
Kotabe became interested in animation after watching the short film Momotarō no Umiwashi as a child. He was fascinated with how the fighter moved in the film. His father, who was an oil painter, also influenced his decision to work as an artist. Kotabe found oil painting to be difficult, so he instead worked in watercolor painting.In order to continue working in watercolors, he adopted the nihonga, or Japanese‐style, of painting, and began studying at the Tokyo University of the Arts where they had a Japanese‐style painting department. While attending the university, he was impressed by the film The Tale of the White Serpent, and immediately applied to work at Toei Animation.
His first project there was Hols: Prince of the Sun where he met Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. He left Toei along with Miyazaki and Takahata in order to work at A Pro, and they began work on an adaptation of Pippi Longstocking. That project was eventually cancelled, and work began on the two-film series Panda! Go, Panda!.
Kotabe then worked as character designer on two anime television series from Nippon Animation: Heidi, Girl of the Alps and 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother, with Miyazaki working on scene design and layout and Takahata working as series director and storyboard artist.
In 1985, he was scouted by Nintendo and assumed the position of the game development adviser where he created package illustrations for Super Mario Bros.. Until that time, he was not familiar with video games.
Best films
(1984)(Key Animation)
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Filmography of Yōichi Kotabe (19 films)
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Winter Days (2003)
, 40minutesDirected by Raoul Servais, Isao Takahata, Iouri Norstein, Kihachirō Kawamoto, Kōji Yamamura, Mark Baker (animateur), Yōji Kuri, Co Hoedeman, Yōichi Kotabe, Jacques Drouin
Origin Japon
Genres Animation
Themes Poésie, Adaptation d'un poème
Actors Kyōko Kishida
Rating65%
Le film consiste en une série de 36 courts métrages d'une durée comprise entre 30 secondes et 2 minutes environ, chacun inspiré par l'une des strophes du poème. Entre les films, la strophe du film à venir s'affiche à l'écran et est lue par un narrateur ou une narratrice. Comme il est d'usage dans ce type de poème, le premier vers de chaque nouvelle strophe reprend le dernier vers de la strophe précédente. Le premier court métrage montre un groupe de poètes japonais réunis dans une maison et accueillant l'invité d'honneur qui, selon l'usage, compose la première strophe du renku ; c'est le seul à montrer les auteurs du poème. Les films suivants plongent dans l'univers d'images et de sensation évoqués par les strophes du poème. Le poème lui-même ne développe pas d'intrigue suivie ; il contient des éléments d'intrigue, mais ils restent très allusifs. Les courts métrages, de leur côté, ne présentent pas nécessairement une adaptation littérale du poème mais s'en inspirent plus ou moins librement. Les différents courts métrages ne comportent pas de paroles, seulement de la musique et des bruitages. Les techniques d'animation sont extrêmement variées, de même que les styles graphiques et le ton des différents films (ils sont tour à tour paisibles, angoissants, drôles, tristes, etc.). Le film proprement dit est suivi d'un documentaire de making of donnant des informations sur le poème d'origine et sur la production du film.
Visual effects
, 1h13Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama
Genres Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films about computing, Jeu, Films about video games, Films based on video games, Children's films
Actors Rica Matsumoto, Yūki Kaji, Mariya Ise, Mayuki Makiguchi, Megumi Hayashibara, Shin-ichiro Miki
Roles Animation Supervisor
Rating59%
In Dèsser City, around one hundred years ago, a Pokémon named Hoopa Unbound appears boasting how strong it is. It summons Kyogre and Groudon from its interdimensional rings, battling them back and impressing the townspeople, and asking if they were surprised. But when it appears again, summoning Reshiram, Zekrom, and Regigigas, the battle between all the Legendary Pokémon begins to destroy the town. The townspeople cry out to stop, but Hoopa Unbound is too determined to show off. Suddenly, a man appears, an Arceus necklace around his neck, holding an item called the Prison Bottle. Hoopa Unbound is sucked into the bottle, saving the town and halting its rampage.
, 1h34Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama
Genres Fantasy, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films about computing, Jeu, Time travel films, Films about video games, Films based on video games, Children's films
Actors Rica Matsumoto, Megumi Toyoguchi, Yūji Ueda, Shin-ichiro Miki, Etsuko Kozakura, Megumi Hayashibara
Roles Animation Supervisor
Rating63%
Ash Ketchum, Dawn, Brock and their Pokémon arrive in Michina Town. As the group relaxes in a nearby river, some watermelons suddenly float towards them. While enjoying the watermelons with their Pokémon, a boy named Kato and his sister Kiko appear who justify that the watermelons were theirs and were kept to cool in the flow of the river. Kato and Kiko then challenge Ash for a tag battle in return of the watermelons. Ash and Dawn thus plan for a tag Pokémon battle against them using Ash's Pikachu and Dawn's Piplup against Kako's Heracross and Kiko's Beautifly. Ash and Dawn win the battle with good teamwork and also request Kato and Kiko to join for eating watermelons. After that, Kato and Kiko suggest Ash and the gang visit the local temple ruins. Whilst visiting a lake, a typhoon suddenly strikes up, but siblings named Sheena and Kevin summon Dialga who ends the typhoon. Giratina arrives, but Sheena uses her ability to communicate with a Pokémon's heart to quell their conflicts with each other, sending Giratina back to its dimension. Palkia then arrives to save Dialga from another typhoon, and Sheena, once again, uses her ability to sync with the two to thank them. Taking the kids to the temple, Sheena and Kevin explain that they investigate disruptions in time and space, and worry that Arceus, the creator of the dimensions, is to awaken, and that he is responsible for the encounters between Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina.
, 1h36Directed by Tom Wayland, Kunihiko Yuyama
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films about computing, Jeu, Films about video games, Films based on video games, Children's films
Actors Sarah Natochenny, Emily Bauer, Ikue Ōtani, Bill Rogers, Rica Matsumoto, Yūji Ueda
Roles Animation Supervisor
Rating60%
After the fateful events of Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai, Shaymin, a hedgehog-like legendary Pokémon, is drawn into a battle between Dialga and Giratina, who drags both Shaymin and Dialga into the Reverse World. A frightened Shaymin uses her powers to escape through a portal back to the normal world, Dialga following after he disables Giratina's ability to venture to Earth by trapping it in an infinite time loop. The battle is witnessed by Newton Graceland, a specialist on the Reverse World, and by the film's antagonist Zero.
Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai (2007)
, 1h30Directed by Tom Wayland, Kunihiko Yuyama
Genres Drama, Science fiction, Comedy, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films about computing, Jeu, Films about video games, Films based on video games, Children's films
Actors Sarah Natochenny, Emily Bauer, Bill Rogers, Rica Matsumoto, Ikue Ōtani, Megumi Toyoguchi
Roles Animation Supervisor
Rating63%
In the prologue, a scientist named Tonio is reading a diary which belonged to a famous architect named Godey, his great-grandfather, indicating that two Pokémon between their dimension are fighting, and that the battle could lead to chaos. Those written future events are occurring at that same moment as Palkia, who can distort space and Dialga, who rules over time are brawling, which causes the hourglass in Tonio's lab to fall and shatter.
, 1hGenres Action, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films about computing, Jeu, Films about video games, Films based on video games, Children's films
Actors Ikue Ōtani, Bill Rogers, Jimmy Zoppi, Shin-ichiro Miki, Satomi Kōrogi, Katsuyuki Konishi
Roles Animation Supervisor
Rating58%
Dans ce film special "10 ans de Pokemon", le docteur Yung a mis au point un systeme qui lui permet de recreer n'importe quel Pokemon ayant existe grace a une technologie generant des "Pokemon Mirages". Sacha et ses amis sont invites a decouvrir l'invention dans un chateau ... mais ce qu'ils vont decouvrir est bien pire qu'ils ne l'imaginaient.
, 1h45Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films about computing, Jeu, Films about video games, Films based on video games, Children's films
Actors Sarah Natochenny, Michele Knotz, Rica Matsumoto, KAORI, Kayzie Rogers, Fushigi Yamada
Roles Animation Supervisor
Rating59%
The film opens with Jack “Jackie” Walker, a Pokémon ranger undercover, infiltrating Phantom the Pirate’s ship and retrieving a special Pokémon egg to prevent Phantom’s selfish desires. Jackie manages to escape with the help of a Mantine, a water/flying type Pokémon. Sometime later Ash Ketchum along with his Pikachu, Brock, May, and her younger brother Max stumble upon the Marina Group, a traveling family circus consisted of water and psychic-type Pokémon. They meet Elizabeth, the star and daughter of Kyle and Meredith, performers and Kyle’s father Chip, the conductor. They kindly take in Ash and the others who are suffering from dehydration in the wasteland. After a performance at a nearby town, May discovers the same egg shown earlier in the film by the Marina Group’s pet Buizel, a water-type Pokémon. A clown apparently traveling with the group takes away the egg and hands it to Elizabeth. That night, May has a dream with her encountering a temple under the sea and a mysterious Pokémon. That morning she explains it to everyone and it turns out that Marina Group have all had that dream and tell the others about a group of people called the People of the Water, stating that they are in relation with them. Meanwhile, Team Rocket; Jessie, James and Meowth raid the Marina Group’s trailer for the egg and attempt to hand it over to Phantom. They fail when the Marina Group’s clown reveals himself as Jack Walker who captures a Fearow to retrieve it.
, 1h40Directed by Darren Dunstan, Kunihiko Yuyama
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films about computing, Jeu, Films about video games, Films based on video games, Children's films
Actors Veronica Taylor, Ikue Ōtani, Rica Matsumoto, Rachael Lillis, Eric Stuart, KAORI
Roles Animation Supervisor
Rating68%
In the legendary past, before the creation of Poké Balls, an aura-guiding hero Pokémon named Lucario sensed two armies about to clash at Cameron Palace in Kanto. He told his master, Sir Aaron, while he was being attacked by a group of Houndoom. During the battle, Lucario was blinded, and he used his Aura Sphere to eliminate the Houndoom.
Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys (2004)
, 1h38Directed by Kunihiko Yuyama
Origin USA
Genres Fantasy, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films about computing, Jeu, Films about video games, Films based on video games, Children's films
Actors Veronica Taylor, Rica Matsumoto, Amy Birnbaum, Eric Stuart, KAORI, Yūji Ueda
Roles Animation Supervisor
Rating60%
A mysterious meteorite is hurtling towards the earth. During its entry into the atmosphere, it almost wounds Rayquaza, a sky guardian living in the ozone layer. The meteorite crashes into a polar zone, revealing two egg-shaped objects. The purple egg regenerates into a Deoxys and picks up the green egg. Rayquaza descends from the ozone layer to fight the invader (believing it to be an enemy). A battle ensues, destroying a nearby research site and traumatizing a young boy, scared by a stampede of Spheal, Sealeo, and Walrein. The purple Deoxys engages Rayquaza and the two take turns delivering devastating blows to each other, but the fight draws to a conclusion when Rayquaza surprises the alien Pokémon and fires a point blank Hyper Beam at it. Deoxys goes back to egg form and falls into the sea, while some researchers take the green egg with them. Beneath the sea, the injured Deoxys regenerates and waits. The green egg appears somewhere in Hoenn.
, 1hDirected by Masami Hata
Genres Comedy, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films based on video games
Actors Tōru Furuya, Yū Mizushima, Masami Kikuchi, Akiko Wada, Kōhei Miyauchi, Junko Hori
Roles Character Designer
Rating57%
The film opens with Mario playing his Family Computer. Suddenly, Mario witnesses a girl on the TV screen crying for help from the enemies attacking her and escapes by jumping out of the TV. After the enemies left, the girl reveals herself as Princess Peach. Just then, Bowser appears and jumps out of the TV. Despite Mario's battling attempts, Bowser successfully captures Peach, and takes her back into the TV. Shortly afterwards, Mario discovers a small necklace that Peach left on the floor.
, 1h56Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films about animals, Environmental films, Feminist films, Post-apocalyptic films, Films about religion, Transport films, Aviation films, Films set in the future, Films about insects, Political films, Dystopian films, Children's films, Disaster films, Mise en scène d'une plante
Actors Sumi Shimamoto, Yoji Matsuda, Hisako Kyōda, Gorō Naya, Yoshiko Sakakibara, Ichirō Nagai
Roles Key Animation
Rating79%
One thousand years have passed since the Seven Days of Fire, an apocalyptic war that destroyed human civilization and gave birth to the vast Toxic Jungle, a forest swarming with giant mutant insects in which everything is lethal to humans. Scattered settlements exist wherever the Toxic Jungle relents, with the Valley of the Wind being one such settlement. The Valley's settlers have a prophecy about a saviour, "clothed in blue robes, descending onto a golden field, to join bonds with the great earth and guide the people to the pure lands at last".
Chie the Brat (1981)
, 1h45Directed by Isao Takahata
Genres Drama, Comedy, Animation
Themes Films about children, Feminist films, Political films
Actors Shinsuke Shimada, Ichirō Nagai
Roles Character Designer
Rating70%
Kié est une petite fille dont le père tient un petit restaurant dans l'arrondissement Nishinari-ku d'Osaka. Bagarreur et joueur, ce dernier néglige sa famille et son travail et sa femme le quitte, tout en continuant à rencontrer sa fille en cachette. Cette dernière, à huit ans seulement, s'occupe du restaurant tout en essayant de travailler en classe.
Taro the Dragon Boy (1979)
, 1h15Directed by Peter Fernandez, Kirio Urayama
Origin Japon
Genres Science fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Animation
Themes Films about magic and magicians, Films about dragons
Actors Sayuri Yoshinaga, Kirin Kiki, Kazuo Kumakura, Miina Tominaga
Roles Animation Director
Rating74%
In the distant past of Japan a lazy and selfish Taro loves to eat and sleep and wrestle with the animals. With no direction in his life, a Tengu appears that gives him a special potion. With this potion, he gains the strength of a hundred men - but he can only use it when he is helping others. After drinking the potion, Taro, day by day, begins to understand what it means to help other, first my fighting Akaoni (Red Oni) to save Aya, a young girl gifted with the flute, then by helping others in his village collect fire wood. One night his grandmother tells him of his mother's transformation into a dragon. Taro then begins his search for his mother. Before his search for his mother starts, Taro again confronts Akaoni after hearing from the animals that Aya was captured by Kurooni (Black Oni). After a brief fight, Akaoni agrees to help Taro save Aya from Kurooni. After besting Kunooni, Taro finds out he has also saved a village terrorized by Kurooni and Akaoni, the later bullied into the former's service. Taro then aids Akaoni by throwing him into the clouds to serve the thunder god. After the village celebrates Taro's deeds, he starts his search. He comes upon an old woman and is tricked into service in her rice patties. After a successful harvest year and learning the truth from a giant serpent living in the lake next to the old woman's rice farm, Taro takes the fruits of his labor and gives it to the old woman's former employees and others, leaving her with little. During his conversation with the serpent, Taro learns that nine mountain overs lives a yamanba that could point him in the right direction. Taro takes that information and finds the yamanba. The yamanba tells him what he seeks and lets slip she was responsible for the serpent. After narrowing escaping the yamanba, Taro is overpowered by yukionna. The following morning, Aya finds Taro near frozen and able to revive him. With her aid, Taro finds the lake where his mother, Tatsu, now lives. Tatsu tells Taro why she was transformed, as a mother heavy with child fulfilling her duties to her unborn child, she needed to eat, but neglecting her duties to the rest of her village, she left nothing of her catch for the other workers. Taro then proposes a means to make the lives of the villager back home better, by making for them a new home able to be large rice patties. Taro and Tatsu them attempt to break the dam that formed the lake Tatsu resides. Although they succeed, Tatsu's body is broken and all seeing it after the lake had emptied concluded she had died. Morning the lost of his mother, Taro is relieved to see her life was returned and she is yet again human. Their actions are successful and the new flooded low lands enable prosperity for all the villagers Taro has helped, not only along his way but from his home village.
Directed by Isao Takahata
Genres Comedy, Animation
Themes Films about animals, Mise en scène d'un mammifère, Panda
Actors Kazuo Kumakura, Yasuo Yamada, Camille Donda, Philippe Catoire, Dorothée Pousséo, Gérard Surugue
Roles Key Animation
Rating67%
Un bébé tigre échappé d'un cirque de passage s'introduit dans la maison de Mimiko en son absence et s'installe chez eux. Mais les propriétaires du cirque sont à sa recherche, et sa mère y est par ailleurs toujours enfermée.
Genres Fantasy, Action, Animation
Actors Chikao Ōtsuka, Gorō Naya, Isamu Tanonaka, Kōsei Tomita, Junpei Takiguchi, Kenji Utsumi
Roles Key Animation
Rating58%
L'histoire se situe 33 générations après les premières aventures d'Ali Baba et depuis les rôles se sont inversés : le descendant d'Ali Baba règne sur le royaume en tyran. Heureusement, un jeune et courageux garçon - aidé par 38 chats et une souris - va oser l'affronter pour mettre fin à sa folie dévastatrice. Malheureusement le dictateur détient encore une arme, le génie de la lampe, mais celui-ci est sujet à une phobie bien particulière...