Ayumu Watanabe (渡辺 歩, Watanabe Ayumu, born September 3, 1966) is a Japanese anime director. After joining Shin-Ei Animation, he directed multiple Doraemon anime films. As a freelancer, he also worked on numerous anime adaptations such as Space Brothers, After the Rain, and Komi Can't Communicate.
Ayumu Watanabe | |
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渡辺 歩 | |
![]() Watanabe at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2019 | |
Born | Tokyo, Japan | September 3, 1966
Nationality | Japanese |
Occupation | Anime director |
Years active | 1986–present |
Notable work |
Biography
editAyumu Watanabe was born in Tokyo on September 3, 1966. He started his career in 1986 when he joined Studio Mates as a key animator. Two years later, Watanabe moved to Shin-Ei Animation, where he worked on the anime adaptation of the Doraemon manga series, as well as direct multiple anime films in the franchise.[1][2] As a freelancer, he also directed numerous anime adaptations such as Space Brothers,[3] After the Rain,[4] and Komi Can't Communicate.[5] He also worked with Studio 4°C on the films Children of the Sea and Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko.[6][7]
Works
editTV series
edit- Atashin'chi (2002; storyboards)[8]
- Space Brothers (2012–2014; director)[3]
- Mysterious Girlfriend X (2012; director)[9]
- Danchi Tomoo (2013–2015; director)[10]
- If Her Flag Breaks (2014; director)[11]
- Ace Attorney (2016–2019; director)[12]
- After the Rain (2018; director)[4]
- Gurazeni (2018; director)[13]
- Major 2nd (2018–2020; director)[14]
- Komi Can't Communicate (2021–2022; chief director)[5]
- Summer Time Rendering (2022; director)[15]
- You Are Ms. Servant (2024; director)[16]
- Witch Hat Atelier (2025; director)[17]
Films
editFeature films
edit- Doraemon: Nobita and the Windmasters (2003; chief animation director)[1]
- Doraemon: Nobita in the Wan-Nyan Spacetime Odyssey (2004; assistant director, chief animation director)[1]
- Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur 2006 (2006; director, screenplay)[2]
- Doraemon: Nobita and the Green Giant Legend (2008; director)[18]
- Space Brothers #0 (2014; director)[19]
- Children of the Sea (2019; director)[6]
- Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021; director)[7]
Short films
edit- Doraemon: Doraemon Comes Back (1998; director, animation director)[1]
- Doraemon: Nobita's the Night Before a Wedding (1999; director, animation director)[1]
- Doraemon: A Grandmother's Recollections (2000; director, animation director)[1]
- Doraemon: Ganbare! Gian!! (2001; director)[20]
- Doraemon: Boku no Umareta Hi (2002; director)[21]
- Pa-Pa-Pa the Movie: Perman (2003; director, screenplay)[1]
- Pa-Pa-Pa the Movie: Perman: Tako de Pon! Ashi wa Pon! (2004; director)[22]
- Ōkii Ichinensei to Chiisana Ninensei (2014; director)[23]
References
editExternal links
edit- Ayumu Watanabe at Anime News Network's encyclopedia