Tomoharu Katsumata (Directing)

ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION

The size of the Japanese animation market was 2,426 billion yen by 2020. More than half of that amount came from overseas sales. The manga market is also expanding, reaching 675.9 billion yen in 2021. Those unique visuals and stories from Japan have struck a chord with fans around the world and are growing into a huge industry. ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION will actively feature major works that are highly recognized by overseas fans and reveal the secrets of Japanese anime and manga creation through the series.

Release Date:2023-04-30

Character:Self - Director

Episode Count:1

Tanken Driland - 1000-nen no Mahō -

1,000 years after Princess Mikoto's era, all hunters have been sealed into cards due to a certain incident in the past. Adventurous boy Hagan becomes the key to freeing these sealed hunters, and travels along with his friends to find these cards, sometimes facing treacherous battles.

Release Date:2013-04-06

Department:Writing

Job:Storyboard

Episode Count:1

Saint Seiya Omega

An anime-original spin-off/sequel based on the Saint Seiya series.

Release Date:2012-04-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:1

Vote Count:220

Gaiking II

The second phase of the Zelan invasion spans the globe as invincible robot monsters launch attacks from hidden bases in Antarctica, the Sahara Desert, South America and Japan.

Release Date:2011-02-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Gaiking III

For the third and final invasion attempt, the Zelans seek to ignite nothing less than a nuclear war between the USA and Russia.

Release Date:2011-02-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Gaiking

When Earth is invaded by an alien army of horrors, a giant robot named Gaiking is constructed to defend the Earth.

Release Date:2011-01-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Great Yamato No. Zero

This story starts in the year 3199, when a mighty enemy attacks the Milky Way from a neighboring galaxy. The enemy engages the combined forces of the Milky Way, an Alliance of many stellar nations, and defeats them one after another. The remaining Milky Way Alliance forces are reduced to just six fleets. After the Alliance headquarters is destroyed, and when the collapse of the central Milky Way Alliance is imminent, the Great Yamato Zero surprises everyone and embarks on a mission to assist the Milky Way Alliance in one last great battle.

Release Date:2004-03-31

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:5

Saint Seiya: The Hades Chapter

The Bronze Saints enter the deepest realm of the Underworld, Elysion, where they face off against Hades's two most powerful servants, The Twin Gods, Hypnos and Thanatos, before they can reach Hades for the final battle.

Release Date:2002-11-09

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:6

Vote Count:76

Salaryman Kintaro

Kintarō Yajima used to be the leader of a feared and respected biker gang, but out of respect for his late wife he chooses to straighten himself out and work as a salaryman so that he can support his son.

Release Date:2001-02-18

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:20

Vote Count:2

The Prince and the Coral Sea

On the island of Okinawa, driven by his kindhearted nature, a boy named Ray determines to stop the destruction of the island's natural forests and coral reef, no matter what he has to give. What will he give to stop a tidal wave from killing the island's people?

Release Date:2000-02-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:2

Spooky Kitaro: The Great Sea Beast

Kitaro is a yōkai boy born in a cemetery and, aside from his mostly decayed father, the last living member of the Ghost Tribe (幽霊族 yūrei zoku?). He is missing his left eye, but his hair usually covers the empty socket. He fights for peace between humans and yōkai, which generally involves protecting the former from the wiles of the latter.

Release Date:1996-07-06

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:3

Sangokushi: The Distant Land

Third movie of the Sangokushi animated film trilogy. The movie covers the longest time span of the three films, from Liu Bei's expedition to Shu in 211 CE to the death of Kongming in 234 CE.

Release Date:1994-04-09

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:3

Sangokushi: The Yangtze Is Burning!

Covering roughly 13 years, from Cao Cao's victory over Lu Bu in 198 CE, through the Battle of Red Cliffs in 208 CE, and the aftermath up until 211 BCE. As other players are swept from the board, the story focuses on Liu Bei and his increasingly desperate attempts to prevent Cao Cao from seizing all of China. The turning point is Liu Bei's recruitment of the best strategic mind of that generation, Zhuge Kongming, the Crouching Dragon.

Release Date:1993-03-20

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:3

Great Conquest: The Romance of Three Kingdoms

Beginning during the Yellow Turban rebellion that initiated the downfall of the ruling Han dynasty. At the start of the story, both Liu Bei, its eventual protagonist, and Cao Cao, its eventual antagonist, are minor players. Liu Bei is striving to find a way to bring order to a chaotic world. As he puzzles he way toward the correct course of action, he befriends two powerful warriors, Zhang Fei and Guan Yu. Together, they take the Oath of the Peach Garden, to live and die together as warriors for justice. Meanwhile, Cao Cao is pondering how to fulfill his destiny as "a hero in a chaotic world or a villain in a peaceful one."

Release Date:1992-01-25

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:3

Fist of the North Star - TV Compilation 2 - Six Sacred Fists of Nanto! Rei, the Star of Justice

Compilation film covering the Rei story arc of the Fist of the North Star TV Series

Release Date:1988-01-14

Department:Production

Job:Producer

Saint Seiya

Ages ago, the goddess Athena was served by fighters called Saints who channeled the power of the Cosmos within them. Now a youth named Seiya has trained to become a Saint himself by earning the mystical Cloth of Pegasus. He is joined by other Saints with Cloths of their own to fight for Athena.

Release Date:1986-10-11

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:1

Vote Count:1295

Saint Elmo - Apostle of Light

Inside Mercury, Japan builds a large-sized solar space power plant. The plant supports Earth with its large solar energy supply but suddenly there is an abnormality at the Saint Elmo plant. To pinpoint the problem, Earth sends several technicians to fix it.

Release Date:1986-04-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Odin: Starlight Mutiny

Odin centers around the novice crew of the laser sailing space schooner Starlight as they embark on an historic interstellar test flight. They are intercepted by what seems to be a wrecked spaceship only to find that it contains a lone survivor; a young woman named Sara Cyanbaker. Unknown to the crew at this time, a mechanized space fleet approaches Earth and a scout vessel from that fleet was responsible for the destruction of Sara's ship.

Release Date:1985-08-10

Department:Production

Job:Producer

Vote Count:8

Dream Fighter Wingman

Kenta is a high school student obsessed with superheroes and anime, often seen running around in a costume of his own design called "Wingman." One day as Kenta is walking to school, a girl from another world drops out of the sky. Princess Aoi escaped the villain Rimeru with the artifact known as the "Dream Note" which enables its possessor to create anything they desire by drawing or writing within its pages. Kenta soon discovers that his designs and notes on Wingman become reality and he in turn becomes his own creation.

Release Date:1984-02-07

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:47

Vote Count:5

Final Yamato

The Galman Empire is destroyed but the planet Galmania is not, by a chance collision of galaxies. The Bolar Federation worlds including Planet Bolar are destroyed. The Yamato, back under the command of Captain Okita, encounters the planet Denguil too late to save its humanoid civilization from being flooded by the water planet Aquarius. The surviving Denguil, a warrior race who believe only the strong should survive, plan to use Aquarius to flood Earth and destroy humanity, in order to create a new home for their race.

Release Date:1983-03-19

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:7

Future War 198X

An American scientist constructs a laser satellite with hopes of preventing any nuclear conflicts from occurring. However, after a fatal error from both the US and the USSR governments, war breaks out and humanity faces a new bloodshed.

Release Date:1982-10-30

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:7

Arcadia of My Youth: Endless Orbit SSX

Arcadia of My Youth: Endless Orbit SSX is an animated television series created by Leiji Matsumoto. It's the sequel to the 1982 animated film Arcadia of My Youth. However, like many of the stories set in the Leijiverse, the continuity of the series does not necessarily agree with other Harlock series or films.

Release Date:1982-10-13

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:22

Vote Count:15

Space Pirate Captain Harlock: Arcadia of My Youth

After a drawn-out, viciously-fought war, the earth has been conquered by the alien Illumidus Empire. Harlock, a captain in earth's fleet, crashes his ship to prevent the Illumidus from using it, and flat-out refuses to join them. With the help of his allies, Tochiro and the space pirate Emereldas, and his lover Miya, he wages a private and bitter war against the Illumidus.

Release Date:1982-07-28

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:66

Run Melos!

Hashire Melos! is the title of two Japanese animated films. The first was directed by Tomoharu Katsumata and released on Japanese television on February 7, 1981. It was either 68 or 87 minutes long, and its official title did not include the exclamation mark on the end. The second, with the exclamation mark, was a 107-minute remake of the first and was released on July 25, 1992. It featured direction and screenplay by Masaaki Osumi, music by Kazumasa Oda, art by Hiroyuki Okiura and Satoshi Kon, and background art by Hiroshi Ohno. Both were produced by Toei Company Ltd. Visual 80, and both were based on the original short story written by Osamu Dazai in 1940.

Release Date:1981-02-07

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:7

Be Forever Yamato

The Black Nebula Empire attacks Earth and threatens to blow up the planet with a bomb they placed on Earth if counter attacked. Earths hopes rest on the Yamato crew as they go to the Black Nebula Planet and try to find a way to difuse the bomb before it's too late.

Release Date:1980-08-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:9

Goldrake Addio

Release Date:1980-01-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:3

Captain Future: The Great Race in the Solar System

Captain Future and friends compete in a galactic race and end up defending themselves against aggressive competitors and evil villains out to destroy them.

Release Date:1978-12-31

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:3

Captain Future

Curtis Newton, aka Captain Future, is an orphan. His parents died in their artificial satellite while he was an infant. His father was a scientist, who has abandoned earth for the satellite to dedicate his life for science along with his aging friend the genius Dr Simon Wright. Wright senses his death, and decides to implant his brain in a mechanical container. They both manufactured a superior robot and an android. Captain future dedicated his life to fight evil along with his three men, the brain, android, and robot.

Release Date:1978-11-07

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:1

Vote Count:97

Magnerobo Ga-Keen

Evil space creatures retreat from the treacherous Ice Age and hibernate on the ocean floor. They awaken millions of years later to conquer Earth! Only the ingenuity and resources of Sir Miles and his awesome robot creations have a chance at defeating them! He enlists world karate champion Janis to pilot the robot Magnon, and his daughter Lady Ester Nevers, to pilot Magneta. When Janis and Lady Ester unite the two Robots, Magnon and Magneta are transformed into Magnos, the ultimate power robot! Will the might of the malevolent space aliens defeat Magnos? Or, will Magnos triumph over the evil forces and protect Earth's freedom against future invaders? As suspense mounts, you'll discover what happens in this exciting adventure of humans and machines good versus evil!

Release Date:1976-09-05

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1

Magnos the Robot

Dr. Kazuki, who perceived of an invasion of Earth by the Izaru people builds a robot based on the science of magnetism and sphere joint theory. Undergoing a dangerous augmentation process, Dr. Kazuki's daughter Mai becomes the pilot of "Mighty" or "Magnetman Minus". Takeshi Houjou becomes the pilot of "Puraiza" or "Magnetman Plus". The pilots would hold each other and then physically trasform their joint bodies in a metallic plate locking itself on the Gakeen (Short for "Gathering Keen") robot's frame thus enabling the super robot to move and fight. This sequence was notable, to an adult's eye, for its almost-sexual connotation.

Release Date:1976-09-05

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:39

Vote Count:16

Dino Mech Gaiking

This story chronicles the crew of the transformable carrier Daikū Maryū and the Super Robot Gaiking's battle against an invading race of aliens called the Dark Horror Army, whose home planet is facing destruction by a black hole. Notable aspects of the series include the dinosaur-based designs of the Daikū Maryū and its support machines and the use of part of the carrier to form the main robot. The Gaiking robot is helmed by former baseball star Sanshiro Tsuwabuki, whose latent psychic powers make him the only one capable of piloting the giant robot.

Release Date:1976-04-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:44

Vote Count:38

Puss 'n Boots Travels Around the World

Brave cat Pero once had a bet with treacherous multimillionarie Grumon that he can travel around the world in 80 days. The stake is high, in case of success Grumon will give all of his fortune to Pero, but in case of failure Pero becomes slave of Grumon for the rest of his life. Pero departs together with his faithful friends behemoth Kato and brave Small Mouse. Grumon tries everything to prevent their arrival to the finish.

Release Date:1976-03-20

Department:Writing

Job:Writer

Vote Count:13

UFO Robot Grendizer Theatrical Version

Special episode in cinemascope format for Japanese cinemas.

Release Date:1975-12-20

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1

Hansel and Gretel

Adapted from the Brothers Grimm fairytale.

Release Date:1975-10-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1

World Famous Fairy Tale Series

A Japanese anime series of short films based on fairy tales and classic stories, produced by Toei Animation between 1975 and 1983.

Release Date:1975-10-01

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1

Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid

The story of a beautiful mermaid who gave up a kingdom for her beloved prince.

Release Date:1975-03-21

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:54

Great Mazinger

After Koji Kabuto and Sayaka Yumi leave to the USA, it's up to the rash orphan Tetsuya Tsurugi to pilot the next Mazinger robot: the Great Mazinger. Under the direction of Dr. Kenzo Kabuto and helped by his adoptive sister Jun Honou, Tetsuya battles the Miccene Empire.

Release Date:1974-09-08

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:56

Vote Count:126

Cutie Honey

One day, Honey Kisaragi's a trendy, class-cutting Catholic schoolgirl. The next, her father's been murdered by demonic divas from a dastardly organization called Panther Claw. When his dying message reveals that she's an android, Honey uses the transformative power of the Atmospheric Element Solidifier - the very thing Panther Claw wanted to steal - to seek revenge against the shadowy clan.

Release Date:1973-10-13

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:25

Vote Count:9

The Little Judge from Hell

Dororon Enma-kun, also known as Satanikus!, is a Japanese horror-comedy anime and manga series created by Go Nagai. It's one of Nagai's most famous works in Japan, although not very well known in the rest of the world. In 2006, it would get a sequel/remake in Demon Prince Enma, which drops the comedy and becomes a full-fledged suspense-horror series. After the OVA was released, another manga version was released called Satanikus ENMA Kerberos by Eiji Toriyama. A remake entitled Dororon Enma-kun MeeraMera began airing in Japan in April 2011.

Release Date:1973-10-04

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:2

Vote Count:2

Mazinger Z vs. Devilman

Mazinger Z vs. Devilman is a 1973 animated movie that crossed over two then-popular Anime series, both of which were created by Manga artist Go Nagai. While fighting with some of his enemies Mazinger Z inadvertently knocks them into a volcano, where they crash into the prison of the Satan race and release Phoenix Jenny! Dr. Hell, learning of this, frees the rest of the Satan race and teams up with them to defeat Mazinger Z, and their ability to fly proves to be too much for our hero. Meanwhile, Devilman is also individually fighting the members of the Satan race, but their combined power is too much for him as well; can Mazinger and Devilman put aside their differences and team up to defeat Dr. Hell and the Satan race?

Release Date:1973-07-18

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:22

Mazinger Z

Mazinger Z, known briefly as Tranzor Z in the United States, is a Japanese super robot manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. The first manga version was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump from October 1972 to August 1973, and it later continued in Kodansha TV Magazine from October 1973 to September 1974. It was adapted into an anime television series which aired on Fuji TV from December 1972 to September 1974. A second manga series was released alongside the TV show, this one drawn by Gosaku Ota, which started and ended almost at the same time of the TV show. Mazinger Z has spawned several sequels and spinoff series, among them UFO Robot Grendizer and Mazinkaiser. It was a very popular cartoon in Mexico during the 1980s, where it was dubbed into Spanish directly from the Japanese version, keeping the Japanese character names and broadcasting all 92 episodes, unlike the version aired in the U.S.

Release Date:1972-12-03

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:92

Vote Count:386

Devilman

Devilman features Akira Fudo, a shy and timid teenager who has gone mountain climbing in the Himalayas with his father. While in the middle of the expedition, both father and son are killed in a tragic accident. Akira's body is found and possessed by the demon soldier Devilman, who uses his new human form as a disguise in order to fulfill his mission of causing chaos on Earth in order to pave the way for a demonic invasion of the planet. Before his mission can begin in earnest, Devilman meets Akira's childhood friend Miki Makimura and quickly falls in love with her. Devilman resolves to protect Miki and humanity as a whole by battling against his fellow demons. Demon Tribe leader Zennon becomes greatly angered at Devilman's betrayal and is quick to send Devilman's former comrades to destroy him. The other demons soon learn that Miki is precious to Devilman and he must now work to protect her, as well as protect himself. Will the power of love be able to overcome that of true evil?

Release Date:1972-07-08

Department:Directing

Job:Series Director

Episode Count:39

Vote Count:37

The Three Musketeers in Boots

Pero is back in Go Go Town, a fearful place in the Wild West that desperately awaits for a sheriff to come. In this town of no law and order, Pero and a boy named Jimmy try to help Annie, daughter of a saloon owner who has just been killed.

Release Date:1972-03-17

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:8

Tiger Mask (1970)

Naoto Date, also known as Tiger Mask, betrayed the international villainous wrestler group "Tiger's Den" to which he belongs in order to protect the orphanage "Children's House", which can be said to be his parents' home. Tora no Ana, who is trying to punish him with death, sends the beastman gorillaman as the next assassin. Faced with a formidable foe who boasts superhuman strength, he once thought about using a foul technique to get through.

Release Date:1970-03-17

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Vote Count:1

Tiger Mask

A villainous masked wrestler becomes a hero for the sake of protecting the orphanage in which he was raised.

Release Date:1969-10-02

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:1

Vote Count:18

Rainbow Sentai Robin

Release Date:1966-04-23

Department:Directing

Job:Director

Episode Count:1

Way of Morning Mist

Jidaigeki by Tai Kato

Release Date:1961-02-02

Department:Directing

Job:Assistant Director