Kazunori Ito

Kazunori Ito is a Japanese screenwriter well known for his work in the .hack franchise, the Patlabor films and the Ghost in the Shell movie. He is a founding member of Headgear, a group of five main writers and artists that include Masami Yuki, Yutaka Izubuchi, Akemi Takada, and Mamoru Oshii. Ito is also a fan of classic tokusatsu leading to his work on Shusuke Kaneko's Gamera trilogy.

Works

ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION

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 - Screenwriter

Episode Count: 1

6.2

Aircraft Carrier Ibuki

The story takes place over a 24 hour period. In the southernmost part of Japan, 20 fishing boats of an unknown nationality suddenly fire upon and occupy parts of the Hateruma archipelago. Members of the Japan Coast Guard are detained. Under the extremely tense situation, the Japanese government sends Aircraft Carrier Ibuki and an escort fleet to the area. Ryota Akitsu is the captain of the Aircraft Carrier Ibuki and Toshiya Niinami is second-in-command. It is now 6:23 am. and Japan faces one day which they never have before.

Release Date: 2019-05-24

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 11

7.0

Mobile Police Patlabor Reboot

“Mobile Police Patlabor Reboot” is a part of the “Patlabor” franchise that showcases multiple anime, live-action, manga, light novel, and video game adaptations.

Release Date: 2016-10-15

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 7

6.3

The Next Generation Patlabor: Tokyo War

An attack takes place on Rainbow Bridge in Odaiba, Tokyo by the fighter helicopter `Gray Ghost`. 2 days earlier, the Gray Ghost was stolen. The perpetrators are followers of Yukihito Tsuge. Yukihito Tsuge planned a coup of Tokyo 13 years earlier. The leader of Special Vehicle Section 2, Keiji Gotoda, sets out to stop the terrorists.

Release Date: 2015-05-01

Department: Writing

Job: Original Story

Vote Count: 31

Japan Animator Expo
7.1

Japan Animator Expo

The short film series "Japan Anima(tor)'s Exhibition" presented by Studio Khara and Dwango Original projects, spin-off projects, promotional films, Music PV, and VJ Films etc... Various omnibus animations produced with love and energy, regardless of any genres. The digital distribution anime series bring opportunities for project development, R&D, human resources development, and free production under limited period and budget, to explore the possibilities of future film production.

Release Date: 2014-11-07

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Episode Count: 1

Vote Count: 7

The Next Generation: Patlabor
6.3

The Next Generation: Patlabor

In a world where giant robots are built and used for labor, a special police force of robots is created to handle crimes relating to these machines.

Release Date: 2014-03-08

Department: Writing

Job: Original Series Creator

Episode Count: 13

Vote Count: 3

6.6

.hack//Beyond the World

In 2024, the computer network prevails throughout the daily life. Arishiro Sora is a 14 year old girl. One day, she is invited to an online game "The World". After an accident in the game, the real world begins to deform.

Release Date: 2012-01-21

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 12

6.0

Nanase futatabi

A gifted psychic named Nanase teams up with other psychics in order to fight against a mysterious organization determined to hunt them down.

Release Date: 2010-10-02

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 1

Monster Magnitude: 9

Monster Magnitude: 9

Monster attacks are a common occurrence in Japan. A special division of the Japan Meteorological Agency has been established to predict such attacks, as well as support the Japan Self-Defense Forces and minimize the damage from the attacks.

Release Date: 2010-07-07

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Episode Count: 12

7.4

Ghost in the Shell 2.0

In the year 2029, Section 9, a group of cybernetically enhanced cops, are called in to investigate and stop a highly-wanted hacker known as 'The Puppetmaster'. Ghost in the Shell 2.0 is a reproduced version of its original 1995 counterpart. Among a numerous enhancements, for the film's 2.0 release, were a number of scenes were overhauled with 3D animation, visual improvements, and soundtrack rerecorded in 6.1 surround sound.

Release Date: 2008-07-12

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 416

Absolute Boy
7.5

Absolute Boy

Ayumu Aizawa who can't recall his childhood. He doesn't suffer from amnesia but his younger days are a mystery to him. When asked to spend the summer with his father in Tana, a rural town two hours away from his home in Tokyo, Ayumu refuses as he has not seen his divorced father in four years. He gets bribed by his mother with a mountain bicycle and reluctantly agrees. Unbeknownst to him, this fateful trip will put together bits of his past. Soon after arriving at Tana, Ayumu encounters strange happenings such as meeting a mysterious boy called Wakkun, who lives in an enchanted forest, and floating orbs of lights appearing in the sky.

Release Date: 2005-05-21

Department: Writing

Job: Series Composition

Episode Count: 26

Vote Count: 2

6.7

Digimon X-Evolution

The Digital World is becoming so overpopulated that the super computer Yggdrasill who governs the Digital World can no longer handle it. Its solution is Project Ark: to wipe out most of inhabitants with the X Program. Yggdrasill chooses a very small percentage to be moved to a new Digital World and then proceeds to destroy the old one. Some Digimon who were not chosen survive anyway, and they move to the new world with a rare gift known as the X Antibody; this antibody changes their appearance and makes them more powerful, while at the same time making them immune to the X Program. No longer in control, Yggdrasill uses the Royal Knights to destroy these X-Digimon, who are outcasts in the new Digital World.

Release Date: 2005-03-01

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 6

5.0

.hack//GIFT

Helba has prepared a special hot springs for the .hack characters so they could get some rest and relaxation. Kite, Elk, Tsukasa, Mimiru and many other characters from the series make an appearence in The World for this reward. There is only one small catch, Helba will not reveal the exact location of where the springs are located. It soon becomes a race between the cast of .hack//SIGN and the characters from the game to see who can find it first. However, this is a catch, while everyone is trying to find the springs, someone is going around killing the other charcaters. Who will make it to the springs first and who is behind the deaths of many of the other characters?

Release Date: 2003-11-16

Department: Writing

Job: Original Story

Vote Count: 5

8.5

.hack//Legend of the Twilight: Let's Meet Offline

It's a short story about the characters from .hack// Legend of the Twilight meeting offline. It's more to hear than to see. It shows only backgrounds from the real world with the heads of the charater-game-avatars; but it reveals some interesting real life information about the characters. Sound Drama from .hack//Legend of the Twilight Bracelet, can be found on Disk 1 of the .hack Integration + Liminality Vol. 1-4 DVD box set.

Release Date: 2003-10-24

Department: Writing

Job: Original Story

Vote Count: 2

Last Exile
7.0

Last Exile

A richly romantic action-adventure fantasy, set in a world where retro-futuristic vehicles permeate the skies. Against this lavish background are the lives of young and heroic van ship sky porters - Claus and Lavie - who are forced to take on the mission to deliver a mysterious girl, Alvis, to the battle ship Silvana. Before they know it, they become entangled in an aerial adventure between two countries gripped in an eternal war of magnificent air battleships.

Release Date: 2003-04-07

Episode Count: 1

Vote Count: 53

.hack//Liminality
6.0

.hack//Liminality

.hack//Liminality is an OVA series directly related to the .hack video game series for the PlayStation 2, with the perspective of Liminality focused on the real world as opposed to the games' MMORPG The World. Liminality was separated into four volumes; each volume was released with its corresponding game. The initial episode is 45 minutes long, while subsequent episodes are 30 minutes long. The video series was directed by Koichi Mashimo, written by Kazunori Itō with music by Yuki Kajiura. Primary Animation production was handled by Mashimo's studio Bee Train which collaborated for the four games as well as handled major production on .hack//Sign.

Release Date: 2002-06-20

Department: Writing

Job: Scenario Writer

Episode Count: 4

Vote Count: 2

.hack
6.9

.hack

.hack follows several young players as they navigate the vast, mysterious MMORPG known as “The World” – a place, it turns out, that is sometimes impossible to leave.

Release Date: 2002-04-04

Department: Writing

Job: Series Composition

Episode Count: 26

Vote Count: 32

6.5

WXIII: Patlabor The Movie 3

Set in the year 2000, when the level of Labor accidents begin to escalate around Tokyo Bay, police detectives Kusumi and Hata are assigned to investigate. What they discover leads to a series of government cover-ups, conspiracy concerning a new biological weapon entitled WXIII-Wasted Thirteen and a tragic, personal connection to Hata. The only hope to stop this threat is to cooperate with the military and lead WXIII into a showdown with the Labors of Special Vehicle Division 2.

Release Date: 2002-03-30

Department: Writing

Job: Original Story

Vote Count: 45

MiniPato: Mobile Police Patlabor Minimum

MiniPato: Mobile Police Patlabor Minimum

Unlike most shows the three episodes are not only totally unrelated to each other but really don't follow a plot as such and are more a light-hearted jibe at both the Patlabor series (TV and films) and other "mecha" Anime. Episode 1 is a brief introduction to the weaponry carried by the Ingram and how it was designed and why it is the way it is. Episode 2 looks at the design and maintenance of the Ingram 98 AV in SVU2 and takes a swipe at the marketing forces behind them (as in merchandising for the series). Episode 3 is the only one to attempt to expand on a very minor point raised in the original TV show and just how SVU2 is actually funded.

Release Date: 2002-03-30

Department: Writing

Job: Original Series Creator

Episode Count: 3

6.2

Pistol Opera

An assassin fends off numerous attacks from her comrades, who are trying to move up in rank by killing off the competition.

Release Date: 2001-10-27

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Vote Count: 19

6.5

Avalon

In a future world, young people are increasingly becoming addicted to an illegal (and potentially deadly) battle simulation game called Avalon. When Ash, a star player, hears of rumors that a more advanced level of the game exists somewhere, she gives up her loner ways and joins a gang of explorers. Even if she finds the gateway to the next level, will she ever be able to come back to reality?

Release Date: 2001-01-20

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 321

7.4

Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris

With the Gyaos re-emerging, Gamera's ties to humanity have been severed with his bond to Asagi broken. Nagamine and Asagi investigate while an orphaned girl named Ayana discovers a new creature she names Iris. Nagamine and Asagi must reach Ayana before she takes her revenge on Gamera, who she blames for the death of her family.

Release Date: 1999-03-06

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Vote Count: 121

7.0

GAMERA 1999

Hideaki Anno's documentary about the making of Shusuke Kaneko's Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris. From concept to film, the documentary is a video diary of the film's production. Not included in the Arrow Video collection.

Release Date: 1999-02-20

Vote Count: 3

4.0

Visitor

In 2099, spaceship Davide is sent to investigate a mysterious object threatening one of Mars' moons only to end up being transported through time and space.

Release Date: 1998-11-07

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Vote Count: 1

7.5

Gamera 2: Attack of Legion

A strange meteor lands in Japan and unleashes hundreds of insect-like "Legion" creatures bent on colonizing the Earth. When the military fails to control the situation, Gamera shows up to deal with the ever-evolving space adversary. However the battle may result in Gamera losing his bond with both Asagi and humanity.

Release Date: 1996-07-12

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Vote Count: 113

7.9

Ghost in the Shell

In the year 2029, the barriers of our world have been broken down by the net and by cybernetics, but this brings new vulnerability to humans in the form of brain-hacking. When a highly-wanted hacker known as 'The Puppetmaster' begins involving them in politics, Section 9, a group of cybernetically enhanced cops, are called in to investigate and stop the Puppetmaster.

Release Date: 1995-11-18

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 3462

7.5

Gamera: Guardian of the Universe

A ship runs aground on a mysterious atoll leading to an investigation by insurance representative Kusanagi, who discovers an ancient bead that he gives to his daughter Asagi. Meanwhile, ornithologist Nagamine investigates reports of a new species of large bird named Gyaos. As the Gyaos begin to attack, an ancient guardian with a bond to Asagi emerges.

Release Date: 1995-03-11

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Vote Count: 146

The Making of Gamera: Guardian of the Universe

The production of Gamera: Guardian of the Universe. Includes interviews with director Shusuke Kaneko, screenwriter Kazunori Ito and lead actress Ayako Fujitani. Also includes behind the scenes footage from special effects director Shinji Higuchi and interviews with suit actors Jun Suzuki and Yumi Kameyama.

Release Date: 1995-02-24

6.0

Necronomicon

H.P. Lovecraft anthology is divided into four segments: "The Library" which is the wraparound segment involving Lovecraft's research into the Book of The Dead and his unwitting release of a monster and his writing of the following horror segments "The Drowned", "The Cold", and "Whispers".

Release Date: 1993-11-01

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 166

7.3

Patlabor 2: The Movie

A Japanese police unit who use giant anthropomorphic robots (called Labors) is caught up in a political struggle between the civilian authorities and the military when a terrorist act is blamed on an Air Force jet. With the aid of a government agent, the team gets close to a terrorist leader to stop things from going out of control when after the military is impelled to impose martial law.

Release Date: 1993-08-07

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 129

Patlabor: One Day of Noa

Noa Izumi is the pilot of an Ingram Patrol Labor, a law-enforcing robot suit. On a day off from work, Noa plans to attend a concert. However, due to a series of setbacks, Noa is running later and later.

Release Date: 1992-07-23

Department: Writing

Job: Original Story

7.0

Licca: Mysterious Magical Ring

After watching some fireworks at an amusement park that is closing down, Licca has an adventure trying to assist Lunar in catching 3 night spirits. If the spirits are not caught, the morning will never come.

Release Date: 1991-08-30

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 1

7.0

Licca: the Mystery Tale of Mysterious Yunia

Based on the popular Licca doll in Japan. Licca is accidentally transported into the world of Yunia and must find a way to return home.

Release Date: 1990-11-23

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 1

Patlabor: The New Files
10.0

Patlabor: The New Files

Special Vehicles Division 2 is back on duty, along with their Ingram Patrol Labor (Patlabor) robots. Using their courage as well as the Ingrams, Captain Goto's motley crew of officers battle crime in Tokyo city. They also deal with their personal lives, as well as the supernatural.

Release Date: 1990-11-22

Department: Writing

Job: Series Composition

Episode Count: 16

Vote Count: 3

Patlabor: The TV Series
7.5

Patlabor: The TV Series

Patlabor: The TV Series is an anime television series, created by Headgear, animated by Sunrise, and based on the Patlabor anime franchise.

Release Date: 1989-10-11

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Episode Count: 47

Vote Count: 22

7.0

Patlabor: The Movie

A mysterious suicide and a series of unmanned robot run-aways sparks off a Police investigation into the suspicious software on-board thousands of industrial robots around Tokyo.

Release Date: 1989-07-15

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 158

Patlabor: The Mobile Police
7.7

Patlabor: The Mobile Police

In the future, rapidly advancing technology gives birth to giant robots known as "Labors," so named for their usefulness in heavy industry. However, this also gives rise to "Labor crimes," resulting the the need for a new branch of law enforcement equipped with and dedicated to the policing of Labors. When Izumi Noa, a female police officer, becomes the newest recruit of Special Vehicles Division 2, she and her top of the line "Patrol Labor" (or "Patlabor") Alphonse are swept into a series of adventures featuring crazed construction workers, eco-terrorists, and sea monsters.

Release Date: 1988-04-25

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Episode Count: 7

Vote Count: 21

5.9

Twilight Q

Part 1: "Time Knot: Reflection" Written by Kazunori Itô, directed by Tomomi Mochizuki. Mayu finds a camera floating in the ocean while on vacation. A very unusual camera. The film, mostly intact, reveals a picture of herself with a man she has never seen before. But that isn't the unusual part. This camera hasn't been made yet, and won't be made for another two years. Soon, Mayu finds herself swinging uncontrollably back and forth through time like a pendulum. Part 2: "Mystery Article File 538" Written and directed by Mamoru Oshii. This episode follows a down-on-his-luck detective who accepts the first case to come his way: Surveillance of a man and a little girl. But who are they? And why do airplanes that fly over them turn into giant imperial carp? An investigator's normal methods don't apply when reality itself no longer applies.

Release Date: 1987-02-28

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 25

Twilight Q
7.0

Twilight Q

A Knot in Time — Reflection — Mayu found a camera floating in the ocean while she was on vacation. A very unusual camera. The film, mostly intact, reveals a picture of herself with a man she has never seen before. But that is not all. The unusual part is that this camera has not been made yet... and will not be made for another two years. And soon, Mayu finds herself swinging uncontrollably back and forth through time like a pendulum... Mystery Case — File 538 — A down-on-his-luck detective accepts the first case to come his way: surveillance of a man and a little girl. But who are they? And why do aeroplanes that fly over them turn into giant imperial carp? An investigator's normal methods do not apply when reality itself no longer applies...

Release Date: 1987-02-28

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Episode Count: 1

Vote Count: 1

6.3

The Red Spectacles

Summer 1995. With the arrival of the "Age of Cats", the former Kerberos police unit is now disbanded. However one member remains, a stray dog who returns to his old roost after a three-years exile. This wild dog no longer has a master, but now the "Young Lady of Fate" will guide him on his journey.

Release Date: 1987-02-07

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Vote Count: 35

7.0

Urban Square: In Pursuit of Amber

Ryou Matsumoto is a screenplay writer that runs into a man and witnesses his murder. Unknown to him, he gets caught up in an illegal antique ring along with a girl he meets named Yuki. In order to survive, he ends up acting out the "action hero" role that he writes in his screenplays.

Release Date: 1986-11-28

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 1

5.7

Prefectural Earth Defense Force

The evil secret society known as the Telephone Pole Gang seeks to take over the world by first taking over a certain prefecture on Kyūshū (they never specify which one). In order to thwart the evil plans of the Telephone Pole Gang, Imazuru High School creates the Prefectural Earth Defense Force, composed of problem teachers and students from the school. They are also joined by a cyborg transfer student from India.

Release Date: 1986-03-21

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Vote Count: 3

7.2

Dirty Pair: Affair on Nolandia

The Lovely Angels are dispatched to the planet of Ookbar in search of a missing girl. Kei and Yuri have traced young Missinie to the forest of Nolandia, but their investigations have stalled thanks to the less than helpful Chief of Security. But Kei and Yuri never let a little bureaucracy stand in their way. It's the unicorns and UFOs, not to mention the rampaging killer robot, that are going to be the problem as the Dirty Pair tackle their toughest case yet.

Release Date: 1985-12-20

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 6

9.0

Kimagure Orange Road: Shonen Jump Special

Kyosuke, Madoka, Hiraku & friend go on a vacation to the beach, staying in 2 cabins, boys in one, girls in another. It's basically Kyosuke & Madoka get together, & Hiraku flirts with the blond guy friend. Then, Kyosuke & Madoka go night swimming with dangerous results.

Release Date: 1985-11-23

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 1

Dirty Pair
7.8

Dirty Pair

The semi-coherent adventures of two teenage intergalactic private eyes, Kei and Yuri. Members of Trouble Consultant team 234, their code name is 'Lovely Angels'. However, they're better known – universe-wide, in fact – as the 'Dirty Pair', a moniker they're not fond of. Their arrival at the scene is always a source of hope and dread, since they always solve the case, but wherever they go, something gets destroyed, up to and including entire planets. Luckily for them – but not so much for the universe – there's typically some extenuating circumstances that support their oft-uttered phrase, "It's not our fault".

Release Date: 1985-07-15

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Episode Count: 2

Vote Count: 33

6.2

Creamy Mami: Long Good-Bye

Shingo is planning the film "A Story of Two Worlds" starring Megumi. Yuu's transformation into Creamy Mami is happening without her wanting it. She is asked to star in the film too. But the magic doesn't last...

Release Date: 1985-06-15

Department: Crew

Job: Script

Vote Count: 6

6.4

Creamy Mami: Forever Once More

The Space Kittens Pozi and Nega gave little Yu a magic baton and for a year she possessed the power to transform into grown up idol singer Creamy Mami and use her magic for good. Sometimes her powers caused more problems than they solved, and though everything worked out well she finally returned the baton. Ever since, Mami has been absent from the music scene, but suddenly her return is announced in a blaze of publicity. Yu and her friends uncover a campaign by bad boy Shingo to deceive the singer's many fans.

Release Date: 1984-10-28

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Vote Count: 6

8.0

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

After a global war, the seaside kingdom known as the Valley of the Wind remains one of the last strongholds on Earth untouched by a poisonous jungle and the powerful insects that guard it. Led by the courageous Princess Nausicaä, the people of the Valley engage in an epic struggle to restore the bond between humanity and Earth.

Release Date: 1984-03-11

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Vote Count: 3652

Magical Angel Creamy Mami
7.9

Magical Angel Creamy Mami

Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel is a magical girl anime series by Studio Pierrot which aired from 1983 to 1984 on Nippon Television. It went on to have five OVA adaptions and featured in other Studio Pierrot special presentations. A three volume manga was released during the original TV run, with the story written by Kazunori Itō and art by Yuuko Kitagawa. This was the first of five magical girl anime to be produced by Studio Pierrot, and the first of these to feature the designs of Akemi Takada. In 2005, the web-poll for TV Asahi's top-100 anime of all time saw Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel poll 82nd. The series is currently streaming in North America via Yomiuri Group's planned Anime Sols video service, as of spring 2013. Thus far, a limited DVD release of the first thirteen episodes has been successfully crowd-funded at Anime Sols, with the second set of episodes currently in crowd-fund mode.

Release Date: 1983-07-01

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Episode Count: 2

Vote Count: 7

Nerawareta gakuen

Nerawareta gakuen

Release Date: 1982-10-11

Department: Writing

Job: Writer

Episode Count: 2

Urusei Yatsura
7.6

Urusei Yatsura

The invasion of an alien race known as the Oni begins a new life for Ataru Moroboshi, a lecherous trouble-making tenth grader in the small town of Tomobiki. After unwittingly proposing to the Oni princess Lum Invader instead of his sweetheart Shinobu, Ataru becomes a conduit for aliens arriving on Earth, causing all sorts of havoc for him and his companions, not to mention his own reputation!

Release Date: 1981-10-14

Department: Writing

Job: Screenplay

Episode Count: 218

Vote Count: 36

We use cookies.