Kenji Nakamura (中村健治 ''Nakamura Kenji''; born March 25, 1970) is a Japanese

anime is hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japanese, (a term derived from a shortening of ...

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

. He is best known for directing the critically acclaimed

series ''

Mononoke ''Mononoke'' (物の怪) are vengeful spirits (onryō), dead spirits ( shiryō), live spirits ( ikiryō), or spirits in Japanese classical literature and folk religion that were said to do things like possess individuals and make them suffer, cau ...

'', '' Control'', '' Tsuritama'' and ''

Gatchaman Crowds is a 2013 anime television series produced by Tatsunoko Production and directed by Kenji Nakamura. It is a part of the '' Gatchaman'' franchise. The first season aired between July 12 and September 27, 2013, and the second season, titled ''Gat ...

''.

Career

After graduating from university, Nakamura worked as a salaryman for several years before entering the anime industry at

Toei Animation () is a Japanese animation studio primarily controlled by its namesake Toei Company. It has produced numerous series, including ''Sally the Witch,'' '' GeGeGe no Kitarō,'' '' Mazinger Z'', '' Galaxy Express 999'', '' Cutie Honey'', '' Dr. Slu ...

. Originally an animator, he quit due to

tendinitis Tendinopathy, a type of tendon disorder that results in pain, swelling, and impaired function. The pain is typically worse with movement. It most commonly occurs around the shoulder (rotator cuff tendinitis, biceps tendinitis), elbow (tennis elbo ...

and instead worked his way up the production process to become a director. He has since moved on to be a freelance director. In March 2021, Twin Engine announced they were working with Nakamura on a new original anime, codename
Yotogi

Notable works

TV productions

*''

Kindaichi Case Files is a Japanese mystery manga series based on the crime solving adventures of a high school student, Hajime Kindaichi, the supposed grandson of the famous (fictional) private detective Kosuke Kindaichi. Written by Yōzaburō K ...

'' (1998, production assistance) *'' Shinzo'' (2000, assistant director) *''

The SoulTaker is an anime series that focuses on seventeen-year-old Kyosuke Date who was killed by his mother Mio Date, and afterward gained the ability to turn into an incredibly powerful winged mutant known as "The SoulTaker" and that he has a long-los ...

'' (2001, episode director) *'' Yobarete Tobidete Akubi-chan'' (2002, episode director) *''

The Big O ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (2003, episode director) *'' Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales'' (2006, storyboard, episode director) *'' Kemonozume'' (2006, script, storyboard, episode director) *''

'' (2007, series director) *'' Hakaba Kitarō'' (2008, storyboard and unit director for OP, ED) *''

Trapeze A trapeze is a short horizontal bar hung by ropes or metal straps from a ceiling support. It is an aerial apparatus commonly found in circus performances. Trapeze acts may be static, spinning (rigged from a single point), swinging or flying, an ...

'' (2009, series director) *'' C - Control'' (2011, series director) *'' Tsuritama'' (2012, series director) *''

'' (2013, series director) *'' Gatchaman Crowds Insight'' (2015, series director)

OVA

*'' Karas'' (2005, storyboard, episode director) *'' Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu'' (2005, storyboard, unit director)

Films

*'' Digimon: Diaboromon Strikes Back'' (2001, assistant director)

ONA

*'' Transformers: Combiner Wars'' (2016, director)

References

External links

*
Kenji Nakamura
at Media Arts DB {{DEFAULTSORT:Nakamura, Kenji 1970 births Living people Anime directors People from Gifu Prefecture