Toshihiro Kawamoto
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is a Japanese
animator An animator is an artist who creates multiple images, known as frames, which give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, and video gam ...
. He is co-founder and director of the anime studio Bones. He was character designer and animation director of '' Cowboy Bebop''.


Biography


Early period

Upon graduating from high school, Kawamoto was first employed in the making and designing of precision machinery. During this early period, he became interested in becoming an animator due to the ongoing '' Macross'' series, Yoshiyuki Tomino's '' Mobile Suit Gundam'' and
Gainax Gainax Co., Ltd. (stylized as GAINAX; ja, 株式会社ガイナックス, Hepburn romanization, Hepburn: ) is a Japanese anime studio famous for productions such as ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', ''Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise, Roya ...
's amateur '' Daikon'' films. In particular, Yoshikazu Yasuhiko's character designs were a major influence. Within a year, Kawamoto left his previous profession and enrolled in the Nagoya branch of Tokyo Designer Gakuin College (currently known as Nagoya Designer Gakuin), which he later attended for two years.


Career

After graduating, he applied for a job at Group Donguri and was accepted. In 1986, he made his debut in Yasuhiko's 1986 film ''
Arion Arion (; grc-gre, Ἀρίων; fl. c. 700 BC) was a kitharode in ancient Greece, a Dionysiac poet credited with inventing the dithyramb. The islanders of Lesbos claimed him as their native son, but Arion found a patron in Periander, tyrant ...
'', where he was supervised by Yoshinobu Inano and mentored by lead character designer
Sachiko Kamimura is a Japanese animator. She is noted for her work with Sunrise, where she was the supervising animator and character designer for the ''City Hunter'' series and several others, mentoring future several Sunrise character designers and animators, ...
, with whom he later collaborated on numerous productions, including being her assistant in ''
Venus Wars is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko. It was serialized in the Gakken magazine ''Nora Comics'' from 1986 to 1990. In 1989, ''The Venus Wars'' was adapted into an anime film directed by Yoshikazu Yasuhik ...
'', which was also directed and written by Yasuhiko. Soon after, he began working in numerous other Sunrise series, being the lead character designer in the '' Gundam'' OVA series '' Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory'' and '' Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Last Blitz of Zeon'', '' Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team'' and '' Cowboy Bebop''. While designing the characters for ''Bebop'', Kawamoto modeled the character of Ed on composer Yoko Kanno,
Spike Spiegel is a fictional character introduced as the protagonist of the 1998 anime series '' Cowboy Bebop''. Spike is a former member of the criminal Red Dragon Syndicate, who left by faking his death after falling in love with a woman named Julia. He is ...
on Arsène Lupin III and '' City Hunter'', and
Ein Ein or EIN may refer to: Science and technology * Ein function, in mathematics * Endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia, a lesion of the uterine lining * Equivalent input noise, of a microphone * European Informatics Network, a 1970s computer netw ...
on a friend's dog, from a suggestion by writer
Keiko Nobumoto was a Japanese screenwriter. She wrote the screenplay for '' Cowboy Bebop'' and created ''Wolf's Rain''. Nobumoto died from esophageal cancer on December 1, 2021, at the age of 57. Filmography * Series head writer denoted in bold Anime televi ...
. In 1998, he co-founded Bones with fellow Sunrise staff members Masahiko Minami and
Hiroshi Ōsaka was a Japanese animator, character designer and illustrator, born in Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture. He was a graduate of the Kyoto Saga University of Arts. He was the co-founder of Bones Animation Studio. Profile Ōsaka, while studying in the K ...
. He has recently provided the character designs for '' Wolf's Rain'' and ''
Tenpō Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi is a Japanese anime television series, created and written by Shō Aikawa and produced by Bones. Directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori, it featured character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto. It was broadcast for twenty-five episodes on MBS– TBS f ...
'', and the key animation to series such as '' Eureka Seven'', '' Witch Hunter Robin'', ''
Sword of the Stranger is a 2007 Japanese animated '' jidaigeki''-'' chanbara'' adventure film produced by Bones and released by Shochiku. It depicts Kotaro, a young orphan hunted by Ming swordsmen, who receives unexpected protection from Nanashi, a troubled ronin. ...
'', '' Fullmetal Alchemist'', '' Ouran High School Host Club'' and ''
Michiko to Hatchin is a Japanese anime television series. The series was produced by Manglobe and directed by Sayo Yamamoto, her first directorial work. The two eponymous starring roles are portrayed by film actresses Yōko Maki (actress), Yōko Maki (''The Gru ...
''. On March 11, 2010, Anime Expo announced Kawamoto will be an official Guest of Honor at the July Anime Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center.


Works

*1986 - ''
Arion Arion (; grc-gre, Ἀρίων; fl. c. 700 BC) was a kitharode in ancient Greece, a Dionysiac poet credited with inventing the dithyramb. The islanders of Lesbos claimed him as their native son, but Arion found a patron in Periander, tyrant ...
'' (in-between animation) *1986 - '' Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ'' (key animation) *1987 - '' Metal Armor Dragonar'' (key animation) *1988 - '' Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack'' (key animation) *1989 - ''
Venus Wars is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko. It was serialized in the Gakken magazine ''Nora Comics'' from 1986 to 1990. In 1989, ''The Venus Wars'' was adapted into an anime film directed by Yoshikazu Yasuhik ...
'' (assistant animation director, key animation) *1989 - '' Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket'' (animation director) *1989 - ''
City Hunter 3 is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsukasa Hojo. It was serialized in ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from 1985 to 1991 and collected into 35 ''tankōbon'' volumes by its publisher Shueisha. The manga was adapted int ...
'' (key animation) *1990 - '' City Hunter: Bay City Wars'' (key animation) *1991 - ''
Mobile Suit Gundam F91 is a 1991 anime film. It was ''Gundam'' creator Yoshiyuki Tomino's attempt to launch a new ''Gundam'' saga, set 30 years after ''Char's Counterattack''. He re-teamed with character designer Yoshikazu Yasuhiko and mecha designer Kunio Okawara for ...
'' (co-animation director) *1991 - '' Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory'' (character design, animation director) *1992 - '' Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Last Blitz of Zeon'' (character design, animation director) *1993 - ''
Super Dimension Century Orguss 02 is an anime science fiction series. It inspired an OVA sequel series called ''Orguss 02''. ''Orguss'' was the second part of ''The Super Dimension'' trilogy from Big West, preceded by ''The Super Dimension Fortress Macross'' and followed by ' ...
'' (character design) *1993 - ''
The Cockpit The Cockpit can refer to: * Cockpit Theatre, a 17th-century theatre in London (also known as the Phoenix) that opened in 1616 * The Cockpit, a theatre in London, England that opened in 1970 * ''The Cockpit'' (OVA), a three-part anime series made ...
'' (character design, animation director) *1994 - '' Mobile Fighter G Gundam'' (OP key animation, key animation) *1994 - ''Oira Uchū no Tankōfu'' (character design, animation director) *1995 - '' Golden Boy'' (character design, animation director) *1995 - '' Memories'' (key animation) *1995 - Sega Saturn '' Mobile Suit Gundam'' game (animation director of anime parts) *1996 - '' Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team'' (character design) *1998 - PlayStation '' Ghost in the Shell'' game (animation director and key animation of anime parts) *1998 - '' Cowboy Bebop'' (character design, animation director) *1999 - '' Blood: The Last Vampire'' (key animation) *2000 - ''
Escaflowne is a 26-episode Japanese anime television series created by Shōji Kawamori and Sunrise Studios and directed by Kazuki Akane. It premiered in Japan on April 2, 1996 on TV Tokyo, and the final episode aired on September 24, 1996. Sony's a ...
'' (animation director, key animation) *2001 - '' Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door'' (character design, animation director) *2001 - '' Kidō Tenshi Angelic Layer'' (OP key animation) *2002 - '' RahXephon'' (OP key animation, key animation) *2002 - '' Witch Hunter Robin'' (OP key animation) *2003 - '' Wolf's Rain'' (character design) *2003 - '' Fullmetal Alchemist (anime)'' (OP and ED key animation) *2003 - '' Scrapped Princess'' (key animation) *2004 - '' Kurau Phantom Memory'' (animation director) *2004 - '' Kenran Butōsai: The Mars Daybreak'' (animation director) *2005 - '' Eureka Seven'' (OP key animation) *2005 - '' Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa'' (key animation) *2006 - '' Ouran High School Host Club'' (key animation) *2006 - ''
Jyu Oh Sei is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Natsumi Itsuki. The manga was first serialized in Hakusensha's monthly shōjo manga magazine, ''LaLa'' in December 1993. Several chapters of the series were serialized in Hakusensha's ...
'' (key animation) *2006 - ''
Tenpō Ibun Ayakashi Ayashi is a Japanese anime television series, created and written by Shō Aikawa and produced by Bones. Directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori, it featured character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto. It was broadcast for twenty-five episodes on MBS– TBS f ...
'' (character design) *2007 - ''
Sword of the Stranger is a 2007 Japanese animated '' jidaigeki''-'' chanbara'' adventure film produced by Bones and released by Shochiku. It depicts Kotaro, a young orphan hunted by Ming swordsmen, who receives unexpected protection from Nanashi, a troubled ronin. ...
'' (co-animation director, key animation) *2008 - ''
Nijū Mensō no Musume is a Japanese manga Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese ...
'' (OP and ED key animation) *2008 - ''
Michiko to Hatchin is a Japanese anime television series. The series was produced by Manglobe and directed by Sayo Yamamoto, her first directorial work. The two eponymous starring roles are portrayed by film actresses Yōko Maki (actress), Yōko Maki (''The Gru ...
'' (animation director, key animation) *2009 - '' Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood'' (OP key animation) *2010 - '' Heroman'' (chief animator, animation director, OP animation director) *2011 - '' Gosick'' (character design) *2011 - ''
Towa no Quon , is a 2011 Japanese animated supernatural film series consisting of six films and directed by Umanosuke Iida. The first film in the series was released in theaters on June 18, 2011 and the last on November 26, 2011. The film series has been ...
'' (character design) *2013 - ''
Tenkai Knights is a 2013 Canadian-Japanese anime series based on a toy line by Spin Master, produced by Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Spin Master and TV Tokyo and animated by Bones. It was directed by Mitsuru Hongo, with Jin Kanada and Hiroshi Ōnogi ha ...
'' (main character design, OP key animation) *2014 - '' Noragami'' (character design, chief animation director) *2014 - '' Space Dandy'' (animation director) *2015 - '' Blood Blockade Battlefront'' (character design) *2016 - '' My Hero Academia'' (animation director, key animation) *2016 - '' Mob Psycho 100'' (key animation) *2020 - ''
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish is a 1984 Japanese short story by author Seiko Tanabe. It was first published in the June 1984 issue of ''Monthly Kadokawa''. It was later included alongside various stories in the short story collection ''Josee, the Tiger and the Fish'', whi ...
'' (animation director, key animation) *2021 - ''
SK8 the Infinity is a Japanese original anime television series produced and animated by Bones (studio), Bones that aired from January to April 2021 on Asahi Broadcasting Corporation, ABC and TV Asahi's programming block. A comedy manga Spin-off (media) ...
'' (key animation) *2021 - ''
Eden Eden may refer to: * Garden of Eden, the "garden of God" described in the Book of Genesis Places and jurisdictions Canada * Eden, Ontario * Eden High School Middle East * Eden, Lebanon, a city and former bishopric * Camp Eden, Iraq O ...
'' (character design)


Artbooks

*2004 - ''Toshihiro Kawamoto:COWBOY BEBOP Illustrations ~ The Wind ~'' (SoftBank Creative) *2006 - ''Toshihiro Kawamoto Artworks The Illusives I&II'' (SoftBank Creative)


Games

*1993 - ''Mobile Suit Gundam: Return of Zion'' (
FamilySoft is a Japanese company founded in 1987 and headquartered in Nerima, Tokyo. Since its establishment, FamilySoft are carrying on business in the field of game development and publishing. They develop and publish mainly adventure, fighting, gyaruge ...
) (character design) *1993 - ''Mobile Suit Gundam: A Year of War Ichi-nen Sensō'' (
FamilySoft is a Japanese company founded in 1987 and headquartered in Nerima, Tokyo. Since its establishment, FamilySoft are carrying on business in the field of game development and publishing. They develop and publish mainly adventure, fighting, gyaruge ...
) (character design) *1994 - '' Wonder Project J: Kikai no Shōnen Pīno'' (
Square Enix is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational holding company, production enterprise and entertainment conglomerate, best known for its ''Final Fantasy'', ''Dragon Quest'', ''Star Ocean'' and ''Kingdom Hearts'' role-playing video game ...
) (character design) *2002 - ''
Gigantic Drive ''Robot Alchemic Drive'', also known as ''R.A.D.'', and known in Japan as is a PlayStation 2 video game developed by Sandlot and published by Enix. It was released in Japan and North America. In the game the player controls a giant robot call ...
'' (Square Enix) (character design) *2003 - ''
Bujingai , known in North America as ''Bujingai: The Forsaken City'' and in Europe as ''Bujingai: Swordmaster'', is an action video game developed by Taito in collaboration with Red Entertainment, for the PlayStation 2 console. The game was published by Tai ...
'' (original character design) *2002 - '' Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles'' ( Bandai) (character design) *2005 - '' Tales of the Abyss'' (OP key animation) Sources:


References


External links

*
Japan Movie Database
*
AllCinema Online
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kawamoto, Toshihiro Japanese animators Japanese animated film directors Japanese animated film producers Anime character designers Bones (studio) Sunrise (company) people People from Mie Prefecture 1963 births Living people