Masami Ōbari

is a Japanese anime director, animation director and mecha and character designer.

Biography

After graduating from high school in 1985, Masami Obari began his career when he joined the animation studio Ashi Production, where he worked on shows such as '' Special Armored Battalion Dorvack'', ''Transformers'' (outsourced by Toei Animation to them sometimes), and '' Star Musketeer Bismarck''. Soon after, at the age of 19, he got his first major break when he landed the role of mecha designer on '' Dancouga – Super Beast Machine God''. Not too long after, at the young age of 21, he was given his first directorial role by directing episodes 5 and 6 of the ''Bubblegum Crisis'' OVA series. He also made three Fatal Fury films from December 23, 1992, to July 16, 1994.

In 1993, he founded Studio G-1 with fellow animators Kazuto Nakazawa, Masahiro Yamane, Takehiro Nakayama, and Atsuko Ishida, to whom Masami Obari was married, but from whom he is currently divorced. Studio G-1 was later disbanded and was reformed under the name of Studio G-1 Neo in 2000.

Although not originally interested in animation, he was inspired when he formed a high school friendship with classmate Satoshi Urushihara.

In 2016, Obari married the professional model maker Ritsu Togasaki.

He has a younger brother named Takami, who served as the president and CEO of New Japan Pro-Wrestling between October 2020 and December 2023.

Filmography

Director

Original video animation

* 1988 ''Moonlight Rambler'' (Part 5 of ''Bubblegum Crisis'')
* 1989 ''Red Eyes'' (Part 6 of ''Bubblegum Crisis'')
* 1991–1992 '' Detonator Orgun''
* 1996 ''Battle Arena Toshinden''
* 1996 '' Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer''
* 1997–1998 '' Voogie's Angel'' (co-directed with Aoi Takenouchi)
* 1999 ''Dangaizer 3''
* 2001–2003 '' Angel Blade''
* 2001–2003 ''Marine a Go Go''
* 2002 ''Viper GTS''
* 2004–2005 '' Angel Blade Punish!''
* 2017 '' Gundam Build Fighters: Battlogue''
* 2020 '' Gundam Build Divers Battlogue''

Original net animation

* 2023 '' Amaim Warrior at the Borderline: UltraSteel Ogre-Gear''
* 2023 '' Gundam Build Metaverse''

Television series

* 1997 '' Virus Buster Serge''
* 2000 ''Platinumhugen Ordian''
* 2002 '' Gravion''
* 2004 '' Gravion Zwei''
* 2007 '' Dancouga Nova – Super God Beast Armor''
* 2007 '' Prism Ark''
* 2010–2011 '' Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Inspector''
* 2013 ''Bakujyuu Kasshin Ziguru Hazeru''
* 2024 '' Brave Bang Bravern!''

Animated feature film

* 1994 '' Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture''

Designer

Character design

= Direct-to-video animation

=
* 1988–1990 ''Guy: Double Target'' (Monster Design)
* 1990–1992 '' Guardian of Darkness'' (Monster Design)
* 1993–1994 '' Time Bokan: Royal Revival'' (Key animation; episode 2)
* 1996–1997 '' Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer''
* 1997–1998 '' Voogie's Angel''
* 2001–2003 '' Angel Blade'' (Monster Design)
* 2004–2005 ''Angel Blade Punish!''

= Television series

=
* 1997 '' Virus Buster Serge''
* 1998 ''Weiss Kreuz'' (Animation director for the 1st opening sequence)
* 2000 ''Platinumhugen Ordian'' (Concept, Series director, director Episode 24)

= Animated feature film

=
* 1992 '' Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf''
* 1993 '' Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle''
* 1994 '' Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture''

= Video games

=
* 1995 '' Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer'' (also voices Brider in the game)
* 2022 ''The King of Fighters XV''
* 2025 '' Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves''

Mecha design

= Direct-to-video animation

=
* 1985–1987 '' Fight! Iczer One''
* 1987–1991 ''Bubblegum Crisis'' (DD design)
* 1987–1989 '' Dangaioh''
* 1999 ''Dangaizer 3''
* 2001–2003 ''Marine a Go Go''

= Television series

=
* 1985 '' Dancouga – Super Beast Machine God''
* 1991–1992 ''The Brave Fighter of Sun Fighbird'' (chief animator, mecha designer for 9 episodes, opening sequence solo animator)
* 1992–1993 '' Tekkaman Blade'' (opening sequence animator)
* 1994–1995 '' Magic Knight Rayearth'' (opening sequence animator)
* 1994–1995 '' Brave Police J-Decker'' (Guest Mecha Design for episodes 1–3)
* 2000 ''Platinumhugen Ordian''
* 2002 '' Gravion''
* 2004 '' Gravion Zwei''
* 2007 '' Jūsō Kikō Dancouga Nova''
* 2010–2011 '' Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Inspector''
* 2015–2017 '' Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans'' (Animation direction, key animation, in-between animation)
* 2019 '' Pop Team Epic TV Special'' (1st half prologue skit and opening sequence)
* 2022 ''Pop Team Epic Series 2'' (Episode 2 story part and ending sequence)

= Video games

=
* 1989 '' Moto Roader''
* 2007 '' Super Robot Wars: Original Generations''
* 2007 '' Super Robot Wars OG Gaiden''
* 2008 '' Super Robot Wars Z''
* 2012 '' 2nd Super Robot Wars Z''
* 2015 ''3rd Super Robot Wars Z''
* 2018 ''Mobile Corps Iron Saga''
* 2019 ''Super Robot Wars DD''

Bibliography

* ''G-One Masami Obari's Super Design Works First Mission'' (G-ONE 大張正己作品集). Movic, 1998.
* ''Masami Obari Artworks Robot Soul'' (大張正己 画集 ロボ魂-ROBOT SOUL-). SB Creative, 2013.
* ''Masami Obari Art Book OBARISM'' (大張正己画集 OBARISM). Hobby Japan, 2022.

References

"Prism Ark". ''Newtype USA''. 6 (11) p. 11. November 2007. .

External links

*
*

Masami Obari
anime works at Media Arts Database

{{DEFAULTSORT:Obari Masami
Sunrise (company) people
1966 births
Living people
Japanese animated film directors
Anime directors
Anime character designers
Mechanical designers (mecha)
Japanese animators
People from Hiroshima Prefecture
Place of birth missing (living people)
Brave series