Wikipedia

Hajime Ootani

Hajime Ootani (Japanese: 大谷 肇, Hepburn: Ōtani Hajime) is a Japanese animator, director, and storyboard artist.

Hajime Ootani
大谷 肇
Born (1979-09-22) September 22, 1979 (age 44)
Fukui Prefecture, Japan
Occupation(s)Animator, director, storyboard artist
Years active2004–present
EmployerImagin (2004–2011)
Known forPretty Boy Detective Club

Early life edit

Ootani was born in Fukui Prefecture on September 22, 1979.[1] He first became interested in animation while in high school after seeing Hayao Miyazaki's film Princess Mononoke.[2]

Career edit

Ootani joined studio Imagin as an in-between animator around 2004. He mostly worked as a sub-contracting animator, and eventual episode director, for Madhouse and Imagin. He made his directorial debut with an OVA adaptation of Ayano Yamane's manga A Foreign Love Affair.[3] Ootani's final projects with Imagin were Needless (2009) and Wolverine (2011), which the studio assisted under Madhouse for, where he was promoted to series assistant director.[4][5]

After the dissolution of Imagin, former studio producer Yasuhiro Okada joined studio Shaft with Ootani, where the latter mainly did episodic direction and storyboard art. In 2020, he made his series directorial debut as the chief episode director on Assault Lily Bouquet with Shouji Saeki,[6] and the following year debuted as director of Pretty Boy Detective Club under Akiyuki Shinbo.[7] After Pretty Boy Detective Club, he decided that he wanted to try directing at a different studio since he had been working with Shaft for so long;[1] so, in the middle of the production for the series Dance Dance Danseur, produced by MAPPA, he was asked if he wanted to join the series as its "ballet director."[8][1]

Style edit

In an interview between him and Shaft colleague Kenjirou Okada, the two were asked to describe each other's styles and processes as directors. Okada stated that Ootani didn't hesitate to put appealing art and animations first and foremost, and that he admired that about Ootani.[9] Akiyuki Shinbo also commented in a separate interview that he felt Ootani and himself had similar visual sensibilities.[10] Shinbo also said that Ootani was particularly good at horror-esque work, referencing episode 12 of March Comes In like a Lion season 2 (episode 34 overall) and the similarities in atmosphere between it and parts of Pretty Boy Detective Club. Commenting on Ootani's work with Okada, who acted as assistant director for Pretty Boy Detective Club, Shinbo also said that the two complemented each other's weaknesses and strengths as directors.[10] Despite originally being inspired by director Hayao Miyazaki, Ootani has commented that his style is much more eccentric and different from Miyazaki's, which he described was due to trying to survive and stand out in the industry.[2]

Works edit

Television series edit

  Highlights roles with series directorial duties.
  Highlights roles with assistant director or supervising duties.

Year Title Director(s)[a] Studio Roles Ref(s)
2005 Strawberry 100% Osamu Sekita Madhouse In-between animator (#4) [11]
Oku-sama wa Joshi Kōsei Jun Shishido Madhouse In-between animator (#1, 8)
Key animator (#5, 11) 		[12][13]
Eyeshield 21 Masayoshi Nishida Gallop Episode director (#35) [14]
My-Otome Masakazu Obara Sunrise Assistant episode director (#8) [15]
2006 Strawberry Panic! Masayuki Sakoi Madhouse Key animator (#1)
Episode director (#9) 		[16][17]
Yume Tsukai Kazuo Yamazaki Madhouse Episode director (#4) [18]
2006–2007 The Story of Saiunkoku Jun Shishido Madhouse Episode director (#2, 5, 8, 14, 20, 23, 29, 36) [19]
2007–2008 Saiunkoku Monogatari Second Series Jun Shishido Madhouse Episode director (#3, 7, 12, 19, 22, 31, 33, 37) [20]
2008 Kamen no Maid Guy Masayuki Sakoi Madhouse Episode director (#1, 7) [21]
Chaos;Head Takaaki Ishiyama Madhouse Episode director (#1) [22]
2009 Needless Masayuki Sakoi Madhouse Assistant director
Episode director (#1, 5, 14, 23)
Storyboard artist (#2)
Unit director & storyboard artist (OP 2) 		[5][23][24][25]
2011 Wolverine Hiroshi Aoyama Madhouse Assistant director
Episode director (#1, 12)
Storyboard artist (#10) 		[4][26][27]
2012 Nisemonogatari Akiyuki Shinbo
Tomoyuki Itamura[b] 		Shaft Storyboard artist (#9) [28]
2015 Gourmet Girl Graffiti Akiyuki Shinbo[c]
Naoyuki Tatsuwa 		Shaft Episode director (#4, 11) [29][30]
Nisekoi: Akiyuki Shinbo[c]
Yukihiro Miyamoto[d] 		Shaft Storyboard artist (#11)
Episode director (#12) 		[31][32]
Owarimonogatari Akiyuki Shinbo[c]
Tomoyuki Itamura 		Shaft Episode director (#6) [33]
2016–2017 March Comes In like a Lion Akiyuki Shinbo
Kenjirou Okada[b] 		Shaft Episode director (#19)
Storyboard artist (#19)
Unit director & storyboard artist (OP 2) 		[34][35]
2017–2018 March Comes In like a Lion 2nd Season Akiyuki Shinbo
Kenjirou Okada[b] 		Shaft Storyboard artist (#1, 12, 22)
Episode director (#1, 12, 18, 22)
Assistant episode director (#8) 		[36][37][38]
2018 Zoku Owarimonogatari' Akiyuki Shinbo Shaft Episode director (#6)
Storyboard artist (#6) 		[39]
2020 Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story Doroinu[e][c]
Various[f] 		Shaft Episode director (#2)
Storyboard artist (#2) 		[40]
Assault Lily Bouquet Shouji Saeki
Hajime Ootani 		Shaft Chief unit director
Storyboard artist (#2, 4, 6, 11)
Episode director (#2, 6, 11) 		[6][41][42][43]
[44]
2021 Pretty Boy Detective Club Akiyuki Shinbo[c]
Hajime Ootani 		Shaft Director
Storyboard artist (#1–3, 12)
Episode director (#12; ED 1) 		[7][45][46][47]
2022 Dance Dance Danseur Munehisa Sakai MAPPA Ballet director
Ballet part director (#2–3)
Storyboard artist (#2, 5, 11)
Episode director (#5, 10–11)
Ballet storyboard artist (#10) 		[8][48]
2024 Bucchigiri?! Hiroko Utsumi MAPPA Episode director (#6)
Storyboard artist (#6)

OVAs edit

  Highlights roles with series directorial duties.

Year Title Director(s)[a] Studio Roles Ref(s)
2005–2006 Saint Beast: Ikusen no Hiru to Yoru-hen Masayuki Sakoi Wonderfarm In-between animator [49]
2006–2007 A Foreign Love Affair Hajime Ootani Prime Time Director
Storyboard artist (#1–2)
Episode director (#1–2) 		[3]
2009 Maiden Rose Hidefumi Takagi Prime Time Storyboard artist (#1) [50]
2011 Katteni Kaizō Akiyuki Shinbo[c]
Naoyuki Tatsuwa 		Shaft Storyboard artist (#4)
Episode director (#4–5) 		[51][52]
2016–2017 The Beheading Cycle: The Blue Savant and the Nonsense Bearer Akiyuki Shinbo[c]
Yuki Yase 		Shaft Episode director (#3)
Storyboard artist (#3, 5–6) 		[53][54]

Video games edit

  Highlights roles with major directorial duties.

Year Title Director(s)[a] Studio Roles Ref(s)
2017 Magia Record (Arc I) Yukihiro Miyamoto
Kenjirou Okada
Hajime Ootani 		Shaft Cutscene director and storyboard artist [55]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c Directors credited for all works as Director (監督, Kantoku) unless noted otherwise.
  2. ^ a b c Credited as Series Director (シリーズディレクター).
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Credited as Chief Director (総監督).
  4. ^ Credited as Chief Director (チーフ演出).
  5. ^ Doroinu credited as "Gekidan Inu Curry (Doroinu)"
  6. ^ See main page.

Citations edit

  • Aniplex (2021). Pretty Boy Detective Club Vol. 5 Special Booklet. Aniplex.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c バレエ演出・大谷肇インタビュー（1）自力では辿り着けない領域の美しさを描ける楽しさ／アニメ『ダンス・ダンス・ダンスール』特集 [Ballet director Hajime Ootani Interview (1) The Joy of Depicting Beauty in a Realm That Cannot be Reached on Its Own / Featuring the anime "Dance Dance Danseur"]. Seiyuumen (in Japanese). May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  2. ^ a b バレエ演出・大谷肇インタビュー（3）フィルムと絵画の“いいとこ取り”をできるのがアニメの強み／アニメ『ダンス・ダンス・ダンスール』特集 [Ballet director Hajime Ootani Interview (3) The Strength of Animation is Its Ability to Combine the Best of Film and Painting / Featuring the Anime Dance Dance Danseur] (in Japanese). May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  3. ^ a b A Foreign Love Affair (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits. 監督 / 絵コンテ / 演出 - 大谷肇 [Director / Storyboard artist / Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  4. ^ a b Wolverine (in Japanese). Event occurs at opening credits. 助監督 - 大谷肇 [Assistant director - Hajime Ootani]
  5. ^ a b Needless (in Japanese). Event occurs at opening credits. 助監督 - 大谷肇 [Assistant director - Hajime Ootani]
  6. ^ a b "CAST/ STAFF". Assault Lily Bouquet (in Japanese). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  7. ^ a b アニメ「美少年探偵団」に村瀬歩・坂泰斗・増田俊樹・矢野奨吾・佐藤元、PVも公開 [The anime "Bishonen Tanteidan" features Ayumu Murase, Ban Taito, Toshiki Masuda, Shogo Yano, and Gen Sato, and the PV has been released!]. Natalie (in Japanese). January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Dance Dance Danseur Ballet Anime's Teaser Reveals Cast, More Staff". Anime News Network. January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  9. ^ Kenjirou Okada and Hajime Ootani (January 24, 2018). March Comes In like a Lion Blu-Ray Volume 5 (Interview) (in Japanese).
  10. ^ a b Aniplex 2021, p. 13.
  11. ^ Strawberry 100% (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 4. 動画 - 大谷肇 (IMAGIN) [In-between animator - Hajime Ootani (IMGAIN)]
  12. ^ Oku-sama wa Joshi Kōsei (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 8. 動画 - 大谷肇 [In-between animator - Hajime Ootani]
  13. ^ Oku-sama wa Joshi Kōsei (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 5, 11. 原画 - 大谷肇 [Key animator - Hajime Ootani]
  14. ^ Strawberry 100% (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 35. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  15. ^ My-Otome (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 8. 演出助手 - 大谷肇 [Assistant episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  16. ^ Strawberry Panic! (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 1. 原画 - 大谷肇 [Key animator - Hajime Ootani]
  17. ^ Strawberry Panic! (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 9. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  18. ^ Yume Tsukai (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 4. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  19. ^ The Story of Saiunkoku (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 2, 5, 8, 14, 20, 23, 29, 36. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  20. ^ Saiunkoku Monogatari Second Series (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 3, 7, 12, 19, 22, 31, 33, 37. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  21. ^ Kamen no Maid Guy (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 7. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  22. ^ Chaos;Head (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 1. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  23. ^ Needless (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 5, 14, 23. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  24. ^ Needless (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 2. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  25. ^ Needless (in Japanese). Event occurs at opening credits 2. OP 演出/絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [OP Episode director/Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
  26. ^ Wolverine (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 12. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  27. ^ Wolverine (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 10. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  28. ^ Nisemonogatari (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 9. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
  29. ^ "STORY". TBS (in Japanese). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  30. ^ "STORY". TBS (in Japanese). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  31. ^ 第11話 ヤセタイ／オハヨウ [Episode 11 "I Want to Lose Weight / Good Morning"]. Nisekoi (in Japanese). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  32. ^ 第12話 ソウサク／オタメシ [Episode 12 "The Search / Just Testing"]. Nisekoi (in Japanese). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  33. ^ Owarimonogatari (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 6. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  34. ^ March Comes In like a Lion (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 19. 演出 / 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Episode director / Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
  35. ^ March Comes In like a Lion (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits 2. OP演出/絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [OP Episode director/Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
  36. ^ March Comes In like a Lion 2nd Season (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 12, 22. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
  37. ^ March Comes In like a Lion 2nd Season (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 12, 18, 22. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  38. ^ March Comes In like a Lion 2nd Season (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 8. 演出協力 - 大谷肇 [Assistant episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  39. ^ こよみリバース 其ノ陸 [Koyomi Reverse, Part 6]. Zoku Owarimonogatari (in Japanese). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  40. ^ 『それが絶交証明書』 ["It's Proof of the End of a Friendship"]. Magia Record (in Japanese). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  41. ^ #2 スズラン [#2 Suzuran]. Assault Lily Bouquet (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  42. ^ #4 キンモクセイ [#4 Kinmokusei]. Assault Lily Bouquet (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  43. ^ #6 スミレ [#6 Sumire]. Assault Lily Bouquet (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  44. ^ #11 ユリ [Yuri]. Assault Lily Bouquet (in Japanese). Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  45. ^ Pretty Boy Detective Club (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1–2. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
  46. ^ Pretty Boy Detective Club (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits. エンディングアニメーション演出 - 大谷肇 [Ending animation unit director - Hajime Ootani]
  47. ^ Pretty Boy Detective Club (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 12. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Ootani Hajime]
  48. ^ "Sutōrī | Terebi Anime Dansu Dansu Dansūru Kōshiki Saito" STORY | TVアニメ ダンス・ダンス・ダンスール公式サイト [Story | TV Anime Dance Dance Danseur Official Website]. danseur-anime.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  49. ^ Saint Beast: Ikusen no Hiru to Yoru-hen (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1–2. 動画 - 大谷肇 [In-between animator - Hajime Ootani]
  50. ^ Maiden Rose (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 1. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
  51. ^ Katteni Kaizō (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 4–5. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  52. ^ Katteni Kaizō (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 4. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
  53. ^ The Beheading Cycle: The Blue Savant and the Nonsense Bearer (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 3. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  54. ^ The Beheading Cycle: The Blue Savant and the Nonsense Bearer (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 3, 5–6. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
  55. ^ Magia Record (video game) (in Japanese). ゲーム内アニメーション 絵コンテ･演出 - 大谷肇 / 岡田堅二朗 / 宮本幸裕 [In-game animation storyboard artist and director - Hajime Ootani / Kenjirou Okada / Yukihiro Miyamoto]

External links edit

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