Mahiro Maeda
Directing
Mahiro Maeda (前田 真宏 Maeda Mahiro) born March 14, 1963 is one of the most prominent Japanese anime creators working today, having worked as director, character designer, and animator for many of Japan's top series. Helen McCarthy in 500 Essential Anime Movies called him "one of the most imaginative visualists in anime". He also worked on Concept Art and Design for Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), which won six Academy Awards. He has been one of the top contributors at the anime studio GONZO for many years, having directed Blue Submarine No. 6, Final Fantasy: Unlimited and Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. His design work ranges from 2 of the "Angels" in Neon Genesis Evangelion to production and mechanical design for such series as Magic User's Club (魔法使いTai! Mahō Tsukai Tai!), The Vision of Escaflowne and Last Exile. He was also the designer of the invaders in Gatekeepers 21. His earlier years were spent mostly at the famed Studio Ghibli, where he helped animate classics such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, and Porco Rosso. Maeda is also one of the select Japanese directors to actively collaborate with the international film media on various projects. He provided key animation for the animation sequence in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 1. His directorial work has also been featured in such exclusive package films as The Animatrix (segment: "The Second Renaissance Parts I and II"), Genius Party Beyond (segment: "Gala"), and Ani*Kuri15 (segment: "Princess Onmitsu"). He has also visited the American Anime Expo convention in 2000 and 2003.
Known for
Directing22
movieHammerhead
2015
Director
movieKanón
2015
Director
movie20min Walk from Nishi-Ogikubo Station, 2 Bedrooms, Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2mos Deposit, No Pets Allowed
2014
Director, Second Unit Director
tvJapan Animator Expo
2014
Director
moviePeaceful Times (F02) Petit Film
2013
Director, Second Unit Director
movieGenius Party Beyond
2008
Director
tvGenius Party Beyond
2008
Director
movieAni*Kuri15
2008
Director
tvAni*Kuri15
2007
Director
movieBrave Story
2006
Second Unit Director
tvGankutsuou
2004
Series Director, Director
movieThe Animatrix
2003
Director
tvThe Animatrix
2003
Director
tvFinal Fantasy: Unlimited
2001
Series Director
tvBlue Submarine No. 6
1998
Series Director, Director
Visual Effects46
tvMobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
2025
Key Animation
movieMobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-
2025
Key Animation
tvKaiju No. 8
2024
Creature Design
movieSSSS.GRIDMAN Grand Episode
2023
Creature Design
movieAdam by Eve: A Live in Animation
2022
Key Animation
movieEvangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
2021
Key Animation
tvSSSS.GRIDMAN
2018
Creature Design
movieShin Godzilla
2016
Creature Design
tvOne-Punch Man
2015
Key Animation
movieMad Max: Fury Road
2015
Animation
movieKanón
2015
Character Designer, Key Animation
tvJapan Animator Expo
2014
Animation Director, Character Designer, Key Animation
tvKill la Kill
2013
Key Animation
movieEvangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
2012
Key Animation
movieEvangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
2009
Key Animation
movieGenius Party Beyond
2008
Character Designer, Animation Director
movieBrave Story
2006
Animation
movieOrigin: Spirits of the Past
2006
Mechanical Designer
tvGankutsuou
2004
Key Animation
movieKill Bill: Vol. 1
2003
Animation
tvLast Exile
2003
Mechanical Designer, Key Animation
movieThe Second Renaissance Part I
2003
Animation Director, Character Designer, Key Animation
tvFinal Fantasy: Unlimited
2001
Character Designer, Creature Design, Key Animation
tvVanDread
2000
Key Animation
movieGamera 3: Revenge of Iris
1999
Creature Design
tvBlue Submarine No. 6
1998
Mechanical Designer, Character Designer, Key Animation
movieGamera 2: Attack of Legion
1996
Creature Design
movieGunsmith Cats
1995
Animation
moviePorco Rosso
1992
Key Animation
movieMoonlight Pierce
1991
Key Animation
tvDoomed Megalopolis
1991
Key Animation
movieOnly Yesterday
1991
Key Animation
tvNadia: The Secret of Blue Water
1990
Key Animation
tvGunbuster
1988
Key Animation
movieThe Tale of Genji
1987
Key Animation
movieBattle Royale High School
1987
Key Animation
tvLemon Angel
1987
Key Animation
movieRobot Carnival
1987
Animation
movieA Tale of Two Robots, Chapter 3: Foreign Invasion
1987
Mechanical & Creature Designer
movieRoyal Space Force - The Wings of Honneamise
1987
Key Animation
movieCastle in the Sky
1986
Key Animation
movieBirth
1984
Animation
tvCream Lemon
1984
Key Animation
Art19
tvMobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
2025
Storyboard Artist
movieMobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-
2025
Storyboard Artist
movieShin Kamen Rider
2023
Conceptual Design
movieAdam by Eve: A Live in Animation
2022
Concept Artist
movieEvangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
2021
Art Designer, Concept Artist, Storyboard Artist
movieShin Godzilla
2016
Conceptual Design, Art Direction, Concept Artist
movieKanón
2015
Storyboard Artist
movieSpace Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark
2014
Storyboard Artist
tvJapan Animator Expo
2014
Storyboard Artist
tvRage of Bahamut
2014
Storyboard Artist
tvKill la Kill
2013
Storyboard Artist
movieEvangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
2012
Storyboard Artist
movieBrave Story
2006
Storyboard Artist
tvGankutsuou
2004
Storyboard Artist
tvLast Exile
2003
Production Design, Storyboard Artist
tvFinal Fantasy: Unlimited
2001
Storyboard Artist, Art Designer
tvBlue Submarine No. 6
1998
Storyboard Artist
tvNadia: The Secret of Blue Water
1990
Storyboard Artist, Settings
Writing13
movieEVANGELION:3.0(-120min.)
2023
Comic Book
movieShin Godzilla
2016
Storyboard
movieRapid Rouge
2015
Original Concept
movieKanón
2015
Screenplay
tvJapan Animator Expo
2014
Storyboard, Writer
tvAndo Lloyd ～A.I. knows LOVE ?～
2013
Original Story
movieGenius Party Beyond
2008
Screenplay
tvGankutsuou
2004
Original Story
tvThe Animatrix
2003
Writer
tvGate Keepers 21
2002
Storyboard
Acting3
Crew2
movieEvangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
2012
Assistant Script
movieGiant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo
2012
Special Effects
Costume & Make-Up1
movieShin Kamen Rider
2023
Costume Design
Creator1
Production1
tvGankutsuou
2004
Executive Producer