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Kyokai no RINNE Director Guide

By Dylan Acres & Harley Acres



After the conclusion of Inuyasha and Inuyasha: The Final Act, the next series that was animated was Kyokai no RINNE. Brain's Base was the animation studio responsible for the animation production, this being their first Rumiko Takahashi related project. Some of their other big projects include Baccano!, Durara!!, Kamisama Dolls, Cyborg 009 and Strongest Disciple Kenichi.

Episode TitleDirectorAnimation Director
1. The Mysterious ClassmateShizutaka SugawaraHideyuki Motohashi
2. The Memory of the Red RingFumi FujiitakaTakuro Shinbo
3. The Clubhouse PhantomMitsutoshi SatoKentaro Matsumoto
Shinichiro Kajiura
Toshimitsu Kobayashi
4. If You Don't Mind Starting As FriendsMasayuki MatsumotoHideyuki Motohashi
5. Hanako-sanHiroshi IshiodoriYasuyuki Noda
6. Voice of the Roadside ShrineFumi FujiitakaAko Sahara
Ichiro Ogawa
7. Curse of the Rabbit HutchFumi FujiitakaTakuro Shinbo
8. Welcome to Hell!Masayuki MatsumotoHideyuki Motohashi
9. The Wig's Disappointment and the Pumpkin's TemptationHiroshi IshiodoriYasuyuki Noda
10. Damashigami CompanyHiroshi IshiodoriTakuro Shinbo
11. The Young President's Induction?!Fumi FujiitakaAtsuo Tobe
Ichiro Ogawa
12. Ageha the ShinigamiMasayuki MatsumotoHideyuki Motohashi
13. NaggyHiroshi IshiodoriKentaro Matsumoto
Yasuyuki Noda
14. This Isn't a Date!Yuki ArieMiori Suzuki
Megumi Koike
15. Just a Simple ThanksFumi FujiitakaTakuro Shinbo
16. Memories of the Haunted CedarMasayuki MatsumotoAtsuo Tobe
17. The Curse of the Power StoneYuki ArieMiori Suzuki
Megumi Koike
18. Kain the ShirushigamiHiroshi IshiodoriYasuyuki Noda
19. In the BoxShizutaka SugawaraHideyuki Motohashi
20. A Home Without SpiritsMasayuki MatsumotoTakuro Shinbo
21. The "M" FiascoYuki ArieMiori Suzuki
Megumi Koike
22. Merry Christmas in the DerelictFumi FujiitakaAtsuo Tobe
23. Fox TrapHiroshi IshiodoriYasuyuki Noda
24. Spirited RamenMasayuki MatsumotoHideyuki Motohashi
25. Target: SakuraShizutaka SugawaraKentaro Matsumoto
Atsuo Tobe
26. Oboro the Black CatShizutaka SugawaraAtsuo Tobe
27. The Sweet Tennis Court / The Letter BoxFumi FujiitakaTakuro Shinbo
28. The Disappearance of the Membership FeeKenichi KuharaHideyuki Motohashi
29. Love SongYuki ArieMiori Suzuki
Megumi Koike
30. Digging for Memories / Lend me Money? / Demon at the CampsiteHiroshi IshiodoriKazuhiko Shibuya
31. Homestay TrainingHiroshi IshiodoriTakuro Shinbo
32. Supervisory LiabilityAkira TobaTakuro Shinbo
33. The Cursed Straw DollKenichi KuharaHideyuki Motohashi
34. Mikazukido is the Place for the ScytheYuuki ArieMiori Suzuki
Megumi Koike
35. Level Six Black CatHiroshi IshiodoriKazuhiko Shibuya
36. A Mystery at the Summer FestivalAkira ShimizuMasumi Hattori
Yukari Kobayashi
37. Ghost Rubber Raft / There's Something in the Tunnel / Welcome to Nehanya!Shizutaka SugawaraTakuro Shinbo
38. A Mysterious Transfer StudentFumi FujiitakaHideyuki Motohashi
39. Renge's RevengeYuuki Arie Miori Suzuki
Megumi Koike
40. Recovery Cream / Rumor / Mushroom PickingHiroshi IshiodoriKazuhiko Shibuya
41. The Breakup KitFumi FujiitakaAtsuo Tobe
42. Shinigami Elementary ReunionYoshito HataAtsuko Yamazaki
Yukari Kobayashi
43. Level-up Test for Black CatsAkira ManoTakuro Shinbo
44. MVCFumi FujiitakaHideyuki Motohashi
45. A Pot Samurai / Demon Influenza A and Shinigami Influenza BYuuki ArieMiori Suzuki
Megumi Koike
46. I'll Give You a Scarf / I'll Be Waiting on the RinkFumi FujiitakaAtsuo Tobe
47. Just the Way We Were...Hiroshi IshiodoriKazuhiko Shibuya
48. Sakura the Shinigami?!Akira ManoTakuro Shinbo
49. Matsugo Once Again?!Fumi FujiitakaHideyuki Motohashi
50. Sakura's BetShizutaka SugawaraKentaro Matsumoto
Kazuhiko Tamura
51. Gold LicenseHiroshi IshiodoriKazuhiko Shibuya
52. The Cursed Ace / Draw MeShinya UneHikaru Suzuki
53. Wheel of Reincarnation Cleanup Day / Infinite Malice / A Puppy in the RainNorihito TakahashiHideyuki Motohashi
54. Ane at the Shopping MallYoshito HataSo Kato
55. Kuroboshi Sansei / The Lucky Pot / Bamboo Sprout in Rainbow ColorAkira ManoTakuro Shinbo
56. Special Protected Sacred Bird / June Bride / The Safe in HellFumio MaezonoShinichi Suzuki
57. Wandering Power Stone / Poltergeist / The Taboo in the Shinigami WorldShinya UneKazuhiko Shibuya
58. Open After Seven Days / Silver Scythe / Prince of ShinigamiRoko OkiwaraHikaru Suzuki
Atsuko Takahashi
59. Apologize in the Altar Room / Goddess of Wisdom / River of TreasureAkira ManoHideyuki Motohashi
60. The First Association Meet / An Ominous Prophecy Norihito TakahashiTakuro Shinbo
Ayano Sugai
61. Mystery of the Flower Path / I'll Lend You My Right Arm / Black Report CardYoshito HataSo Kato
62. Evil Spirit in the Summer House / Eggplant Romance / One Coin InvestigationFumio MaezonoShinichi Suzuki
63. Otome the ShinigamiShinya UneKazuhiko Shibuya
64. Lies and TruthmigmiHikaru Suzuki
Kiyotaka Iida
65. Kokkuri-san / Cursed Piggy Bank / The Hated SanseiAkira ManoHideyuki Motohashi
66. Curse of Splurge / The Cursed Peep BallNorihito TakahashiTakuro Shinbo
67. Head Man / When You Wish Upon the Moon / The First Saury FestivalYoshito HataSo Kato
68. The Practical Training for Capturing a Dream DemonAkira ManoShinichi Suzuki
69. Nothing Inside / Mystery of Koshikudake Hill / Effect of the Matsutake MushroomShinya UneKazuhiko Shibuya
70. Wings of Celebration / Kabakichi-kun / Scream of a Cassette TapeRoko OkiwaraKiyotaka Iida
Hikaru Suzuki
71. Square Black Thing / Shortcut in the AlleyAkira ManoHideyuki Motohashi
72. A Ring and a Stamp / Food on the Porch / Black Cat Children's AssociationNorihito TakahashiTakuro Shinbo
73. Good Luck Wax / Maneko and Kotomi / Where's My Money? Yoshito HataSo Kato
74. Supplemental Class for Fierce Dog Catching/ Money Spirit/ Evil Spirit's LegacyAkira ManoShinichi Suzuki
75. A Promise in the UnderworldHiroshi IshiodoriKazuhiko Tamura


Masumi Hattori (服部益実)
(Episodes directed: 1)

Hattori's lone contribution to the anime is episode 36 "A Mystery at the Summer Festival" which she co-directed with Yukari Kobayashi. As such it is difficult to tell what her contributions are versus Kobayashi's, but the episode as a whole looks above average. [1] Hattori has served as animation director or key animator on a number of individual episodes from larger series such as Air Gear, H2 and Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?. [2] [3]

Kiyotaka Iida (飯田清貴)
(Episodes directed: 2)

Perhaps the most distictive feature is his slightly more rounded faces than some of the other directors, but with so few episodes it can be challenging to make an appraisal. [4] His previous work includes key animation on the 1990s Black Jack OVA series, and larger chunks of series such as Dr. Rin ni Kiitemite! and animation director and key animator on four episodes of Capeta.

Shinichiro Kajiura (梶浦紳一郎)
(Episodes directed: 1)

It's virtually impossible to comment on Kajiura's work as an animation director, as he only co-directed one episode of Kyokai no RINNE, episode 3 "The Clubhouse Phantom", alongside co-animation directors Kentaro Matsumoto and Toshimitsu Kobayashi. His previous work includes both Fatal Fury OVAs (key animation), four episodes of the well-remembered 1980s Grimm's Fairy Tales (also as key animator), and serving as animation director on a number of episodes of the long-running Shonen Jump police comedy Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo. [5]

So Kato (加藤壮)
(Episodes directed: 4)

An excellent director with detailed layouts and large, expressively detailed eyes. He served as key animator on 11 episodes of Kami-sama Minarai: Himitsu no Cocotama. [6] [7]

Toshimitsu Kobayashi (小林利充)
(Episodes directed: 1)

It's virtually impossible to comment on Kobayashi's work as an animation director, as he only co-directed one episode of Kyokai no RINNE, episode 3. The one episode he did do was co-directed by Kentaro Matsumoto and Shinichiro Kajiura as well. His previous work includes working on the original 1990s version of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders as well as character design work on Demon King Dante and Weiss Kreuz Gluhen. [8] [9]

Yukari Kobayashi (小林ゆかり)
(Episodes directed: 2)

Both episodes of Kyokai no RINNE she handled the animation direction for were with other co-animation directors, so its hard to get a feel for what her unique contributions are. She's had a very lenghty career and handled character designs and was the chief animation director on Otoko wa Tsurai yo - Torajirō Wasurenagusa. She was also the animation director on the fifth Urusei Yatsura film as well as the I Howl at the Moon OVA and the character designer for the Maison Ikkoku OVA Shipwrecked on Ikkoku Island. Like Toshimitsu Kobayashi above, she also worked on Demon King Dante where she was the chief animation director to his character designer. [10] [11]

Megumi Koike (小池恵)
(Episodes directed: 7)

She is part of a directing duo with Miori Suzuki. She has a lush, detailed animation style that is really smooth and visually stunning to look at. Beyond Kyokai no RINNE she served as animation director on seven episodes of B Gata H Kei - Yamada’s First Time and key animation on Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine. [12] [13]

Kentaro Matsumoto (松本健太郎)
(Episodes directed: 4)

Matsumoto is the chief animation director for seasons one and two of the series, however as an episodic animation director all of his work was as a co-director, so it is challenging to analyze his work separated from his partners on those episodes. He was the character designer and chief animation director on D-Frag! and played the same roles in In/Spectre's second season. [14] [15]

Hideyuki Motohashi (本橋秀之)
(Episodes directed: 15)

Among Rumiko Takahashi fans Motohashi is likely best known as the character designer and chief animation director for the first three Inuyasha films. The episodes of Kyokai no RINNE are likely the ones that stands out most, as his style does have a noticable variation to it when compared to the work of other animation directors. There is a slight stylistic variation to his characters as they are animated in a loose, fluid style that at times sacrifices detailed realism for a feeling of true motion. Very early in Motohashi's career he served as a key animator for Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer as well as Mitsuru Adachi's Nine and Lupin III: Part 3. [16] [17]

Yasuyuki Noda (野田康行)
(Episodes directed: 5)

Noda is the chief animation director for third season of show. He replaced Kentaro Matsumoto who was the previous series animation director for the first two seasons. Noda was the character designer on Bikkuriman 2000 and Cho Hatsumei Boy Kanipan. Additionally he was heavily involved in a number of Tantei Opera Milky Holmes anime projects. [18] [19]

Ichiro Ogawa (をがわいちろを)
(Episodes directed: 2)

Ogawa only directed two episodes, and in both of those he actually served as co-director with Ako Sahara and Atsuo Tobe. The pair's style is a lot like Hideyuki Motohashi, which is a good thing. Episode 9 "The Wig's Disappointment and the Pumpkin's Temptation" actually features a few original character designs from the manga, and the animation directors do a good job with those. Of note, Ogawa occasionally spells his name as "小川一郎". [20] Ogawa also worked on both Rumiko Takahashi Anthology and the Mermaid Forest television series as animation director. [21]

Ako Sahara (佐原亜湖)
(Episodes directed: 1)

Ako Sahara's real name is Keiji Goto (後藤圭二) and under his real name he was also character designer on Martian Successor Nandesiko and Those That Hunt Elves as well as animation director on episodes of Macross 7. [22] Sahara only directed a single episode, and in that episode he actually served as co-director with Ichiro Ogawa, though under his real name he has storyboarded a number of episodes. The pair's style is a lot like Hideyuki Motohashi, which, as mentioned above, is a positive comparison. Episode 9 actually features a few original character designs from the manga, and they do a good job with those. He served as the character designer for Dragon Knight: Another Knight on the Town. [23]

Kazuhiko Shibuya (渋谷一彦)
(Episodes directed: 8)

Shibuya's mid-range shots are fairly expressionless with somewhat soulless eyes. At times his close-ups come across as a bit flat. As with a number of the other animation directors on Kyokai no RINNE he also worked on Fatal Fury 2, Cho Hatsumei Boy Kanipan and B Gata H Kei - Yamada’s First Time in various capacities as well as serving as key animator on ten episodes of Toriko. [24] [25]

Takuro Shinbo (しんぼたくろう)
(Episodes directed: 15)

A very good director, who is tied for contributing as many episodes as Hideyuki Motohashi. Shinbo did in-between animation on the iconic film AKIRA and served as animation director on a number of episodes of Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans and Gundam Build Diver. [26] [27]

Ayano Sugai (菅井彩乃)
(Episodes directed: 1)

Ayano Sugai co-directed episode 60 "The First Association Meet / An Ominous Prophecy" with Takuro Shinbo. Because she only directed one episode its hard to pin down much that is unique about her art style. She did in-between animation for the Studio Ghibli film The Wind Rises and key animation for three episodes of Aikatsu! Idol Katsudon. [28]

Hikaru Suzuki (鈴木光)
(Episodes directed: 4)

Suzuki is usually paired with a co-director but did direct episode 52 "The Cursed Ace / Draw Me" on his own. He has a middle of the road style, but his depiction of eyes is unique and an identifiable trademark to look for in his episodes. [29]

Shinichi Suzuki (鈴木信一)
(Episodes directed: 4)

Not bad, not uniquely good, just average style regarding his work on Kyokai no RINNE. Suzuki was the animation director on a number of episodes of Black Clover, the Golgo 13 television series and the Naruto spin-off series Rock Lee and His Ninja Pals. [30] [31] Additionally he worked on the legendary AKIRA. [32]

Miori Suzuki (鈴木美音織)
(Episodes directed: 7)

Depending on the source her name is pronounced as "Miori" [33] or "Mineo" [34] which has some affect on which credits she is assigned on English speaking sites. She is part of a directing duo with Megumi Koike. She has a lush, detailed animation style that is really smooth and visually stunning to look at. Like many of the animation directors on Kyokai no RINNE she worked on Black Clover, B Gata H Kei - Yamada’s First Time and early episodes of And Yet the Town Moves. [35]

Atsuko Takahashi (高橋敦子)
(Episodes directed: 1)

It is challenging to say much about the work of Atsuko Takahashi given she only co-animation directed a single episode alongside Hikaru Suzuki. Her other work includes serving as animation director on a number of episodes of Fruits Baskets and she was heavily involved with Rainy Cocoa where she served as character designer, animation director and key animator. [36] [37]

Kazuhiko Tamura (たむらかずひこ)
(Episodes directed: 2)

Kazuhiko Tamura is the character designer on the series and served as the one of the chief animation directors on the first two seasons (alongside Kentaro Matsumoto). Tamura co-directed his first episode on the series with Kentaro Matsumoto, but was the animation director on the excellent final episode as a solo effort. He served as a key animator on the first two Detective Conan films and did the same on the first Inuyasha film as well. [38] [39]

Atsuo Tobe (戸部敦夫)
(Episodes directed: 7)

A great director, who is easily recognizable by his slightly more thin, angled eyes especially when characters are angry or scowling. He worked on episodes of Inuyasha and Yashahime as well. In addition his mother is Noriko Obara, Oyuki's voice actress from the original Urusei Yatsura anime. His other work beyond Takahashi projects includes Dirty Pair, Yakitate!! Japan, Kekkaishi and Turn A Gundam.[40] [41]

Atsuko Yamazaki (山崎敦子)
(Episodes directed: 1)

A difficult animation director to assess because she worked on just a single episode and that was with Yukari Kobayashi as co-animation director. Like others on Kyokai no RINNE she also worked on And Yet the Town Moves. Her other work includes serving as key animator on 20 episodes of Naruto and Woodpecker Detective's Office. [42] [43]



Footnotes

Harley Acres and Dylan Acres are both college professors and researchers of Rumiko Takahashi's works in all shapes and forms. They have written extensive analyses on each of the animation directors of all of her adaptations including Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, Ranma 1/2 and Inuyasha and Yashahime.

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Rumic World
Published: October 5, 2022
Author: Dylan Acres & Harley Acres
Translated by: ---
Archived: ---
ISBN/Web Address: https://www.furinkan.com/ features/articles/director5.html
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