Osamu Dezaki
Biography
Osamu Dezaki was a Japanese anime director and screenwriter born on November 18, 1943, in Meguro, Tokyo, Japan. He passed away on April 17, 2011, at the age of 67. Also known by the stage names Makura Saki, Kan Matsudo, Toru Yabuki, and Kuyou Sai, Dezaki is recognized as one of the best and most influential anime directors. He popularized various techniques that are now considered standard in Japanese animation, developed a highly distinctive signature style, and is credited with inventing the pastel-chalked freeze frame. Dezaki had 66 known credits primarily focused on directing, and he became famous for his work on projects such as Takarajima, Space Cobra, and Ashita no Jo.
Career overview
Osamu Dezaki was a Japanese anime director and screenwriter born on November 18, 1943, in Meguro, Tokyo, Japan. Throughout his career, he was also known by several alternative names, including Makura Saki, Kan Matsudo, Toru Yabuki, and Kuyou Sai. Dezaki passed away on April 17, 2011, at the age of 67.
Recognized primarily for his directing work, Dezaki is acknowledged as one of the best and most influential anime directors. He is credited with 66 known credits on the Movie Database and is noted for popularizing various techniques that have since become standard in Japanese animation. Dezaki developed a distinctive signature style and is credited with inventing the pastel-chalked freeze frame.
Among his prominent works, Dezaki became well known for directing notable titles such as Takarajima, Space Cobra, and Ashita no Joe. His contributions to the medium through his innovative visual style and techniques have left a lasting impact on the field of Japanese animation.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- The Tale of Genji (2009) Director
- Ultraviolet: Code 044 (2008) Director
- Ultraviolet: Code 044 (2008) Series Director
- Ultraviolet: Code 044 (2008) Storyboard Artist
- Clannad: The Motion Picture (2007) Director
- Air: The Motion Picture (2005) Director
- Hamtaro: Fairy Tale (2004) Director
- Astro Boy: The Glorious Earth (2004) Director
- Hamtaro: Miracle in Aurora Valley (2003) Director
- Hamtaro: Miracle in Aurora Valley (2003) Writer
- Astro Boy: Ivan's Planet - Robot and Human Friendship (2003) Director
- The Secret of Astro Boy’s Birth (2003) Director
- Hamtaro: The Captive Princess (2002) Director
- The Lady Oscar Story (2002) Director
- Hamtaro: Adventures in Ham-Ham Land (2001) Director
- Golgo 13: Queen Bee (1998) Director
- Golgo 13: Queen Bee (1998) Storyboard
- Hakugei: Legend of the Moby Dick (1997) Storyboard Designer
- Hakugei: Legend of the Moby Dick (1997) Director
- Hakugei: Legend of the Moby Dick (1997) Creator
- Historias de la Biblia (1997) Creator
- Black Jack: The Movie (1996) Director
- Black Jack: The Movie (1996) Screenplay
- The Heroic Elegy of Confucius (1996) Director
- Lupin the Third: The Pursuit of Harimao's Treasure (1995) Director
- Lupin the Third: The Pursuit of Harimao's Treasure (1995) Storyboard
- Black Jack (1993) Screenplay
- Black Jack (1993) Storyboard
- Black Jack (1993) Director
- In the Beginning: The Bible Stories (1992) Series Director
- In the Beginning: The Bible Stories (1992) Director
- Lupin the Third: From Siberia with Love (1992) Director
- Treasure Island Memorial (1992) Screenplay
- Treasure Island Memorial (1992) Director
- Dear Brother (1991) Director
- Lupin the Third: Napoleon's Dictionary (1991) Director
- Burning Blood (1990) Director
- Burning Blood (1990) Creator
- Sword for Truth (1990) Director
- Lupin the Third: The Hemingway Papers (1990) Director
- Aim For The Ace! Final Stage (1989) Writer
- Aim For The Ace! Final Stage (1989) Director
- Nightsong of Splendor (1989) Storyboard
- Nightsong of Splendor (1989) Series Director
- Nightsong of Splendor (1989) Creator
- Lupin the Third: Bye Bye, Lady Liberty (1989) Director
- Aim for the Ace! Another Match (1988) Supervising Animator
- Aim for the Ace! Another Match (1988) Storyboard Artist
- Ace wo Nerae! 2 (1988) Director
- One Pound Gospel (1988) Director
- Bionic Six (1987) Director
- Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Light (1987) Director
- Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland Pilot 3 (1987) Director
- Treasure Island: The Movie (1987) Director
- The Blinkins: The Bear and the Blizzard (1986) Director
- Sweet Sea (1985) Director
- Mighty Orbots (1984) Director
- The Adventurers Gamba and His Seven Friends (1984) Director
- Mighty Orbots: Magnetic Menace (1984) Director
- Golgo 13: The Professional (1983) Director
- Space Cobra (1982) Series Director
- Space Cobra (1982) Storyboard
- Space Adventure Cobra (1982) Director
- Tomorrow's Joe 2: The Movie (1981) Director
- Tomorrow's Joe 2: The Movie (1981) Screenplay
- Nobody's Boy: Remi (Movie) (1980) Director
- Tomorrow's Joe The Movie (1980) Director
- Botchan (1980) Producer
- The Rose and Women of Versailles (1980) Director
- The Rose of Versailles (1979) Director
- The Rose of Versailles (1979) Storyboard Artist
- Animated Travels: Marco Polo's Adventures (1979) Creator
- Aim for the Ace! The Movie (1979) Director
- Young Eleven (1979) Writer
- Treasure Island (1978) Director
- Nobody's Boy: Remi (1977) Director
- Manga Fairy Tales of the World (1976) Character Designer
- Manga Fairy Tales of the World (1976) Director
- The Thunder God and the Mulberry Tree (1976) Director
- Adventure of Gamba (1975) Director
- Adventure of Gamba (1975) Creator
- The★Fire G-Men (1974) Director
- Aim for the Ace! (1973) Director
- Belladonna of Sadness (1973) Key Animation
- Tomorrow's Joe (1970) Director
- Tomorrow's Joe (1970) Storyboard
- Tomorrow's Joe (1970) Script
- Tomorrow's Joe (1970) Writer
- Dororo and Hyakkimaru (1969) Director
- Frosty the Snowman (1969) Animation Director
- Adventures of the Monkey King (1966) Director