Mitsuki Nakamura (中村 光毅, Nakamura Mitsuki) (April 7, 1944 – May 16, 2011) was an art director and mecha designer in the Japanese anime industry.[1]
Mitsuki Nakamura | |
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Born | Tokyo, Japan | April 7, 1944
Died | May 16, 2011 | (aged 67)
Occupations |
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Years active | 1965–2011 |
Employers |
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After working for Toei Doga, he joined Tatsunoko Productions, where he drew background art and designed mecha, supporting the first Tatsunoko golden age.[2][3] After leaving Tatsunoko, he founded Design Office Mecaman and served as its representative director.[3]
Style
editNakamura worked as art director on a number of anime works and has likewise worked as a mechanical designer.[4]
He is one of the pioneering mecha designers in the Japanese anime industry and was the first to have his name included in the end credits.[3][5][a] His best-known works as a mecha designer include Mach Five from Speed Racer, God Phoenix from Science Ninja Team Gatchaman and Time Mechabuton from Time Bokan.[3][6] Mach Five, in particular, is regarded as a masterpiece of the first Tatsunoko golden age for its outstanding design sense, and its design was so perfect that it was used almost unchanged in the 2008 live-action film Speed Racer by The Wachowskis, 40 years later.[3][7]
However, his speciality was not mecha design, but anime background art.[6] Background art plays a very important role in Japanese-style animation expression techniques. This has become increasingly the case in recent years, and Nakamura's art was one of the factors to move in this direction.[7] His representative works as an art director include Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, Mobile Suit Gundam, and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.[8][9][10]
Career
editAfter graduating from junior high school, Nakamura joined Toei Doga through the help of his school teacher. He gained experience in various jobs as an assistant and then as a member of the colouring staff, where he developed his knowledge of paints and colours.[3]
Nakamura, who wanted to paint background art, moved to the newly established Tatsunoko Productions in 1964 through an introduction from Toei.[11] After working on the studio's first TV series Space Ace, his love of cars led him to design cars for the studio's second work, the car racing anime series Speed Racer.[12][13]
He became head of the art section, where he instructs Yoshitaka Amano and Kunio Okawara.[6][14][15] At that time, Tatsunoko's art section was not only responsible for art, but also for the design of backgrounds, props, robots and cars, all of which were entrusted to Nakamura, who was trusted by the president, Tatsuo Yoshida.[16][17] The staff included many aspiring painters who had left art college, some working for a living and some with personalities of their own, and he had to lead them as section head. With the number of animations even increasing, it was impossible for him to do everything on his own. He therefore decided to entrust some of the mechanical design work to Okawara, who had just joined Tatsunoko. Nakamura and Okawara were credited as mechanical designers for the first time in Japanese animation history in Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, which began airing in 1972.[17][18]
At the end of 1976, he left Tatsunoko Productions and founded Design Office Mecaman with Kunio Okawara. Initially, Mecaman was planned to be a mecha design company, as Okawara was also a member of the company. However, he soon became independent and the company specialised in background art.[17][18]
Nakamura died of oral cancer on May 16, 2011, at the age of 67.[1][4]
Works
editYear | Title | Credits | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
TV anime series | |||
1965-1966 | Space Ace | Background art | |
1967-1968 | Speed Racer | Art director | Although only credited as art director, he actually did more than that, working on mecha design and OP key frames.[b] He designed Mach Five. |
1967-1968 | Oraa Guzura Dado | Art director | |
1968-1969 | Dokachin the Primitive Boy | Art director | |
1969 | Judo Boy | Background art | |
1969-1970 | The Genie Family | Art director | |
1970-1971 | The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee | Art director | |
1970-1972 | Inakappe Taishō | Art director | |
1971 | Animentary: Decision | Art settings | |
1971-1972 | Hyppo and Thomas | Art director | |
1972 | Pinocchio: The Series | Background art | |
1972-1973 | Tamagon the Counselor | Art | |
1972-1974 | Science Ninja Team Gatchaman | Art director, mecha design | He designed the mecha for the main characters, including God Phoenix.[3] The enemy mecha & guest mecha were designed by Kunio Okawara. |
1973 | Demetan Croaker, The Boy Frog | Art director | |
1973-1974 | Casshan | Art director | He worked not only on art but also on mechanical design.[16] One staff member was selected as an assistant, and Kunio Okawara helped him a little.[17] |
1974-1975 | Hurricane Polymar | Art director, mecha design | He designed the main character mecha and Kunio Okawara designed the enemy mecha. |
1975 | Tekkaman: The Space Knight | Art director | He designed the Blue Earth, Yoshitaka Amano designed Tekkaman and Pegas, and Kunio Okawara designed the enemy mecha. |
1975-1976 | Time Bokan | Art director, mecha design | He designed the main mecha and almost all the sub-mecha and guest mecha. |
1976-1977 | Paul's Miraculous Adventure | Art director, mecha design | |
1976-1977 | Robokko Beeton | Art director | |
1977-1978 | Supercar Gattiger | Art director, mecha design | |
1977-1979 | Yatterman | Mecha design | Time Bokan series 2nd. He only designed two main mechas, Yatter One and Yatter Pelican. The other main mecha, which appeared mid-season, and sub mecha were designed by Kunio Okawara.[c] |
1977-1978 | Invincible Super Man Zambot 3 | Art director | |
1978-1979 | Uchū Majin Daikengo | Art director | |
1978-1979 | Gatchaman II | Art design | |
1978-1979 | Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3 | Art | Credited as Mecaman.[d] |
1979 | Yamato: The New Voyage | Mecha settings | |
1979 | Kaitō Lupine 813 no Nazo | Art director | |
1979-1980 | Gatchaman Fighter | Art design | |
1979-1980 | Mobile Suit Gundam | Art director | |
1979-1980 | The Ultraman | Art | |
1980 | The Wonderful Adventures of Nils | Art director | |
1980-1981 | Space Runaway Ideon | Art director | Under the pseudonym Tetsuya Shijō (四条 徹也, Shijō Tetsuya).[7][e] |
1981-1984 | Urusei Yatsura | Art director | |
1981-1982 | Golden Warrior Gold Lightan | Art PIC | |
1981-1983 | Fang of the Sun Dougram | Art director | |
1981 | Bremen 4: Angels in Hell | Art director | |
1981-1983 | Miss Machiko | Art director | |
1982 | Shiroi Kiba: White Fang Story | Stage settings | |
1982-1983 | The Mysterious Cities of Gold | Art director | |
1983-1984 | Mrs. Pepper Pot | Art director | |
1984-1987 | Fist of the North Star | Art design | |
1984-1985 | Persia, the Magic Fairy | Art director | |
1985 | Dirty Pair | Art director | |
1987-1989 | The Three Musketeers | Art | |
1987-1989 | Metal Armor Dragonar | Art | |
1988-1989 | Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics | Art director | |
1988 | The Burning Wild Man | Art director | |
1989 | Lupin III TV special: Bye-Bye Liberty Crisis | Art director | |
1993-1994 | Tanoshii Willows Town | Art settings | |
1994-1995 | Ginga Sengoku Gun'yūden Rai | Art director | |
1996-1997 | Gambalist! Shun | Art director | |
1996 | The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus | Art director | |
1996-1997 | You're Under Arrest | Art director | |
1997 | Speed Racer X | Art director | |
1998 | Maico 2010 | Art director | |
1998 | Zazca | Art director | |
1998 | Shadow Skill | Art director | |
2000-2001 | The Legend of the Gambler: Tetsuya | Art design | |
2000 | Time Bokan 2000: Kaitou Kiramekiman | Art director | |
2000-2001 | Mighty Cat Masked Niyander | Art director | |
2001 | Kinnikuman: Ultimate Muscle | Art director | |
2002 | Jing: King of Bandits | Art director | |
2002-2003 | Tsuribaka Nisshi | Art director | |
2003-2005 | Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo | Art design | |
2004 | Wind: A Breath of Heart | Art director | |
2004-2005 | Beet the Vandel Buster | Art design | |
2005-2006 | Beet the Vandel Buster: Excellion | Art design | |
2005 | Akahori Gedou Hour Rabuge | Art director | |
2005-2006 | Gaiking: Legend of Daiku-Maryu | Art director | |
2007 | Les Misérables: Shōjo Cosette | Art director | |
2008-2009 | Yatterman (remake) | Art director | |
2009 | Fresh Pretty Cure! | Art | Episodes 11 and 18 only. |
Anime films | |||
1978 | Science Ninja Team Gatchaman: The Movie | Art director | |
1981-1982 | Mobile Suit Gundam I, II, III | Art director | |
1982 | Techno Police 21C | Art settings | |
1982 | The Ideon: A Contact & The Ideon: Be Invoked | Art director | Unlike the TV version, he is credited under his real name. |
1983 | Crusher Joe | Art director | |
1983 | Dougram: Documentary of the Fang of the Sun | Art | |
1984 | Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind | Art director | |
1984 | Chikyuu Monogatari Telepath 2500 | Art director | |
1987 | Aitsu to Lullaby: Suiyōbi no Cinderella | Art director | |
1987 | Bats & Terry | Art director | |
1989 | Hengen Taima Yakō Karura Mau! Nara Onryō Emaki | Art director | |
1991 | Musha, Khisi, Command: SD Gundam Kinkyū Shutsugeki | Art | |
1993 | Rokudenashi Blues 1993 | Art | |
1994 | Raiyantsūrī no uta | Art | |
1996 | PiPi Tobenai Hotaru | Art director | |
1997 | Eikō eno Spur -Igaya Chiharu Monogatari- | Art director | |
2002 | Ecchan no Sensō | Art director | |
2008 | Pattenrai!! ~ Minami no Shima no Mizu Monogatari | Art director | |
2009 | Movie Fresh Pretty Cure! The Kingdom of Toys has Lots of Secrets!? | Art director | |
OVA | |||
1983-1985 | Dallos | Art director | |
1985-1986 | Area 88 | Art director | |
1985 | Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen mae Hashutsujo | Art director | |
1985 | Megazone 23 | Art director | |
1986 | Twinkle heart: Ginga-kei made Todokanai | Art director, art settings, boards | |
1988 | Space Family Carlvinson | Art director | |
1988 | Tokyo Vice | Art settings | |
1989-1992 | Crying Freeman | Art director | |
1989-1990 | High-Speed Jecy | Art director | |
1990-1991 | Hengen Taima Yakō Karura Mau! Sendai Kokeshi Enka | Art director | |
1990 | Hana no Asuka-gumi!: Lonely Cats Battle Royale | Art director | |
1991 | Vampire Wars | Art director | |
1991 | Slow Step | Art director | |
1992 | Apfelland Monogatari | Art director | |
1992-1993 | Kishin Corps | Art director | |
Video games | |||
1997 | Itoi Shigesato no Bass Tsuri No. 1 | Art settings | |
TV drama series | |||
1978 | Haguregumo | Title picture |
Notes and References
editNotes
edit- ^ Prior to this, there were still no designers specialising in mecha in the anime industry, and the character designers or art directors doubled as designers for the mecha that appeared in animation. Robot-like objects were often assigned to character designers, while building facilities and vehicles were often assigned to art directors.
- ^ He himself redrew the key frames for the OP as the animators of the time could not grasp the three-dimensional shape of the car and could not draw Mach Five.[19]
- ^ After this work, Okawara took over the mecha design of the Time Bokan series.
- ^ Actually he was the art director.
- ^ This was because he had previously signed a contract to work on The Wonderful Adventures of Nils.
References
edit- ^ a b Loo, Egan (May 17, 2011). "Art Director Mitsuki Nakamura Passes Away". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ ""機動戦士ガンダム展"の全貌が明らかに" ["Mobile Suit Gundam Exhibition" revealed in full]. Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. April 21, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ a b "ガンダム、ナウシカの美術監督 中村光毅氏死去" [Mitsuki Nakamura, art director of Gundam and Nausicaa, passes away]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). Tokyo. May 17, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ Marumoto, Daisuke (December 18, 2012). "今だから話せる「ガンダム」「ダンバイン」「パトレイバー」生みの親たちのメカデザイナーズサミットレポ (1/5)" [Now's the time to talk about it. Report from the Mecha Designers Summit, featuring the creators of Gundam, Dunbine and Patlabor (1/5)]. Excite Review (in Japanese). Excite. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ a b c Mishina, Takashi (August 23, 2015). "大河原邦男展(中) 「ガッチャマン」のメカは実にリアルだった…タツノコプロで発揮された大河原邦男の異彩" [Kunio Okawara exhibition (Part 2) The mecha in Gatchaman were truly realistic... Kunio Okawara's unique style demonstrated at Tatsunoko Production]. Sankei News (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ a b c Hikawa, Ryusuke (May 20, 2011). "追悼・中村光毅美術監督 SFアート&デザインの草分けにして巨匠" [Memorial to Mitsuki Nakamura, art director, pioneer and master of SF art and design]. Bandai Channel (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Filmworks. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ "「中村光毅」初の回顧展 デンマークでオリジナル美術・イラスト中心の約70点" [Mitsuki Nakamura's first retrospective exhibition in Denmark with around 70 works, mainly original art and illustrations.] (in Japanese). Animation Business Journal. October 1, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ "ジブリ美術館・高橋望氏、「『ガンダム』がなければ『ナウシカ』は生まれなかった」" [Nozomu Takahashi, Director of the Ghibli Museum, "Without 'Gundam', 'Nausicaä' would not have been created"]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. December 9, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ Barder, Ollie (Jul 20, 2015). "'The Art Of Gundam' Exhibit Showcases The Craftsmanship Behind The Series". Forbes. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ "#001 メカニックデザイナー 大河原邦男さん" [#001 Mechanic designer Kunio Okawara]. FUN'S PROJECT (in Japanese). Dai Nippon Printing. February 8, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ Mishina, Takashi (August 16, 2015). "大河原邦男展(上) 「ヤッターマンぽく」作ったGガンダム メカデザインの大河原邦男さん 後輩は「大河原ロボを一番うまく動かせるのは自分」(1)" [Kunio Okawara Exhibition (Part 1) Kunio Okawara, a mecha designer, says, "I made the G Gundam like Yatterman." His junior colleague says, "I am the one who can move the Okawara robot the best." (1)]. Sankei News (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ a b Takahashi, Ryosuke (February 19, 2018). "アトムの遺伝子【第11回】リバイバル連載:サンライズ創業30周年企画「アトムの遺伝子 ガンダムの夢」" [Genes of the Atom [Vol. 11] Revival Serialisation: 30th Anniversary of Sunrise 'Genes of the Atom: Gundam's Dream']. Yatate Bunko (in Japanese). Sunrise. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "伝説のタツノコヒーローたちが集う「Infini-T Force(インフィニティフォース)」について笹川ひろし&大河原邦男が語る【完全版】" [Hiroshi Sasagawa & Kunio Okawara talk about "Infini-T Force" where the legendary Tatsunoko heroes gather [Complete version]]. GIGAZINE (in Japanese). OSA. July 10, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ a b "大河原邦男:笹川ひろしとタツノコプロの"歴史"語る メカデザインの秘けつも" [Kunio Okawara & Hiroshi Sasagawa talk about the "history" of Tatsunoko Productions and the secrets of mechanical design.]. mantan-web (in Japanese). Mantan. July 16, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2024.