Yoichi KOTABE

Yoichi Kotabe was born in Taipei, Taiwan on 15th September, 1936.

After World War II, went back to Japan and grew up in Hitachi, Ibaraki prefecture. Studied Japanese-style painting as a pupil of Seison Maeda at Tokyo University of the Arts from 1955.

After graduating from the university, joined Toei Animation Studio and had been worked with his master animators Akira Daikuhara, Mori yasuji, and Daikichiro Kusube since 1959.

Played a main role in key animatied drawings in such masterpieces of the studio as Little Prince and the Eight Headed Dragon (1963), Little Norse Prince Valiant (1968), Puss ‘n Boots (1969) followed by such early TV series titles as Ninja the Wonderboy (1964), Hustle Punch (1965).

In 1963, got married to Reiko Okuyama, his fellow animator.

Made his debut as animation director on the animated feature, Flying Phantom Ship (1969). Followed on Animal Treasure Island (1971) for which he created “waves” as well. In the same year, quitted Toei animation studio and transferred to A Production with Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki for the working Pippi Longstocking. Served as animation director in Panda! Go Panda! (1972), Red-Armored Suzunosuke (1972) although the project was broken.

With his mature technique, contributed greatly to the success of the TV series “The world masterpiece theater”, such films as HEIDI(1974), From the Apennines To the Andes (1976) with Takahata, Miyazaki and his partner Okuyama, for both of which he served as character designer and animation director as well as Taro the Dragon Boy, for which he was requested to work on by Toei Animation Studio, in 1979.

Seeking to develop his own drawing stile, played main role in Chie the Brat of Tokyo Movie (1981). His credit title has been watched on the most Japanese masterpieces of animated films. In Nausica of the Valley of the Wind (1984) and The Grave of the Fireflies (1988) served in important scene though they were short nevertheless.

Since 1985, has belonged to Nintendo Co., Ltd. and joined the project of computer game creation of Super Mario Brothers. After quitted in 2007, he still continues with supervising Pokeon, both the feature films and TV series.

Worked on Winter Days in 2003 with Reiko Okuyama.

Since 2005, has been chairman of jury in “Hida International Animation Festival of Folktales and Fables”, and has been hold the post of lecturer at Toei Animation Institute since 2007.

Kotabe and Okuyama named their unit “Atelier REI” for “ANTELOPE”.