Hajime Ootani

Japanese animator From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hajime Ootani (Japanese: 大谷肇, Hepburn: Ōtani Hajime) is a Japanese animator, director, and storyboard artist.

BornSeptember 22, 1979 (age 46)

OccupationsAnimator, director, storyboard artist

Yearsactive2004–present

EmployerImagin (2004–2011)

Quick facts Born, Occupations ...

Hajime Ootani 大谷肇
Born	(1979-09-22) September 22, 1979 (age 46) Fukui Prefecture, Japan
Occupations	Animator, director, storyboard artist
Years active	2004–present
Employer	Imagin (2004–2011)
Known for	Pretty Boy Detective Club

Early life

Ootani was born in Fukui Prefecture on September 22, 1979.^[1] He first became interested in animation while in high school after seeing Hayao Miyazaki's film Princess Mononoke.^[2]

Career

Ootani joined studio Imagin as an in-between animator around 2004. He mostly worked as a sub-contracting animator, and eventual episode director, for Madhouse and Imagin. He made his directorial debut with an OVA adaptation of Ayano Yamane's manga A Foreign Love Affair.^[3] Ootani's final projects with Imagin were Needless (2009) and Wolverine (2011), which the studio assisted under Madhouse for, where he was promoted to series assistant director.^[4]^[5]

After the dissolution of Imagin, former studio producer Yasuhiro Okada joined studio Shaft with Ootani, where the latter mainly did episodic direction and storyboard art. In 2020, he made his series directorial debut as the chief episode director on Assault Lily Bouquet with Shouji Saeki,^[6] and the following year debuted as director of Pretty Boy Detective Club under Akiyuki Shinbo.^[7] After Pretty Boy Detective Club, he decided that he wanted to try directing at a different studio since he had been working with Shaft for so long;^[1] so, in the middle of the production for the series Dance Dance Danseur, produced by MAPPA, he was asked if he wanted to join the series as its "ballet director."^[8]^[1]

Style

In an interview between him and Shaft colleague Kenjirou Okada, the two were asked to describe each other's styles and processes as directors. Okada stated that Ootani didn't hesitate to put appealing art and animations first and foremost, and that he admired that about Ootani.^[9] Akiyuki Shinbo also commented in a separate interview that he felt Ootani and himself had similar visual sensibilities.^[10] Shinbo also said that Ootani was particularly good at horror-esque work, referencing episode 12 of March Comes In like a Lion season 2 (episode 34 overall) and the similarities in atmosphere between it and parts of Pretty Boy Detective Club. Commenting on Ootani's work with Okada, who acted as assistant director for Pretty Boy Detective Club, Shinbo also said that the two complemented each other's weaknesses and strengths as directors.^[10] Despite originally being inspired by director Hayao Miyazaki, Ootani has commented that his style is much more eccentric and different from Miyazaki's, which he described was due to trying to survive and stand out in the industry.^[2]

Works

Television series

More information Year, Title ...

Year	Title	Director(s)	Studio	SB^[a]	ED^[b]	Other roles and notes	Ref(s)
2005	Strawberry 100%	Osamu Sekita	Madhouse	No	No	In-between animator	^[11]
	Oku-sama wa Joshi Kōsei	Jun Shishido	Madhouse	No	No	In-between animator Key animator	^[12]^[13]
	Eyeshield 21	Masayoshi Nishida	Gallop	No	Yes		^[14]
	My-Otome	Masakazu Obara	Sunrise	No	No	Assistant episode director	^[15]
2006	Strawberry Panic!	Masayuki Sakoi	Madhouse	No	Yes	Key animator	^[16]^[17]
	Yume Tsukai	Kazuo Yamazaki	Madhouse	No	Yes		^[18]
	The Story of Saiunkoku	Jun Shishido	Madhouse	No	Yes		^[19]
2007	Saiunkoku Monogatari Second Series	Jun Shishido	Madhouse	No	Yes		^[20]
2008	Kamen no Maid Guy	Masayuki Sakoi	Madhouse	No	Yes		^[21]
2008	Chaos;Head	Takaaki Ishiyama	Madhouse	No	Yes		^[22]
2009	Needless	Masayuki Sakoi	Madhouse	Yes	Yes	Assistant director Opening director and storyboard	^[5]^[23]^[24]^[25]
2011	Wolverine	Hiroshi Aoyama	Madhouse	Yes	Yes	Assistant director	^[4]^[26]^[27]
2012	Nisemonogatari	Akiyuki Shinbo Tomoyuki Itamura (series)	Shaft	Yes	No		^[28]
2015	Gourmet Girl Graffiti	Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Naoyuki Tatsuwa	Shaft	No	Yes		^[29]^[30]
	Nisekoi:	Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Yukihiro Miyamoto (chief episode)	Shaft	Yes	Yes		^[31]^[32]
	Owarimonogatari	Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Tomoyuki Itamura	Shaft	No	Yes		^[33]
2016	March Comes In like a Lion	Akiyuki Shinbo Kenjirou Okada (series)	Shaft	Yes	Yes	Opening director and storyboard	^[34]^[35]
2017	March Comes In like a Lion 2nd Season	Akiyuki Shinbo Kenjirou Okada (series)	Shaft	Yes	Yes	Assistant episode director	^[36]^[37]^[38]
2018	Zoku Owarimonogatari	Akiyuki Shinbo	Shaft	Yes	Yes		^[39]
2020	Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story	Doroinu (chief) Various	Shaft	Yes	Yes		^[40]
2020	Assault Lily Bouquet	Shouji Saeki Hajime Ootani (chief episode)	Shaft	Yes	Yes		^[6]^[41]^[42]^[43] ^[44]
2021	Pretty Boy Detective Club	Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Hajime Ootani	Shaft	Yes	Yes	Ending director	^[7]^[45]^[46]^[47]
2022	Dance Dance Danseur	Munehisa Sakai	MAPPA	Yes	Yes	Ballet director Ballet part episode director Ballet part storyboard	^[8]^[48]
2024	Bucchigiri?!	Hiroko Utsumi	MAPPA	Yes	Yes
2026	Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku Season 2	Kaori Makita	MAPPA	No	Yes	Opening director and storyboard artist

OVAs

More information Year, Title ...

Year	Title	Director(s)	Studio	SB^[a]	ED^[b]	Other roles and notes	Ref(s)
2005	Saint Beast: Ikusen no Hiru to Yoru-hen	Masayuki Sakoi	Wonderfarm	No	No	In-between animator	^[49]
2006	A Foreign Love Affair	Hajime Ootani	Prime Time	Yes	Yes		^[3]
2009	Maiden Rose	Hidefumi Takagi	Prime Time	Yes	No		^[50]
2011	Katteni Kaizō	Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Naoyuki Tatsuwa	Shaft	Yes	Yes		^[51]^[52]
2013	Magical Suite Prism Nana Pilot PVs (5 & 6)	URA (5) Takuya Iwamoto (6)	Shaft	No	Yes
2016	The Beheading Cycle: The Blue Savant and the Nonsense Bearer	Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Yuki Yase	Shaft	Yes	Yes		^[53]^[54]
2026	Magical Suite Prism Nana: Halloween in a Country of Medals - Noriko and the Fairy	Hajime Ootani	Shaft	Yes	Yes	Screenplay

Films

More information Year, Title ...

Year	Title	Director(s)	Studio	SB^[a]	ED^[b]	Other roles and notes	Ref(s)
2025	The Rose of Versailles	Ai Yoshimura	MAPPA	Yes	Yes

Video games

More information Year, Title ...

Year	Title	Studio	Roles	Ref(s)
2017	Magia Record (Arc I)	Shaft	Cutscene director and storyboard artist	^[55]

Notes

[a]
Storyboard artist.
[b]
Episode director, equivalent to unit director.

Citations

Aniplex (2021). Pretty Boy Detective Club Vol. 5 Special Booklet. Aniplex.

References

[1]
バレエ演出・大谷肇インタビュー（1）自力では辿り着けない領域の美しさを描ける楽しさ／アニメ『ダンス・ダンス・ダンスール』特集 [Ballet director Hajime Ootani Interview (1) The Joy of Depicting Beauty in a Realm That Cannot be Reached on Its Own / Featuring the anime "Dance Dance Danseur"]. Seiyuumen (in Japanese). May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
[2]
バレエ演出・大谷肇インタビュー（3）フィルムと絵画の“いいとこ取り”をできるのがアニメの強み／アニメ『ダンス・ダンス・ダンスール』特集 [Ballet director Hajime Ootani Interview (3) The Strength of Animation is Its Ability to Combine the Best of Film and Painting / Featuring the Anime Dance Dance Danseur] (in Japanese). May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
[3]
A Foreign Love Affair (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits. 監督 / 絵コンテ / 演出 - 大谷肇 [Director / Storyboard artist / Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[4]
Wolverine (in Japanese). Event occurs at opening credits. 助監督 - 大谷肇 [Assistant director - Hajime Ootani]
[5]
Needless (in Japanese). Event occurs at opening credits. 助監督 - 大谷肇 [Assistant director - Hajime Ootani]
[6]
"CAST/ STAFF". Assault Lily Bouquet (in Japanese). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
[7]
アニメ「美少年探偵団」に村瀬歩・坂泰斗・増田俊樹・矢野奨吾・佐藤元、PVも公開 [The anime "Bishonen Tanteidan" features Ayumu Murase, Ban Taito, Toshiki Masuda, Shogo Yano, and Gen Sato, and the PV has been released!]. Natalie (in Japanese). January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
[8]
"Dance Dance Danseur Ballet Anime's Teaser Reveals Cast, More Staff". Anime News Network. January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
[9]
Kenjirou Okada and Hajime Ootani (January 24, 2018). March Comes In like a Lion Blu-Ray Volume 5 (Interview) (in Japanese).
[10]
Aniplex 2021, p. 13.
[11]
Strawberry 100% (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 4. 動画 - 大谷肇 (IMAGIN) [In-between animator - Hajime Ootani (IMGAIN)]
[12]
Oku-sama wa Joshi Kōsei (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 8. 動画 - 大谷肇 [In-between animator - Hajime Ootani]
[13]
Oku-sama wa Joshi Kōsei (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 5, 11. 原画 - 大谷肇 [Key animator - Hajime Ootani]
[14]
Strawberry 100% (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 35. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[15]
My-Otome (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 8. 演出助手 - 大谷肇 [Assistant episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[16]
Strawberry Panic! (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 1. 原画 - 大谷肇 [Key animator - Hajime Ootani]
[17]
Strawberry Panic! (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 9. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[18]
Yume Tsukai (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 4. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[19]
The Story of Saiunkoku (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 2, 5, 8, 14, 20, 23, 29, 36. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[20]
Saiunkoku Monogatari Second Series (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 3, 7, 12, 19, 22, 31, 33, 37. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[21]
Kamen no Maid Guy (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 7. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[22]
Chaos;Head (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 1. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[23]
Needless (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 5, 14, 23. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[24]
Needless (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 2. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[25]
Needless (in Japanese). Event occurs at opening credits 2. OP 演出/絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [OP Episode director/Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
[26]
Wolverine (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 12. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[27]
Wolverine (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 10. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[28]
Nisemonogatari (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 9. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
[29]
"STORY". TBS (in Japanese). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
[30]
"STORY". TBS (in Japanese). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
[31]
第11話ヤセタイ／オハヨウ [Episode 11 "I Want to Lose Weight / Good Morning"]. Nisekoi (in Japanese). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
[32]
第12話ソウサク／オタメシ [Episode 12 "The Search / Just Testing"]. Nisekoi (in Japanese). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
[33]
Owarimonogatari (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 6. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[34]
March Comes In like a Lion (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 19. 演出 / 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Episode director / Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
[35]
March Comes In like a Lion (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits 2. OP演出/絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [OP Episode director/Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
[36]
March Comes In like a Lion 2nd Season (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 12, 22. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
[37]
March Comes In like a Lion 2nd Season (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 12, 18, 22. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[38]
March Comes In like a Lion 2nd Season (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 8. 演出協力 - 大谷肇 [Assistant episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[39]
こよみリバース其ノ陸 [Koyomi Reverse, Part 6]. Zoku Owarimonogatari (in Japanese). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
[40]
『それが絶交証明書』 ["It's Proof of the End of a Friendship"]. Magia Record (in Japanese). Retrieved March 5, 2021.
[41]
#2 スズラン [#2 Suzuran]. Assault Lily Bouquet (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2020.
[42]
#4 キンモクセイ [#4 Kinmokusei]. Assault Lily Bouquet (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2020.
[43]
#6 スミレ [#6 Sumire]. Assault Lily Bouquet (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2020.
[44]
#11 ユリ [Yuri]. Assault Lily Bouquet (in Japanese). Retrieved December 11, 2020.
[45]
Pretty Boy Detective Club (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1–2. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
[46]
Pretty Boy Detective Club (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits. エンディングアニメーション演出 - 大谷肇 [Ending animation unit director - Hajime Ootani]
[47]
Pretty Boy Detective Club (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 12. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Ootani Hajime]
[48]
"Sutōrī | Terebi Anime Dansu Dansu Dansūru Kōshiki Saito" STORY | TVアニメダンス・ダンス・ダンスール公式サイト [Story | TV Anime Dance Dance Danseur Official Website]. danseur-anime.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
[49]
Saint Beast: Ikusen no Hiru to Yoru-hen (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1–2. 動画 - 大谷肇 [In-between animator - Hajime Ootani]
[50]
Maiden Rose (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 1. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
[51]
Katteni Kaizō (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 4–5. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[52]
Katteni Kaizō (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 4. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Storyboard artist - Hajime Ootani]
[53]
The Beheading Cycle: The Blue Savant and the Nonsense Bearer (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 3. 演出 - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[54]
The Beheading Cycle: The Blue Savant and the Nonsense Bearer (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 3, 5–6. 絵コンテ - 大谷肇 [Episode director - Hajime Ootani]
[55]
Magia Record (video game) (in Japanese). ゲーム内アニメーション絵コンテ･演出 - 大谷肇 / 岡田堅二朗 / 宮本幸裕 [In-game animation storyboard artist and director - Hajime Ootani / Kenjirou Okada / Yukihiro Miyamoto]

Hajime Ootani

Early life

Career

Style

Works

Television series

OVAs

Films

Video games

Notes

Citations

References

External links

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