Kenjirō Okada
Japanese director and storyboard artist
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Kenjirō Okada (Japanese: 岡田 堅二朗, Hepburn: Okada Kenjirō) is a Japanese director and storyboard artist best known for directing March Comes In like a Lion.
Kenjirō Okada 岡田 堅二朗 | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupations | Director, storyboard artist |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Employer | Group TAC (2005–2010) |
| Known for | March Comes In like a Lion |
Career
Okada started off in the anime industry as a production assistant for Zoids: Genesis in 2005 at Group TAC.[1] Over several years, Okada worked to this capacity, and in 2007 was promoted to production manager on Nenbutsu Monogatari (released in 2008). Two years later, in 2010, he made his debut as an episode director on episode 124 of Hana Kappa. That year, however, Group TAC filed for bankruptcy, and Okada had a short tenure at Studio CJT (founded by former Group TAC members) as a producer,[2] but that same year became a freelancing director. In 2012, he became associated with Shaft and made his debut with the studio on the 2nd episode of Nekomonogatari: Black. For the next 4 years, he participated in a number of Shaft productions as an episode director and storyboard artist, and in 2016 made his debut as a series director with the studio on March Comes In like a Lion under Akiyuki Shinbo's direction,[3] which received positive reviews from critics.[4][5] Okada occasionally works with other companies, but a majority of his output continues to be with Shaft.
Style
In an interview between him and Shaft colleague Hajime Ootani, the two were asked to describe each other's styles and processes as directors. Commenting on his own style, Okada stated that he gave more attention to appealing to fans of the works he was adapting and the original author's expectations, to which Ootani supported and gave admiration for.[6] In 2021, Okada acted as assistant director for Ootani's Pretty Boy Detective Club, and chief director Shinbo stated that Ootani and Okada complimented each other's strengths and weaknesses.[7]
Works
Television series
In "Director(s)" column highlights Okada's directorial works.
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Studio | SB[a] | ED[b] | Other roles and notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Zoids: Genesis | Kazunori Mizuno | SMDE | No | No | Production assistant | [1] |
| 2006 | Otogi-Jūshi Akazukin | Takaaki Ishiyama | Madhouse | No | No | Production assistant | [8] |
| 2007 | Bakugan Battle Brawlers | Mitsuo Hashimoto | TMS Entertainment Japan Vistec |
No | No | Production assistant | |
| 2009 | Kimi ni Todoke | Hiro Kaburagi | Production I.G | No | No | In-between animator | [9] |
| 2012 | Tsuritama | Kenji Nakamura | A-1 Pictures | No | Yes | [10] | |
| Nekomonogatari: Black | Akiyuki Shinbo Tomoyuki Itamura (series) |
Shaft | No | Yes | [11] | ||
| Picchipichi Shizuku-chan | Kazumi Nonaka | Asahi Production | No | No | Producer | [2] | |
| 2013 | From the New World | Masashi Ishihama | A-1 Pictures | No | Yes | [12] | |
| Sasami-san@Ganbaranai | Akiyuki Shinbo | Shaft | No | Yes | [13] | ||
| Monogatari Series Second Season | Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Tomoyuki Itamura Naoyuki Tatsuwa (series, #6–9) Yuki Yase (series, #14–17) |
Shaft | No | Yes | Assistant episode director 2nd key animator |
[14][15][16] | |
| Gatchaman Crowds | Kenji Nakamura | Tatsunoko Production | No | Yes | [17] | ||
| 2014 | Buddy Complex | Yasuhiro Tanabe | Sunrise | No | Yes | [18] | |
| Captain Earth | Takuya Igarashi | Bones | No | Yes | [19] | ||
| Mekakucity Actors | Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Yuki Yase |
Shaft | No | Yes | [20] | ||
| Hanamonogatari | Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Tomoyuki Itamura |
Shaft | No | Yes | [21][22] | ||
| Tsukimonogatari | Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Tomoyuki Itamura |
Shaft | No | Yes | [23] | ||
| 2015 | Nisekoi: | Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Yukihiro Miyamoto (chief episode) |
Shaft | Yes | Yes | [24][25] | |
| Aria the Scarlet Ammo AA | Takashi Kawabata | Doga Kobo | No | Yes | [26] | ||
| Owarimonogatari | Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Tomoyuki Itamura |
Shaft | No | Yes | [27] | ||
| 2016 | March Comes In like a Lion | Akiyuki Shinbo Kenjirou Okada (series) |
Shaft | Yes | Yes | [3][28][29] | |
| 2017 | March Comes In like a Lion 2nd Season | Akiyuki Shinbo Kenjirou Okada (series) |
Shaft | Yes | Yes | [30][31][32] | |
| 2018 | Fate/Extra: Last Encore | Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Yukihiro Miyamoto (series) |
Shaft | No | Yes | [33] | |
| 2019 | Zoku Owarimonogatari | Akiyuki Shinbo | Shaft | Yes | Yes | [34] | |
| 2020 | Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story | Doroinu (chief) Yukihiro Miyamoto Kenjirou Okada Midori Yoshizawa |
Shaft | Yes | Yes | [35][36][37][38] [39] | |
| Wave, Listen to Me! | Tatsuma Minamikawa | Sunrise | Yes | No | [40] | ||
| Assault Lily Bouquet | Shouji Saeki Hajime Ootani (chief episode) |
Shaft | Yes | Yes | [41] | ||
| 2021 | Pretty Boy Detective Club | Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Hajime Ootani |
Shaft | Yes | Yes | Assistant director | [42][43][44] |
| 2022 | RWBY: Ice Queendom | Toshimasa Suzuki Kenjirou Okada (chief) |
Shaft | Yes | Yes | [45] | |
| 2023 | Horimiya: The Missing Pieces | Masashi Ishihama | CloverWorks | Yes | Yes | [46] | |
| 2024 | Black Butler: Public School Arc | Kenjirou Okada | CloverWorks | Yes | Yes | [47] | |
| 2025 | Black Butler: Emerald Witch Arc | Kenjirou Okada | CloverWorks | Yes | Yes | [48] | |
| 2026 | Oshi no Ko 3rd Season | Daisuke Hiramaki | Doga Kobo | Yes | Yes | Color script | |
OVAs / ONAs
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Studio | SB[c] | ED[d] | Other roles and notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Nenbutsu Monogatari | Takashi Ui | Group Tac | No | No | Production manager | |
| 2016 | Koyomimonogatari | Akiyuki Shinbo (chief) Tomoyuki Itamura |
Shaft | No | Yes | [49] |
Films
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Studio | SB[c] | ED[d] | Other roles and notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Eien no Hou | Isamu Imakake | Group TAC | No | No | Production assistant | |
| 2020 | Josee, the Tiger and the Fish | Kōtarō Tamura | Bones | No | Yes | [50] |
Video games
| Year | Title | Studio | Roles and notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Magia Record (Arc I) | Shaft | Cutscene director and storyboard artist | [51] |