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Kunihiko Yuyama (湯山 邦彦, Yuyama Kunihiko, born October 15, 1952) is a Japanese director best known for his work on the Pokémon anime franchise.[1] He also directed Magical Princess Minky Momo, Leda: The Fantastic Adventure of Yohko, The Three Musketeers Anime, Ushio and Tora, Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning, Plawres Sanshiro, Slayers Return, Slayers Great, and Wedding Peach.
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (July 2019) |
Developing an interest in animation while still at high school, Yuyama worked as an animator's assistant on episodes of Space Battleship Yamato and Brave Raideen. He was a sketch artist and storyboard artist on the foreign co-production Barbapapa (1973) and joined Aoi Productions in 1978. The same year, he had his directorial debut while working for Aoi on Galaxy Express 999, and soon struck up a successful working partnership with the screenwriter Takeshi Shudo on GoShogun. In 1982, he promoted to "chief director", an overseeing role on Magical Princess Minky Momo. While remaining in TV during the 1980s, he also played a leading role in anime's exodus into video. His work also showed a mastery of elements for a female audience, most obvious in his Three Musketeers spin-off, Aramis' Adventure. After working on Ushio and Tora, he gained true fame through his involvement with later works on Pokémon.
Anime
| Year | Title | Crew role | Notes | Source[2] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Ippatsu Kanta-kun | In-between animation | ||
| 1978–1981 | Galaxy Express 999 | Episode director | ||
| 1980 | Zukkoke Knight - Don De La Mancha | Series director, Episode director, Storyboard | ||
| 1980 | Space Warrior Baldios | Episode director, Storyboard | ||
| 1981 | GoShogun | Director, Episode director, Storyboard | Also director, storyboard on 1982 film and 1985 Time Stranger OVA | [3] |
| 1982–83 | Magical Princess Minky Momo | Series director, episode director, storyboard | Also OVAs and specials in 1985–1994 | |
| 1983 | Plawres Sanshiro | Chief director, episode director, storyboard | ||
| 1985 | Leda: The Fantastic Adventure of Yohko | Screenplay, Director | OVA, also released to theater | |
| 1986 | Windaria | Director | [4] | |
| 1987 | Tekkamen o Oue - D'Artagnan Monogatari yori 鉄仮面を追え「ダルタニャン物語」より | Director | ||
| 1987 | TWD Express: Rolling Takeoff ja:TWD EXPRESS | Director | Also Rolling Takeout | |
| 1987 | The Three Musketeers Anime | Director, Episode director, storyboard | ||
| 1987 | Fujikofujio no kiteretsudaihyakka 藤子不二雄のキテレツ大百科 | Storyboard | ||
| 1989 | The Three Musketeers Anime film | Director | ||
| 1989 | Fujiko F Fujio no T P bon 藤子・F・不二雄のT・Pぼん | Director, Storyboard | ||
| 1989–90 | Time Travel Tondekeman | Chief director, Episode director, storyboard | ||
| 1991 | Slow Step | Director | ||
| 1992 | Ushio and Tora | Director | Also OVAs in 1993. | |
| 1993 | Apfel Land Story ja:アップフェルラント物語 | Director | OVA | |
| 1993 | Yaiba | General director | ||
| 1995 | Jura Tripper | Director | ||
| 1995–96 | Wedding Peach | Director | Also OVA 1996 | |
| 1995 | Kōryū no Mimi | Director | ||
| 1995 | Weather Report Girl | Screenplay, Director | OVA | |
| 1996 | Slayers Return | General director | ||
| 1996 | Shin Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning | Director | ||
| 1997 | Kougyou aika volley boys ja:工業哀歌バレーボーイズ | Director | OVA | |
| 1997–2019 | Pokémon | General director | Also OVAs, specials, spinoffs, shorts | |
| 1997 | Slayers Great | General director | ||
| 1998 | Pokémon: The First Movie | Director, Storyboard | Also director on Pikachu's Vacation | |
| 1999 | Pokémon: The Movie 2000 | Director, Storyboard | Also director on Pikachu's Rescue Adventure | |
| 2000 | Pokémon 3: The Movie | Director | ||
| 2001 | Pokémon 4Ever | Director | Also director on short | |
| 2002 | Pokémon Heroes | Director | Also director on short | [5] |
| 2002 | Pokémon Chronicles | Director | spin-off show | |
| 2003 | Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker | Director | Also director on short | [6] |
| 2004 | Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys | Director | ||
| 2005 | Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew | Director | ||
| 2006 | Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea | Director | ||
| 2007 | Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai | Director | [7] | |
| 2008 | Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior | Director | [8] | |
| 2009 | Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life | Director | [9][10][11] | |
| 2010 | Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions | Director | [12] | |
| 2011 | Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom | Director | Also director on short | [13] |
| 2012 | Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice | Director | Also director on short | [14][15] |
| 2013 | Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened | Director | Also director on short | [16] |
| 2014 | Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction | Director, Storyboard | Also director on short | [17] |
| 2015 | Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages | General director, storyboard | Also director on short | |
| 2016 | Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel | Director, Storyboard | ||
| 2016 | Rudolf the Black Cat | Director | ||
| 2017 | Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! | Director | ||
| 2019 | Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution | Director | ||
| 2022 | PuniRunes | Chief director | [18] | |
| 2024 | Sai-Kyo-Oh! Zukan: The Ultimate Battles | Chief director | [19] | |
| 2024 | PuniRunes Puni 2 | Chief director | [20] | |
Live-action
| Year | Title | Crew role | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keitai Sōsakan 7 | Episode director | TV drama | [21] | |
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