Mahiro Maeda
Directing
Born: March 14, 1963 (age 63) · Yonago, Tottori, Japan
Highest Rated
Biography
Mahiro Maeda (前田 真宏 Maeda Mahiro) born March 14, 1963 is one of the most prominent Japanese anime creators working today, having worked as director, character designer, and animator for many of Japan's top series. Helen McCarthy in 500 Essential Anime Movies called him "one of the most imaginative visualists in anime". He also worked on Concept Art and Design for Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), which won six Academy Awards. He has been one of the top contributors at the anime studio GONZO for many years, having directed Blue Submarine No. 6, Final Fantasy: Unlimited and Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. His design work ranges from 2 of the "Angels" in Neon Genesis Evangelion to production and mechanical design for such series as Magic User's Club (魔法使いTai! Mahō Tsukai Tai!), The Vision of Escaflowne and Last Exile. He was also the designer of the invaders in Gatekeepers 21. His earlier years were spent mostly at the famed Studio Ghibli, where he helped animate classics such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, and Porco Rosso. Maeda is also one of the select Japanese directors to actively collaborate with the international film media on various projects. He provided key animation for the animation sequence in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 1. His directorial work has also been featured in such exclusive package films as The Animatrix (segment: "The Second Renaissance Parts I and II"), Genius Party Beyond (segment: "Gala"), and Ani*Kuri15 (segment: "Princess Onmitsu"). He has also visited the American Anime Expo convention in 2000 and 2003.
Known for
Mad Max: Fury Road
2015
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
2003
Castle in the Sky
1986
One-Punch Man
2015
Porco Rosso
1992
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
1997
The Animatrix
2003
Shin Godzilla
2016
Only Yesterday
1991
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
2009
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
2021
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
2012
Photos (1)
Movies (1)
Self / Appearances (2)
Directing (25)
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
Director
Japan Animator Expo
Director
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
Director
Gankutsuou
Series Director
Gankutsuou
Director
The Animatrix
Director
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
Series Director
The Animatrix
Director
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
Director
Blue Submarine No. 6
Series Director
Blue Submarine No. 6
Director
Ani*Kuri15
Director
Genius Party Beyond
Director
The Second Renaissance Part I
Director
The Second Renaissance Part II
Director
Brave Story
Second Unit Director
Genius Party Beyond
Director
Peaceful Times (F02) Petit Film
Director
Peaceful Times (F02) Petit Film
Second Unit Director
Ani*Kuri15
Director
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story III
Director
20min Walk from Nishi-Ogikubo Station, 2 Bedrooms, Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2mos Deposit, No Pets Allowed
Director
20min Walk from Nishi-Ogikubo Station, 2 Bedrooms, Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2mos Deposit, No Pets Allowed
Second Unit Director
Hammerhead
Director
Kanón
Director
Writing (13)
Japan Animator Expo
Storyboard
Japan Animator Expo
Writer
Shin Godzilla
Storyboard
Gankutsuou
Original Story
The Animatrix
Writer
Gate Keepers 21
Storyboard
Ando Lloyd ～A.I. knows LOVE ?～
Original Story
Genius Party Beyond
Writer
EVANGELION:3.0(-120min.)
Comic Book
Last Exile: Ginyoku no Fam Movie - Over the Wishes
Original Story
Genius Party Beyond
Screenplay
Rapid Rouge
Original Concept
Kanón
Screenplay
Producing (1)
Other Crew (87)
Mad Max: Fury Road
Animation
One-Punch Man
Key Animation
Kaiju No. 8
Creature Design
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Animation
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Storyboard Artist
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Key Animation
Kill la Kill
Storyboard Artist
Kill la Kill
Key Animation
Last Exile
Production Design
Last Exile
Mechanical Designer
Last Exile
Key Animation
Last Exile
Storyboard Artist
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Key Animation
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
Storyboard Artist
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
Key Animation
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
Settings
Castle in the Sky
Key Animation
Japan Animator Expo
Character Designer
Japan Animator Expo
Animation Director
Japan Animator Expo
Storyboard Artist
Japan Animator Expo
Key Animation
SSSS.GRIDMAN
Creature Design
Rage of Bahamut
Storyboard Artist
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
Key Animation
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
Art Designer
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
Concept Artist
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
Storyboard Artist
Shin Godzilla
Conceptual Design
Shin Godzilla
Art Direction
Shin Godzilla
Creature Design
Shin Godzilla
Concept Artist
Gunbuster
Key Animation
Gankutsuou
Storyboard Artist
Gankutsuou
Key Animation
Porco Rosso
Key Animation
VanDread
Key Animation
Only Yesterday
Key Animation
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
Character Designer
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
Storyboard Artist
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
Art Designer
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
Creature Design
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
Key Animation
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
Key Animation
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
Storyboard Artist
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
Assistant Script
Lemon Angel
Key Animation
Doomed Megalopolis
Key Animation
Blue Submarine No. 6
Storyboard Artist
Blue Submarine No. 6
Character Designer
Blue Submarine No. 6
Key Animation
Blue Submarine No. 6
Mechanical Designer
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
Key Animation
Ando Lloyd ～A.I. knows LOVE ?～
Creator
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-
Storyboard Artist
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-
Key Animation
Shin Kamen Rider
Conceptual Design
Shin Kamen Rider
Costume Design
Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honneamise
Key Animation
Origin: Spirits of the Past
Mechanical Designer
Robot Carnival
Animation
Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris
Creature Design
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion
Creature Design
The Second Renaissance Part I
Animation Director
The Second Renaissance Part I
Character Designer
The Second Renaissance Part I
Key Animation
The Tale of Genji
Key Animation
Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark
Storyboard Artist
Brave Story
Storyboard Artist
Brave Story
Animation
Adam by Eve: A Live in Animation
Concept Artist
Adam by Eve: A Live in Animation
Key Animation
Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo
Special Effects
Genius Party Beyond
Character Designer
Genius Party Beyond
Animation Director
SSSS.GRIDMAN Grand Episode
Creature Design
Battle Royale High School
Key Animation
Moonlight Pierce
Key Animation
Birth
Animation
Special Broadcast Movie "Shin Kamen Rider" Premise/Act 1: Kumo-Aug
Art Designer
Gunsmith Cats
Animation
A Good Child's History Anime: The Giant Turnip (Inc.)
Key Animation
Kanón
Storyboard Artist
Kanón
Character Designer
Kanón
Key Animation
A Tale of Two Robots, Chapter 3: Foreign Invasion
Mechanical & Creature Designer
Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise Pilot
Key Animation
Cream Lemon
Key Animation