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.
The Second Renaissance Part II
(Director)
The Second Renaissance Part I
(Director)
Brave Story
(Storyboard Artist)
Robot Carnival
(Animation)
Adam by Eve: A Live in Animation
(Key Animation)
Adam by Eve: A Live in Animation
(Concept Artist)
Kanón
(Storyboard Artist)
Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise Pilot
(Key Animation)
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
(Key Animation)
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
(Key Animation)
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
(Key Animation)
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
(Art Designer)
The Animatrix
(Director)
Shin Godzilla
(Storyboard)
Shin Kamen Rider
(Conceptual Design)
Shin Godzilla
(Conceptual Design)
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
(Concept Artist)
Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo
(Special Effects)
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
(Storyboard Artist)
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
(Storyboard Artist)
Ani*Kuri15
(Director)
Princess Onmitsu
(Director)
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion
(Creature Design)
Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris
(Creature Design)
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
(Animation)
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
(Director)
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
(Director)
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
(Co-Writer)
Porco Rosso
(Key Animation)
Only Yesterday
(Key Animation)
Origin: Spirits of the Past
(Mechanical Designer)
Royal Space Force - The Wings Of Honneamise
(Key Animation)
The Tale of Genji
(Key Animation)
Brave Story
(Animation)
20min Walk from Nishi-Ogikubo Station, 2 Bedrooms, Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2mos Deposit, No Pets Allowed
(Director)
Birth: A War of Two Worlds
(Animation)
Mad Max: Fury Road
(Animation)
Moonlight Pierce
(Key Animation)
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
(Key Animation)
Route 20: Galactic Airport
(Director)
Shin Godzilla
(Art Direction)
Last Exile: Ginyoku no Fam Movie - Over the Wishes
(Original Story)
Kanón
(Screenplay)
Princess Onmitsu
(Original Story)
Gala
(Director)
Gala
(Animation Director)
Hammerhead
(Director)
Brave Story
(Director)
EVANGELION:3.0(-120min.)
(Comic Book)
Genius Party Beyond
(Director)
Special Broadcast Movie "Shin Kamen Rider" Premise/Act 1: Kumo-Aug
(Art Designer)
Route 20: Galactic Airport
(Story)
Kanón
(Character Designer)
Kanón
(Key Animation)
Kanón
(Director)
Battle Royale High School
(Key Animation)
A Good Child's History Anime: The Giant Turnip (Inc.)
(Key Animation)
Gunsmith Cats
(Animation)
Genius Party Beyond
(Character Designer)
Genius Party Beyond
(Animation Director)
Shin Kamen Rider
(Costume Design)
Peaceful Times (F02) Petit Film
(Director)
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story III
(Director)
Gala
(Screenplay)
Genius Party Beyond
(Screenplay)
DAICON IV Opening Animation
(Key Animation)
DAICON III Opening Animation
(Key Animation)
Castle in the Sky
(Key Animation)
SSSS.GRIDMAN Movie
(Creature Design)
Gankutsuou
(Executive Producer)
Blue Submarine No. 6
(Series Director)
Last Exile
(Production Design)
One-Punch Man
(Key Animation)
Ani*Kuri15
(Director)
Last Exile
(Mechanical Designer)
Japan Animator Expo
(Storyboard)
Japan Animator Expo
(Animation Director)
Japan Animator Expo
(Director)
Japan Animator Expo
(Character Designer)
Japan Animator Expo
(Writer)
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
(Director)
SSSS.GRIDMAN
(Creature Design)
Kill la Kill
(Key Animation)
Kill la Kill
(Storyboard Artist)
Gunbuster
(Key Animation)
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
(Storyboard Artist)
Cream Lemon
(Key Animation)
Japan Animator Expo
(Storyboard Artist)
Japan Animator Expo
(Key Animation)
Gankutsuou
(Series Director)
Gankutsuou
(Director)
Gankutsuou
(Key Animation)
Gankutsuou
(Storyboard Artist)
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
(Character Designer)
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
(Series Director)
Last Exile
(Key Animation)
Last Exile
(Storyboard Artist)
Blue Submarine No. 6
(Mechanical Designer)
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
(Storyboard Artist)
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
(Art Designer)
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
(Creature Design)
Blue Submarine No. 6
(Character Designer)
Blue Submarine No. 6
(Storyboard Artist)
Blue Submarine No. 6
(Key Animation)
Genius Party Beyond
(Director)
Genius Party Beyond
(Writer)
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
(Key Animation)
Doomed Megalopolis
(Key Animation)
Lemon Angel
(Key Animation)
VanDread
(Key Animation)
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
(Key Animation)
Kaiju No. 8
(Creature Design)
Gankutsuou
(Original Story)
Ando Lloyd ~A.I. knows LOVE ?~
(Original Story)
The Animatrix
(Director)
Gate Keepers 21
(Storyboard)
Blue Submarine No. 6
(Director)
Ando Lloyd ~A.I. knows LOVE ?~
(Creator)