Morio Asaka

Morio Asaka (浅香 守生 Asaka Morio, born March 11, 1967 in Hyōgo Prefecture) is a Japanese anime director.

A graduate of the Osaka Designers' College, he is a member of the studio Madhouse. His noted works include, among others, Cardcaptor Sakura (his directorial TV anime debut), Galaxy Angel, Gunslinger Girl, Last Order: Final Fantasy VII and Nana.

Directorial style

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Asaka has covered a wide range of genres in the shows and films he has worked on, from magical girl (Cardcaptor Sakura) to feminine drama (Nana) to sports (Yawara!, Kattobase! Dorīmāzu - Kāpu Tanjō Monogatari), sci-fi (Galaxy Angel), and action (Last Order -Final Fantasy VII-, Gunslinger Girl). Many of his works take on a female perspective for the telling of the story, with a feminine protagonist as the central focus. This has contributed to him becoming the main director at Madhouse for handling the more serious series featuring female characters or targeting the female market. However, his works are also known for often elaborate action sequences, and even his most serious stories are frequently laced with comedy.

Works

TV anime

• Jungle Taitei (1989–1990; storyboards, episode direction)
• Yawara! (1989–1992; storyboards, episode direction)
• Kaze no Naka no Shōjo Kinpatsu no Jenny (1992–1993; storyboards)
• Azuki-chan (1995–1998; storyboards, episode direction)
• Cardcaptor Sakura (1998–2000; director, storyboards, episode direction)
• Galaxy Angel (2001; director, storyboards, episode direction)
• Galaxy Angel Z (2002; director, storyboards, episode direction)
• Chobits (2002; director, storyboards, episode direction)
• Galaxy Angel AA (2003; storyboards, episode direction)
• Gunslinger Girl (2003–2004; director, storyboards)
• Monster (2004–2005; storyboards, episode direction)
• Rozen Maiden (2004; storyboards, episode direction of OP theme sequence)
• Nana (2006–2007; director, storyboards, episode direction)
• Black Lagoon (2006; storyboards)
• Devil May Cry: The Animated Series (2007; ending storyboards)
• Claymore (2007; storyboards)

TV specials

• Yawara! Special: Zutto Kimi no Koto ga (July 19, 1996; director, storyboards)

Anime films

• Yawara! Soreyuke Koshenuke Kiss!! (August 1, 1992; storyboards, episode direction)
• Kattobase! Dorīmāzu - Kāpu Tanjō Monogatari (January 22, 1994; storyboards, episode direction)
• Anne no Nikki (Anne's Diary) (August 19, 1995; storyboards, episode direction coordination)
• X (1996 film) (August 3, 1996; assistant director, coordination)
• Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie (August 8, 1999; director, storyboards)
• Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Card (July 15, 2000; director, storyboards)
• Leave It To Kero! Movie (July 15, 2000; composition)

OVA

• Junk Boy (1987; assistant director)
• Pops (1993; director)
• Ningyo no Kizu (1993; director)
• BRONZE KoJI NANJo cathexis (1994; director)
• Clamp in Wonderland (1994; director, storyboards)
• Yōgen Kaisha (1994–1995; director)
• Birdy the Mighty (1996–1997; storyboards, episode direction)

Other works

• Attack! Future's Challenge! J League (1996; artbook)

Tankōbon: Shiobunsha, art: Akihiko Tanaka, ISBN 4811302990

• Noel (1996; game, storyboards)

PlayStation game.

• Ryūjin Numa (2001; storyboards)

Special anime museum screening by Shotaro Ishinomori.

• Last Order: Final Fantasy VII (2005; director, storyboards)

Limited-edition special DVD production included in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.

External links

• (Japanese) Madhouse's website on Moria Asaka at TAF 2006
• Morio Asaka at the Anime News Network Encyclopedia
• Morio Asaka at the Internet Movie Database