Masami Ōbari Explained

Masami Ōbari
Native Name:大張 正己
Native Name Lang:ja
Birth Date:24 January 1966
Birth Place:Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Occupation:Director, mecha designer, and character designer

is a Japanese anime director, animation director and mecha and character designer.

Biography

After graduating from high school in 1985, Masami Obari began his career when he joined the animation studio Ashi Production, where he worked on shows such as Special Armored Battalion Dorvack, Transformers (outsourced by Toei Animation to them sometimes), and Star Musketeer Bismarck. Soon after, at the age of 19, he got his first major break when he landed the role of mecha designer on Dancouga – Super Beast Machine God. Not too long after, at the young age of 21, he was given his first directorial role by directing episodes 5 and 6 of the Bubblegum Crisis OVA series. He also made three Fatal Fury OVAs from December 23, 1992, to July 16, 1994.

In 1993, he founded Studio G-1 with fellow animators Kazuto Nakazawa, Masahiro Yamane, Takehiro Nakayama, and Atsuko Ishida, to whom Masami Obari was married, but from whom he is currently divorced. Studio G-1 was later disbanded and was reformed under the name of Studio G-1 Neo in 2000.

Although not originally interested in animation, he was inspired when he formed a high school friendship with classmate Satoshi Urushihara.[1]

In 2016, Obari married the professional model maker Ritsu Togasaki.[2]

He has a younger brother named Takami, who served as the president and CEO of New Japan Pro-Wrestling between October 2020 and December 2023.[3]

Filmography

Director

Original video animation

Original net animation

Television series

Animated feature film

Designer

Character design

Direct-to-video animation
Television series
Animated feature film
Video games

Mecha design

Direct-to-video animation
Television series
Video games

Bibliography

References

  1. Web site: Interview with Masami Obari – Robot Soul Edition. vanishingtrooper.wordpress.com. June 15, 2015. May 25, 2015.
  2. Web site: Robot Anime Director Masami Obari Marries Gundam Model Maker. www.animenewsnetwork.com. November 11, 2016. August 15, 2018.
  3. Web site: 【新日本】大張新社長が表明 1・4&5東京ドームにリミット2万人入れる!!(東スポWeb). Yahoo! News Japan. https://web.archive.org/web/20201030114816/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/e61d4bec519f402e5878970e6d3cda7d09151dc2. 2020-11-14. 2020-10-30. ja.
  4. Web site: AMAIM Warrior at the Borderline Anime's 6-Episode New Work Premieres on August 10. Anime News Network. Crystalyn. Hodgkins. July 21, 2023. July 21, 2023.
  5. Web site: Gundam Build Metaverse Anime Unveils 2nd Teaser, Staff, Story. Anime News Network. Rafael Antonio. Pineda. May 9, 2023. May 9, 2023.
  6. Web site: Hodgkins. Crystalyn. Cygames Reveals Bang Brave Bang Bravern Original TV Anime. Anime News Network. May 29, 2023. May 29, 2023.

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External links