Mamoru Hosoda facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mamoru Hosoda
細田 守
Hosoda at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival
Born	(1967-09-19) September 19, 1967 (age 57) Kamiichi, Toyama, Japan
Other names	Hashimoto, Katsuyo (橋本 カツヨ) Sodama, Moruho (遡玉 洩穂) Shirai, Chiaki (白井 千秋)
Alma mater	Kanazawa College of Art
Occupation	Animator film director filmmaker screenwriter storyboard artist novelist
Years active	1991–present
Employer	Toei Animation (1991–2005) Studio Chizu (2011–present)
Notable work	Digimon Adventure (1999) Digimon Adventure: Our War Game! (2000) The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006) Summer Wars (2009) Wolf Children (2012) The Boy and the Beast (2015) Mirai (2018) Belle (2021)

Mamoru Hosoda (細田 守, Hosoda Mamoru, born September 19, 1967) is a famous Japanese film director and animator. He is known for directing popular animated movies like The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), Summer Wars (2009), and Belle (2021). His film Mirai (2018) was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.

Life and Career Highlights

Early Life and Inspiration

Mamoru Hosoda was born in Kamiichi, Japan. His father was a railway engineer, and his mother was a tailor. When he was in sixth grade, he watched many animated films and TV shows that made him want to work in anime. Some of these included Anne of Green Gables and Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro. He was especially inspired by Anne of Green Gables, which taught him that a director doesn't always have to draw to lead a film.

In junior high, Hosoda started making his own paper animations. He even applied to be an animator for a film called Shōnen Kenya when he was in high school, but he had to withdraw because of exams. He later studied oil painting at the Kanazawa College of Art. While there, he made nearly 50 video works, including live-action films.

Starting at Toei Animation

After college, Hosoda joined Toei Animation in 1991. He first worked as an animator for six years on various TV shows and films. He became an assistant animation director for the film Tōi Umi kara Kita Coo (1993).

Hosoda's first directing job was for the TV series GeGeGe no Kitarō [ja]. He became well-known for directing two Digimon Adventure short films: Digimon Adventure (1999) and Digimon Adventure: Our War Game! (2000). Even though he was new to directing films, his talent was recognized, and he quickly gained a strong reputation.

Working with Studio Ghibli

In 2001, it was announced that Hosoda would direct the film Howl's Moving Castle for Studio Ghibli. This was a big opportunity, as Studio Ghibli was looking for new directors beyond their famous founders. However, the project faced challenges and Hosoda stepped down in 2002. Hayao Miyazaki later took over the film.

The reasons for this change were not fully explained, but it seems there were differences in how films were made at Toei Animation and Studio Ghibli. Also, Hosoda felt pressure from working with someone he admired so much. He wanted to make his own film his way, but he was told to make it similar to Miyazaki's style. Studio Ghibli was also busy with another film, Spirited Away, which meant Hosoda's team for Howl's Moving Castle was short on staff. This made it hard for him to gather the people he needed.

Returning to Toei and Becoming Freelance

After the Howl's Moving Castle project stopped, Hosoda returned to Toei Animation. He continued to work on TV series and videos. In 2003, he directed a short film called Superflat Monogram for Louis Vuitton with artist Takashi Murakami.

A turning point came when he directed episode 40 of Ojamajo Doremi Dokkān! in 2002. This episode impressed Masao Maruyama, who was the president of Madhouse. Maruyama offered Hosoda the chance to direct The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. Hosoda accepted and worked on the film's story while still at Toei. In 2005, after directing a One Piece film, One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island, Hosoda left Toei to become a freelance director.

Success as a Freelancer

In 2006, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time was released. It was produced by Madhouse. The film was initially shown in only 21 theaters but became very popular through word of mouth. It ran for 40 weeks and was shown in over 100 theaters, earning a lot of money. It also won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year in 2007.

In 2009, Hosoda released his first original film, Summer Wars. This film was also a big success, earning even more money and winning the Japan Academy Award for Animation of the Year in 2010.

Founding Studio Chizu

In 2011, Mamoru Hosoda started his own animation studio called Studio Chizu with producer Yuichiro Saito. Their first film was Wolf Children, released in 2012. Hosoda not only directed but also wrote the screenplay for this film, which was a huge hit at the box office.

His next film, The Boy and the Beast, released in 2015, was even more successful. In 2018, Mirai was released and made history by being nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the Oscars in 2019. It was the first time a Japanese animated film not from Studio Ghibli received this nomination.

His most recent film, Belle, released in 2021, became Hosoda's highest-grossing film to date, earning over 6.6 billion yen.

Filmography

Feature Films

Short Films

Television Work

• Digimon Adventure (episode 21, 1999)
• Ojamajo Doremi Dokkān (episode 40, 49)
• One Piece (episode 199)
• Ashita no Nadja (opening, ending, episodes 5, 12, 26)
• Samurai Champloo (opening under the name Katsuyo Hashimoto)

Images for kids

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  Hosoda at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival

See also

In Spanish: Mamoru Hosoda para niños