Tensai Okamura facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tensai Okamura (岡村天斎)
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Tensai Okamura, 2007 Chibi Japan Expo
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Okamura Yutaka
岡村豊 December 13, 1961 Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
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| Alma mater | Waseda University's department of science and engineering |
| Occupation | Anime director and animator |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Employer | Madhouse (formerly) Currently freelance |
| Known for | Wolf's Rain Darker than Black Blue Exorcist |
Tensai Okamura, whose birth name was Yutaka Okamura, is a talented Japanese anime director and animator. He was born on December 13, 1961, in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. He grew up in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. He later studied at Waseda University, where he focused on science and engineering. In 1991, he changed his first name to Tensai.
About Tensai Okamura
Early Life and Inspirations
As a child, Tensai Okamura loved reading manga, especially stories about ninjas, spies, and superheroes. A ninja manga by Shirato Sampei, which taught young readers about ninja skills, was a big influence on him. He also enjoyed spy TV shows like The Fugitive, which inspired the feeling and mood of his own anime series.
Starting His Anime Career
During his time at Waseda University, Okamura was part of the manga research club. There, he and other future animators created his very first independent anime project. After graduating, a friend recommended him to Madhouse, a well-known animation studio. He joined Madhouse as an animator.
His first job as an animator was on the movie Lensman: Secret of The Lens. In 1989, he started directing episodes with Yawara!. He then made his full debut as a director in 1995 with a part of the movie Memories. Later, he left Madhouse to work independently, taking on many different projects.
Creative Ideas and Influences
Developing Darker Than Black
The idea for his anime series Darker than Black came to Okamura while he was working on Wolf's Rain. He wanted the main characters in Darker than Black to be different from the heroes in Wolf's Rain. Instead of being heroic, he wanted them to have flaws and be more complex.
Storytelling Style
The way Darker than Black tells its story, with two episodes focusing on one mini-story, was inspired by his experience as a storyboard artist for Cowboy Bebop. This style allowed him to explore new characters in each story arc. Okamura planned the first half of the series himself, giving writers a lot of freedom. For the second half, Shōtarō Suga took over to help bring the original story to an end.
Changes in Darker Than Black Sequels
For the sequel, Darker Than Black: Gemini of the Meteor, Okamura thought about changing things up. He felt the first series' story was a bit confusing and the main character, Hei, was rough. He wanted to change the mood of the series. A new character named Suo was created to be a contrast to Hei. Okamura hoped these changes would attract new viewers, who might then go back and watch the first season.
The four special episodes, Darker than Black: Gaiden, were created when the studio, Bones, decided to make a sequel. While the new sequel aimed for new viewers, these special episodes were made for fans who wanted to see what happened after the first series.
Tensai Okamura's Works
Anime Television Series
- Galactic Patrol Lensman (1984, in-between animation)
- Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl! (1989, episode overview and storyboards)
- Blue Seed (1994, key animation)
- Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995, episode direction, storyboards and key animation)
- Cowboy Bebop (1998, storyboards)
- Medabots (1999, director, episode direction and storyboards)
- Kikaider: The Animation (2000, director, episode direction, storyboards)
- Full Metal Panic! (2002, storyboards and episode direction)
- RahXephon (2002, storyboards)
- Wolf's Rain (2003, director, storyboards, episode direction)
- Samurai Champloo (2004, storyboards)
- Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd Gig (2004, storyboards)
- Victorian Romance Emma (2005, storyboards)
- Ouran High School Host Club (2006, storyboards)
- Project Blue Earth SOS (2006, director)
- Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha (2007, director, original concept, series composition)
- Soul Eater (2008, storyboards, episode direction, second opening theme storyboards and direction)
- Nijū Mensō no Musume (2008, storyboards)
- Real Drive (2008, storyboards)
- Kannagi (2008, storyboards)
- Canaan (2009, storyboards)
- Darker Than Black: Ryūsei no Gemini (2009, director)
- Blue Exorcist (2011, director)
- Hanasaku Iroha (2011, storyboards)
- Guilty Crown (2012, storyboards)
- Tari Tari (2012, storyboards)
- Sword Art Online (2012, storyboards)
- Vividred Operation (2013, script)
- Nagi no Asukara (2013, storyboard)
- World Conquest Zvezda Plot (2014, director, series composition)
- The Seven Deadly Sins (2014, director)
- Kuromukuro (2016, director)
- Blade Runner: Black Lotus (2021–22, storyboards)
- My Hero Academia (2024, storyboard)
Anime Movies
- Lensman: Secret of The Lens (1984, in-between animation)
- The Dagger of Kamui (1985, in-between animation)
- Neo Tokyo (1986, in-between animation)
- Toki no Tabibito -Time Stranger- (1986, in-between animation)
- Wicked City (1987, key animation)
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars (1988, key animation)
- My Neighbor Totoro (1988, key animation)
- City Hunter: Bay City Wars (1990, key animation)
- Urusei Yatsura: Always, My Darling (1991, key animation)
- Hashire Melos! (1992, key animation)
- Ninja Scroll (1993, key animation)
- Ghost in the Shell / Kōkaku Kidōtai (1995, key animation)
- Memories Episode 2: Stink Bomb (1995, director)
- Neon Genesis Evangelion Gekijōban: The End of Evangelion (1997, #25 key animation)
- Spriggan (1998, gun art)
- Jin-Roh (2000, key animation)
- Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door (2001, western scene storyboards, key animation, animation direction coordinator)
- Naruto: Snow Princess' Book of Ninja Arts (2004, director)
- Naruto: Legend of the Stone of Gelel (2005, key animation)
- Tekken: Blood Vengeance (2011, storyboards)
- My Hero Academia: You're Next (2024, director)
Original Video Animations (OVAs)
- Junk Boy (1987, key animation)
- The Phoenix -Space- (1987, key animation)
- Demon City Shinjuku (1988, key animation)
- Goku: Midnight Eye (1989, animation direction, key animation)
- Cyber City Oedo 808 (1990, key animation)
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (1991, key animation)
- Darker than Black: Gaiden (2010, director, writer)
- My Hero Academia: A Piece of Cake (2025, director, storyboards)
Video Games
- Tales of Destiny (1997, opening animation direction)
- Tales of Phantasia (1998, opening animation direction)
- Wild Arms 2: 2nd Ignition (1999, opening animation direction)
Manga
- Darker than Black (2007, writer)
See also
In Spanish: Tensai Okamura para niños
