Masami Ōbari (大張 正己, Ōbari Masami, born January 24, 1966) is a noted Japanese anime director, animation director and mecha and character designer.

This biography of a living person includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2010)

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, 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 now divorced. Studio G-1 was later disbanded and was reformed under the name of Studio G-1 Neo in the year 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's currently serving as the president and CEO of New Japan Pro-Wrestling.[3]

Filmography

Director

Designer

References

External links

• Masami Ōbari at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Masami Ōbari at IMDb
• Masami Obari anime works at Media Arts Database (in Japanese)