Kunihiko Yuyama

is a Japanese director best known for his work on the Pokémon anime franchise. He also directed Magical Princess Minky Momo, Leda: The Fantastic Adventure of Yohko, The Three Musketeers Anime, Ushio and Tora, Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning, Plawres Sanshiro, Slayers Return, Slayers Great, and Wedding Peach.

Career

Developing an interest in animation while still at high school, Yuyama worked as an animator's assistant on episodes of Space Battleship Yamato and Brave Raideen. He was a sketch artist and storyboard artist on the foreign co-production Barbapapa (1973) and joined Aoi Productions in 1978. The same year, he had his directorial debut while working for Aoi on Galaxy Express 999, and soon struck up a successful working partnership with the screenwriter Takeshi Shudo on GoShogun. In 1982, he promoted to "chief director", an overseeing role on Magical Princess Minky Momo. While remaining in TV during the 1980s, he also played a leading role in anime's exodus into video. His work also showed a mastery of elements for a female audience, most obvious in his Three Musketeers spin-off, Aramis' Adventure. After working on Ushio and Tora, he gained true fame through his involvement with later works on Pokémon.

Filmography Anime + List of production work in anime Year Title Crew role Notes Source Ippatsu Kanta-kun In-between animation –1981 Galaxy Express 999 Episode director Zukkoke Knight - Don De La Mancha Series director, Episode director, Storyboard Space Warrior Baldios Episode director, Storyboard GoShogun Director, Episode director, Storyboard Also director, storyboard on 1982 film and 1985 Time Stranger OVA –83 Magical Princess Minky Momo Series director, episode director, storyboard Also OVAs and specials in 1985–1994 Plawres Sanshiro Chief director, episode director, storyboard Leda: The Fantastic Adventure of Yohko Screenplay, Director OVA, also released to theater Windaria Director Tekkamen o Oue - D'Artagnan Monogatari yori鉄仮面を追え「ダルタニャン物語」より Director TWD Express: Rolling Takeoff:ja:TWD EXPRESS Director Also Rolling Takeout The Three Musketeers Anime Director, Episode director, storyboard Fujikofujio no kiteretsudaihyakka藤子不二雄のキテレツ大百科 Storyboard The Three Musketeers Anime film Director Fujiko F Fujio no T P bon藤子・F・不二雄のT・Pぼん Director, Storyboard –90 Time Travel Tondekeman Chief director, Episode director, storyboard Slow Step Director Ushio and Tora Director Also OVAs in 1993. Apfel Land Story:ja:アップフェルラント物語 Director OVA Yaiba General director Jura Tripper Director –96 Wedding Peach Director Also OVA 1996 Kōryū no Mimi Director Weather Report Girl Screenplay, Director OVA Slayers Return General director Shin Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning Director Kougyou aika volley boys:ja:工業哀歌バレーボーイズ Director OVA –2019 Pokémon General director Also OVAs, specials, spinoffs, shorts Slayers Great General director Pokémon: The First Movie Director, Storyboard Also director on Pikachu's Vacation Pokémon: The Movie 2000 Director, Storyboard Also director on Pikachu's Rescue Adventure Pokémon 3: The Movie Director Pokémon 4Ever Director Also director on short Pokémon Heroes Director Also director on short Pokémon Chronicles Director spin-off show Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker Director Also director on short Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys Director Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew Director Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea Director Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai Director Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior Director Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life Director Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions Director Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom Director Also director on short Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice Director Also director on short Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened Director Also director on short Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction Director, Storyboard Also director on short Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages General director, storyboard Also director on short Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel Director, Storyboard Rudolf the Black Cat Director Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! Director Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution Director PuniRunes Chief director Sai-Kyo-Oh! Zukan: The Ultimate Battles Chief director PuniRunes Puni 2 Chief director

Live-action + List of production work in live-action shows Year Title Crew role Notes Source Keitai Sōsakan 7 Episode director TV drama