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Ichirō Itano

Ichirō Itano

Director, writer and actor · Born March 11, 1959 (67) · Kanagawa, Japan

Ichirō Itano was born on 11 March 1959 in Kanagawa, Japan. He is a writer, known for Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001), Blassreiter (2008) and Angel Cop (1989).

Biography from IMDb.

Born
March 11, 1959 (67)
From
Kanagawa, Japan
Works as
Director, writer and actor
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 52 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Up 21% in 30 days

What are Ichirō Itano's films like?

Across their 5 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
33%
Survival
24%
Power
22%
Ideas
16%
Society
6%
Identity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 4 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 2 · Serious 0 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 1 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 2 · Intense 2

Whiplash: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their whiplash movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 0 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 1 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 1 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
3
Thrilling
4
Contemplative
2
Absurd
1
Manic
1
Other
2

How their films linger

Fun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Bittersweet4
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ichirō Itano's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Crunchyroll (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ichirō Itano's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

52 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Zenshu(2024)

    Show 1 episode · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • SSSS.GRIDMAN Grand Episode (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Creature Design

  • SSSS.Dynazenon(2021)

    Show 1 episode · Creature Design

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Making Gundam: The Inside Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • SSSS.Gridman(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Creature Design

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin I - Blue-Eyed Casval(2015)

    Second Unit Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Yoshikazu Yasuhiko & Ichiro Itano: Collection of KeyAnimation Films (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Animation · Screenstory · Actor

  • Japan Animator Expo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation · Layout

  • Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo(2012)

    CGI Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Blassreiter(2008)

    Show 24 episodes · Director · Key Animation · Series Composition · Series Director · Storyboard Artist · Writer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Ultraman Mebius & Ultra Brothers(2006)

    CGI Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Ultraman Max (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 40 episodes · CGI Director · Character Designer

  • Ultraman Nexus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 37 episodes · CG Supervisor

  • Gantz(2004)

    Show 24 episodes · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Macross Zero(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Cowboy Bebop: The Movie(2001)

    Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Digimon Tamers: Battle of Adventurers(2001)

    Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Rayca (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Animation

  • Earth Maiden Arjuna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Animation · Key Animation

  • The Daichis Earth's Defense Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Medabots(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Popolocrois Monogatari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Spriggan(1998)

    Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Spring and Chaos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Key Animation

  • Magic User's Club OVA (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 6 episodes · Key Animation

  • Macross 7: The Galaxy Is Calling Me! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Key Animation

  • Macross Plus Movie Edition(1995)

    Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Macross Plus(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · Action Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Plastic Little(1994)

    Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Slam Dunk(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Animation Director · Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Star Dust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director · Original Concept · Original Story · Screenplay · Storyboard

  • Legend of the Dragon Kings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation · Special Effects Supervisor

  • Angel Cop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director · Original Story · Screenplay

  • Angel Cop(1989)

    Show 6 episodes · Director · Creator · Key Animation · Original Story · Screenplay · Storyboard Artist · Writer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Violence Jack: Evil Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Director · Writer

  • Spirit Warrior (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Patlabor: Early Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • April Ghost Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Animation

  • Good Morning Althea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Original Story

  • Battle Royal High School(1987)

    Director · Original Story · Screenplay · Storyboard · Writer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise(1987)

    Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Megazone 23 Part II: Please Give Me Your Secret(1986)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Spaceship Sagittarius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Megazone 23(1985)

    Action Director · Animation Director · Second Unit Director · Storyboard · as Navigator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Macross: Do You Remember Love?(1984)

    Animation Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer(1984)

    Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Crusher Joe: The Movie(1983)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Super Dimension Fortress Macross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 36 episodes · Key Animation · Mechanical Designer

  • Space Runaway Ideon: A Contact(1982)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Space Runaway Ideon: Be Invoked(1982)

    Animation

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Slump (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · Key Animation

  • Mobile Suit Gundam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · Animation

Career shape

A full career of 52 titles from 1979 to 2025.

Highest rated

Hideaki Anno: The Final Challenge of Evangelion (2021)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Angel Cop (1989)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 52: 1 only acting, 2 with another roleDirecting11 of 52: 3 only directing, 8 with another roleWriting9 of 52: 1 only writing, 8 with another roleOther crew43 of 52: 38 only other crew, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score75th

52 titles, 9 with more than one role — other crew and directing overlap on 4 of them.

By decade

1970s1 · crew1980s19 · 1 acting · 19 crew1990s12 · crew2000s11 · crew2010s6 · 2 acting · 5 crew2020s3 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Ichirō Itano's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 82nd percentile, the median of all 17; across a limited sample of 4 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 68th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 4

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 27 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · director, writer

Blassreiter (2008)

52nd percentile spread · 18% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, writer

Megazone 23 (1985)

Midcredits 70th · 61% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 68/100 in their films, across 3 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 50. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Ichirō Itano work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ichirō Itano's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Shirô Sagisu shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers