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Sadayuki Murai

Sadayuki Murai

Writer, also producer · Born January 1, 1964 (62) · Nara, Japan

Sadayuki Murai (村井 さだゆき, Murai Sadayuki) is a Japanese screenwriter.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 1, 1964 (62)
From
Nara, Japan
Works as
Writer, also producer
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 56 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 39 days to Oct 28Up 28% in 30 days

What are Sadayuki Murai's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Survival
31%
Self
20%
Morality
13%
Bonds
12%
Society
11%
Ideas
10%
Power
3%
Survival11 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 3 · Dark 7

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

Grounded 0 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 6

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 3 · Intense 7

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 1

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

A split, not a type: Casual 3 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 5

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 5 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Dread
11
Contemplative
8
Melancholic
7
Thrilling
5
Other
14

How their films linger

Thought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous6

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 Sadayuki Murai's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Crunchyroll (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sadayuki Murai'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

56 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • AQUARION Myth of Emotions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 12 episodes · Series Composition

  • Zegapain STA(2024)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Garouden: The Way of the Lone Wolf(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · Series Composition

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Kaina of the Great Snow Sea: Star Sage(2023)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Kaina of the Great Snow Sea(2023)

    Show 11 episodes · Series Composition · Writer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Rust-Eater Bisco(2022)

    Show 12 episodes · Series Composition · Writer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Knights of Sidonia: Love Woven in the Stars(2021)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Natsume's Book of Friends: The Waking Rock and the Strange Visitor(2021)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Pet(2020)

    Show 13 episodes · Series Composition · Writer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Godzilla: The Planet Eater(2018)

    Series Composition

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond(2018)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle(2018)

    Screenplay · Series Composition

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Beatless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · Writer

  • Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters(2017)

    Series Composition

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Juuni Taisen: Zodiac War(2017)

    Show 12 episodes · Series Composition · Writer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Blame!(2017)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Zegapain ADP (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Screenplay

  • Knights of Sidonia: The Movie(2015)

    Screenplay · Series Composition

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Space Battleship Yamato 2199: A Voyage to Remember (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Screenplay

  • Knights of Sidonia(2014)

    Show 24 episodes · Series Composition · Supervising Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • In Search of the Lost Future(2014)

    Show Writer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Durarara!!(2010)

    Show 3 episodes · Writer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Abashiri Family The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Writer

  • Box of Goblins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 13 episodes · Series Composition · Writer

  • Natsume's Book of Friends(2008)

    Show 60 episodes · Series Composition · Writer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Mushi-Shi: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Screenplay

  • SOS! Tokyo Metro Explorers: The Next (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Screenplay

  • Kazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: The Wish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Screenplay

  • Kazuo Umezu's Horror Theater: House of Bugs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Screenplay

  • Genesis of Aquarion(2005)

    Show Series Composition

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Kino's Journey: Life Goes On (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Screenplay

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

    Show 6 episodes · Screenplay

  • Steamboy(2004)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · Writer

  • Gilgamesh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 5 episodes · Writer

  • Kino's Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 13 episodes · Writer

  • Requiem from the Darkness(2003)

    Show Writer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Space Pirate Captain Herlock: Outside Legend - The Endless Odyssey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 13 episodes · Scenario Writer · Writer

  • Millennium Actress(2001)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Alien Nine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 4 episodes · Series Composition · Writer

  • Millennium Actress: Tracks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Reign: The Conqueror Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Screenplay

  • Boogiepop and Others (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Screenplay

  • Boogiepop Never Laughs: Boogiepop Phantom(2000)

    Show 6 episodes · Writer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Reign: The Conqueror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 13 episodes · Screenplay · Series Composition

  • The Dimension Travelers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Writer

  • Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 26 episodes · Screenplay · Writer

  • Thursday Ghost Stories Ghost Club ~ Junior High School Edition 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Writer

  • Cowboy Bebop(1998)

    Show 3 episodes · Writer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Perfect Blue(1997)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Toilet Hanako-san: Secret of the Disappearing Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Screenplay · Actor

  • Ultraman Dyna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · Writer

  • Nerawareta gakuen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 5 episodes · Writer

  • Ultra Nyan: Extraordinary Cat who Descended from the Starry Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Screenplay

  • Eko Eko Azarak: The Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 3 episodes · Writer

  • Toilet Hanako-san: School of Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Screenplay

Career shape

A full career of 54 titles from 1996 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Natsume's Book of Friends the Movie: Ephemeral Bond (2018)

$17M worldwide

Highest rated

Perfect Blue (1997)

Midcredits 99th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting2 of 54: 1 only acting, 1 with another roleWriting53 of 54: 51 only writing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rdProducing1 of 54: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1990s12 · 1 acting · 12 crew2000s21 · 1 acting · 20 crew2010s12 · crew2020s9 · 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 Sadayuki Murai's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 13; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 26 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · writer

Zegapain STA (2024)

97th percentile spread · 46% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer

Perfect Blue (1997)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 39/100 and the plot and story 48/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

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.

Is Sadayuki Murai's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 57 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles3–70 · median 20 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 58 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Sadayuki Murai work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sadayuki Murai's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Hiroyuki Seshita shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles