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Atsushi Okui

Atsushi Okui

Cinematographer, also actor · Born January 1, 1963 (63) · Japan

Atsushi Okui has been the director of Photography on many films from Studio Ghibli. He is known for Akira (1988), Princess Mononoke (1997) and The Wind Rises (2013).

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 1, 1963 (63)
From
Japan
Works as
Cinematographer, also actor
Titles
19 on MovieCove · 46 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 157 days to Oct 28Down 2% in 30 days

What are Atsushi Okui's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
28%
Bonds
27%
Survival
19%
Society
14%
Ideas
7%
Morality
4%
Power
1%
Survival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeWar3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 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 11 · Serious 4 · Dark 5

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

Grounded 3 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 8

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 9 · Charged 7 · Intense 4

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

Steady 12 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 5 · 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 9 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 6 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
13
Contemplative
9
Tense
6
Hopeful
8
Bittersweet
6
Other
17

How their films linger

Bittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet16

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 Atsushi Okui's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 19 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on HBO Max (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Atsushi Okui'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

46 credits, 19 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Boy and the Heron(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Tomorrow's Leaves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Cinematographer

  • When Marnie Was There(2014)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Wind Rises(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • From Up on Poppy Hill(2011)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Cinematographer

  • The Secret World of Arrietty(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • A Sumo Wrestler's Tail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Cinematographer

  • Ponyo(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Have a Nice Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Cinematographer

  • House Hunting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Cinematographer

  • Mon Mon the Water Spider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Cinematographer

  • The Day I Bought a Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Cinematographer

  • Tales from Earthsea(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Howl's Moving Castle(2004)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Mei and the Kittenbus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Cinematographer

  • Ghiblies: Episode 2(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Koro's Big Day Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Cinematographer

  • The Whale Hunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Cinematographer

  • Spirited Away(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Ghiblies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

  • My Neighbors the Yamadas(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Princess Mononoke(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Whisper of the Heart(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Pom Poko(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Ocean Waves(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 31 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: The Afterglow of Zeon(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Porco Rosso(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 13 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Mobile Suit Gundam F91(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Future GPX Cyber Formula (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 37 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Mobile Suit SD Gundam Mk IV (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • Mobile Suit SD Gundam Mk III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • Dirty Pair: Flight 005 Conspiracy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • Patlabor: The TV Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 47 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Mobile Suit SD Gundam's Counterattack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 6 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Crusher Joe: The OVA's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Ronin Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 39 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Mobile Suit SD Gundam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • Aura Battle Dunbine: The Tale of Neo Byston Well (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • Ultra B (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 118 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Dirty Pair: Project Eden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 45 titles from 1986 to 2023.

Biggest box office

Spirited Away (2001)

$361M worldwide

Highest rated

Spirited Away (2001)

Midcredits 99th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography45 of 45: 45 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score97th

By decade

1980s11 · crew1990s14 · crew2000s12 · crew2010s6 · crew2020s2 · 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 Atsushi Okui's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 96th percentile, the median of all 19; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 93rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

93rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

93rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

96thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 19 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th3

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 19 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · cinematographer

Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: The Afterglow of Zeon (1992)

63rd percentile spread · 14% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Spirited Away (2001)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 80/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 84, detractors 68. The element that speaks to their work as a cinematographer.

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 Atsushi Okui's work okay for kids?

Across up to 15 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and profanity run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore14 titles9–59 · median 30 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity15 titles5–13 · median 10 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity14 titles1–24 · median 5 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs15 titles9–35 · median 28 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense15 titles6–59 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian 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 Atsushi Okui work with?

People who share at least 2 of Atsushi Okui's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Takeshi Seyama shares the most, 16.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers