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Mamoru Oshii

Mamoru Oshii

Writer, director and producer, also actor · Born August 8, 1951 (75) · Tokyo, Japan

Mamoru Oshii (押井 守, Oshii Mamoru, born 8 August 1951) is a Japanese filmmaker, television director and writer. Famous for his philosophy-oriented storytelling, Oshii has directed a number of acclaimed anime films, including Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer (1984), Angel's Egg (1985), Patlabor 2: The Movie (1993), and Ghost in the Shell (1995).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 8, 1951 (75)
From
Tokyo, Japan
Works as
Writer, director and producer, also actor
Titles
28 on MovieCove · 87 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 28

What are Mamoru Oshii's films like?

Across their 27 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Ideas.

Genres

Animation16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 32nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
29%
Ideas
19%
Morality
18%
Bonds
10%
Power
10%
Survival
8%
Society
7%
Identity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTechnology4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression3 titles, browse their movies with this themeMemory3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 25 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 5 · Serious 5 · Dark 15

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 4 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 11

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 11 · Intense 11

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

Steady 9 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 21 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 13 · 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 2 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 11

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

Easy watch 7 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 6

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

A split, not a type: Resolved 14 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 10

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
20
Contemplative
13
Melancholic
12
Thrilling
5
Dread
5
Other
18

How their films linger

Thought-provoking18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous14
  • Cyclical1

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 Mamoru Oshii's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 28 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Mamoru Oshii'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

87 credits, 28 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Armored Trooper VOTOMS: Die Graue Hexe - Part 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Innovators of Japan Anime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • The Fire Hunter(2023)

    Show 20 episodes · Series Composition · Storyboard Artist · Writer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Blood Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director

  • Vlad Love(2020)

    Show 12 episodes · Director · Creator · Executive Producer · Original Story · Series Composition · Storyboard Artist · Writer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all shows

  • We Made a Beautiful Bouquet(2021)

    as Mamoru Oshii

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Beautiful Dreamer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Original Story

  • Illang: The Wolf Brigade(2018)

    Original Story

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Sand Whale and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 5 episodes · Director · Creator

  • Mobile Police Patlabor Reboot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Original Story

  • G2.5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Director · Writer

  • Nowhere Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director

  • The Next Generation Patlabor: Tokyo War(2015)

    Director · Original Story · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • THE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Chapter 7 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · General Manager · Screenplay

  • THE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Chapter 6 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    General Manager · Screenplay

  • Garm Wars: The Last Druid(2014)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • THE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Chapter 5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    General Manager · Screenplay

  • THE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Chapter 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · General Manager · Screenplay

  • THE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Chapter 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · General Manager · Screenplay

  • THE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Chapter 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    General Manager · Screenplay

  • THE NEXT GENERATION Patlabor: Chapter 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · General Manager · Screenplay

  • The Next Generation: Patlabor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · Creator · Original Series Creator · Original Story · Screenplay

  • Blood-C: The Last Dark(2012)

    Original Story

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • 009: The Reopening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • 28½ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director · Writer

  • Je t'aime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • Halo Legends(2010)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Halo Legends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Supervising Producer

  • Assault Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Writer

  • Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Screenplay

  • Blood: The Last Vampire(2009)

    Characters

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Keita's First Dream of the New Year (Director's Cut) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Screenplay

  • Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director

  • Film director Mamoru Oshii: Turning fantasies into reality (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • The Sky Crawlers(2008)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Ghost in the Shell 2.0(2008)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Ani*Kuri15 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director · Writer

  • Cellphone Investigator 7 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · Screenplay

  • The Women of Fast Food (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Executive Producer · Writer

  • Ani*Kuri15 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Female Fast Food Grifter: Foxy Croquette Ogin ~Mortal Struggle in Palestine~ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director · Writer

  • Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director · Original Story · Screenplay

  • Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG - Individual Eleven(2006)

    Story

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Blood+ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 50 episodes · Original Story

  • Open Your Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Executive Producer

  • Windy Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 13 episodes · Supervising Producer

  • Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence(2004)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

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

    Director

  • Tokyo Vein (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Supervising Producer

  • Tokyo Scanner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Supervising Producer

  • Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex(2002)

    Show 26 episodes · Story

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • MiniPato (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 3 episodes · Creator · Original Series Creator · Producer · Writer

  • WXIII: Patlabor(2001)

    Original Story

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • G.R.M.: The Record Of Garm War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director · Writer

  • Avalon(2001)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Blood: The Last Vampire(2000)

    Creator · Original Story · Supervising Producer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade(1999)

    Original Story · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Ghost in the Shell(1995)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Patlabor 2: The Movie(1993)

    Director · Original Story

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Talking Head (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director · Writer

  • Patlabor: One Day of Noa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Original Story

  • Stray Dog: Kerberos Panzer Cops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director · Writer

  • Patlabor: The New Files (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 16 episodes · Author

  • MAROKO (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director · Original Story · Screenplay

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

    Show 47 episodes · Author · Writer

  • Gosenzo-sama Banbanzai! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 6 episodes · Director · Creator · Original Series Creator · Screenplay · Series Director · Writer

  • Patlabor: The Movie(1989)

    Director · Original Story · Story

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

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

    Show 5 episodes · Director

  • In the Aftermath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Writer

  • Zillion(1987)

    Show 31 episodes · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Twilight Q (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Twilight Q (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Original Story · Screenplay · Story

  • The Red Spectacles(1987)

    Director · Original Story · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Angel's Egg(1985)

    Director · Original Story · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Urusei Yatsura: Ryoko's September Tea Party(1985)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Dallos Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer(1984)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Dallos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Dallos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 4 episodes · Director · Creator · Screenplay · Storyboard Artist · Writer

  • Urusei Yatsura: Only You(1983)

    Director · Adaptation · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director

  • Urusei Yatsura(1981)

    Show 23 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist · Writer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • The Fullmoon Tradition: Indra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director · Storyboard · Writer

  • The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 16 episodes · Director

  • Homerun Kanta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Time Bokan Series: Yatterman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · Storyboard Artist

  • Chimera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director

Career shape

A full career of 87 titles, 85 of them dated from 1977 to 2025.

Biggest box office

We Made a Beautiful Bouquet (2021)

$35M worldwide

Highest rated

Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG - Individual Eleven (2006)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Film career

  • 2021Screen debut· We Made a Beautiful Bouquet

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 87: 3 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting54 of 87: 15 only directing, 39 with another role · typical Midcredits score71stWriting58 of 87: 16 only writing, 42 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thProducing9 of 87: 5 only producing, 4 with another roleOther crew22 of 87: 3 only other crew, 19 with another role · typical Midcredits score65th

87 titles, 45 with more than one role — writing and directing overlap on 36 of them.

By decade

1970s2 · crew1980s20 · crew1990s8 · crew2000s28 · 1 acting · 27 crew2010s21 · crew2020s6 · 2 acting · 4 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 Mamoru Oshii's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 25 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 74th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Midcredits score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th2
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 28 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · director

Urusei Yatsura: Ryoko's September Tea Party (1985)

73rd percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer

Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG - Individual Eleven (2006)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 47/100 and the plot and story 49/100 in their films, across 22 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 Mamoru Oshii's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 75 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles8–67 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 24 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 71 · intenseMedian 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 Mamoru Oshii work with?

People who share at least 2 of Mamoru Oshii's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kenji Kawai shares the most, 13.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles