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Isamu Tanonaka

Isamu Tanonaka

Actor · Died January 13, 2010, aged 77 · Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan

was a Japanese voice actor from Taitō, Tokyo. He was best known for voicing Medama Oyaji in nearly every adaptation of Shigeru Mizuki's GeGeGe no Kitarō made during his lifetime. During his life he had been attached to Gekidan Tōgei and then Theatre Echo; he was attached to Aoni Production at the time of his death. He had a naturally deep voice but became famous for voicing characters with a high pitched voice. In addition to GeGeGe no Kitarō, he also had prominent roles in Tensai Bakabon (as the first voice of Honkan-san), Mazinger Z (as Mucha), Paul's Miraculous Adventure (as Doppe), Magical Princess Minky Momo (as Sindbook), Akuma-kun (as Youaltepuztli), Dr. Slump & Arale-chan (as Gara and Akira Toriyama), Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibōken (as Brass), and the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series (as Igor).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 19, 1932
Died
January 13, 2010 (aged 77)
From
Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
Works as
Actor
Titles
19 on MovieCove · 76 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Up 12% in 30 days

What are Isamu Tanonaka's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
47%
Self
18%
Power
15%
Morality
10%
Survival
9%
Friendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMortality2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 6 · Serious 1 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 0 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 7 · Intense 2

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

A split, not a type: Steady 4 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 2

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 6

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

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 6 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
7
Tense
4
Melancholic
3
Warm
3
Absurd
3
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet2
  • Ambiguous1
  • 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 Isamu Tanonaka's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 19 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Isamu Tanonaka'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

76 credits, 19 with a MovieCove page.

  • PERSONA3 THE MOVIE #4 Winter of Rebirth(2016)

    as Igor (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • PERSONA3 the Movie #3 Falling Down(2015)

    as Igor (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Persona4 the Golden ANIMATION(2014)

    Show 12 episodes · as Igor (voice)

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all shows

  • Persona3 the Movie #2 Midsummer Knight's Dream(2014)

    as Igor (voice)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • PERSONA3 THE MOVIE #1 Spring of Birth(2013)

    as Igor (voice)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • PERSONA 4 the Animation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 25 episodes · as Igor (voice)

  • Gegege no Kitaro: Japan Explodes!! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Medama Oyaji (voice)

  • Kirato Saw Honorable Death With No Surrender ~ Mizuki Shigeru's War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Medama Oyaji (voice)

  • Gegege no Kitaro: Youkai Japan Rally 3D (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Actor

  • Kitaro and the Millennium Curse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Medama Oyaji (voice)

  • Graveyard Kitaro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 11 episodes · as Medama Oyaji (voice)

  • Cackling Kitarou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 100 episodes · as Medama Oyaji

  • Twin Princess of Wonder Planet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 103 episodes · as Omendo

  • Monster(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Old Man (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Ninja Scroll: The Series(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Slayers Premium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Master (voice)

  • One Piece: Clockwork Island Adventure(2001)

    as Boo Jack (voice)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The File of Young Kindaichi 2: Murderous Deep Blue(1999)

    as Kisuke Akamori (voice)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Gegege no Kitaro: Kitaro's Ghost Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Medama-oyaji

  • Gegege no Kitaro: Yokai Express! The Phantom Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Medama Oyaji (voice)

  • Gegege no Kitaro: Ghost Night Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Medama-oyaji (voice)

  • Gegege no Kitaro: The Great Sea Beast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Kitarou's Father (voice)

  • Cackling Kitarou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 114 episodes · as Medama Oyaji

  • Chouriki Sentai Ohranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Bara-Baby (voice)

  • Osawaga! Super Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Ursa Minor Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Tongari

  • Marude Dameo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 47 episodes · Actor

  • Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 46 episodes · as Gramps Brass

  • Devil Boy: Welcome to Devil Land!! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • The Enemy's the Pirates! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 6 episodes · as Yoshizaki (voice)

  • Dragon Quest: Legend of the Hero Abel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 43 episodes · as Yogi (voice)

  • Devil Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Tatakae!! Ramenman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as キョンピー

  • Transformers: Super-God Masterforce(1988)

    Show 42 episodes · as Donq (Humans)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Tatakae!! Ramenman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 35 episodes · as キョンピー

  • Gegege no Kitaro: Clash!! The Great Rebellion of the Yokai from Another Dimension (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Medama-Oyaji (voice)

  • Gegege no Kitaro: The Strongest Ghost Army! Landing in Japan!! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Actor

  • Gegege no Kitaro: The Great Yokai War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Medama Oyaji (voice)

  • Gegege no Kitaro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Medama Oyaji (voice)

  • Cackling Kitarou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 115 episodes · as Medama-oyaji

  • Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hoyoyo! The Treasure of Nanaba Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Gala (voice)

  • Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hoyoyo! The Great Race Around The World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Gara / Toriyama

  • I Am A Dog: Don Matsugorou's Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Dr. Slump: Hoyoyo! Space Adventure(1982)

    as Gala (voice)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dr. Slump & Arale-chan: Hello! Wonder Island(1981)

    as Gala (voice)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

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

    Show 243 episodes · as Gala (voice)

  • The Fantastic Adventures of Unico (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as God 3 (voice)

  • Queen Millennia(1981)

    Show as Ramen-style Uncle

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Bark! Bun Bun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 39 episodes · as Big (voice)

  • Gegege no Kitaro: The All Seeing Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • Botchan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Nodaiko (voice)

  • Witch Girl Tickle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 45 episodes · as Ago

  • Paul's Miraculous Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 50 episodes · as Doppe (voice)

  • Puss 'n Boots: Travels Around the World(1976)

    as Cat Assassin B (voice)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Steel Jeeg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 46 episodes · as Ootone

  • UFO Robot Grendizer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 74 episodes · as Mucha (voice)

  • Mazinger Z vs The Great Dark General (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Dr. Nossori/Mucha

  • Mazinger Z vs. Devilman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Mucha

  • Mazinger Z (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 92 episodes · as Mucha

  • The Three Musketeers in Boots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Killer Cat B (voice)

  • Cackling Kitarou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 45 episodes · as 眼球老爹（配音）

  • Apache Baseball Team (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 26 episodes · as Monkey(story12-26)

  • Kunimatsu-sama no Otoridai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 46 episodes · as おでこ

  • Tensai Bakabon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 40 episodes · as おまわりさん

  • Ari-Baba to yonjuppiki no tozoku(1971)

    as Police Chief (voice)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Animal Treasure Island(1971)

    as Cat Sailor C (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Norakuro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 26 episodes · as 山ザル軍曹

  • Tomorrow's Joe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 79 episodes · as Miss Oyama

  • The Genie Family(1969)

    Show 52 episodes · as Papa

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Flying Phantom Ship(1969)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • もーれつア太郎 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 90 episodes · as Kokoro no Kopun B

  • Umeboshi-denka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 26 episodes · as 王様

  • Puss in Boots(1969)

    as Killer Cat B (voice)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Spooky Kitaro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Medama-Oyaji (voice)

  • Animal 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 27 episodes · as 東五郎

  • Cackling Kitarou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 65 episodes · as Medama Oyaji (voice)

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 75 titles from 1968 to 2016; peak year 2014.

Biggest box office

PERSONA3 THE MOVIE #1 Spring of Birth (2013)

$2M worldwide

Highest rated

PERSONA3 THE MOVIE #4 Winter of Rebirth (2016)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Queen Millennia (1981)

Film career

19682016

Peak 2014 · at the high point of their film career. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting75 of 75: 75 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score69th

By decade

1960s8 · acting1970s17 · acting1980s20 · acting1990s13 · acting2000s11 · acting2010s6 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 11 roles
6979

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. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Isamu Tanonaka's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 71st percentile, the median of all 13; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 71st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 19 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 19 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Ari-Baba to yonjuppiki no tozoku (1971)

77th percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

PERSONA3 THE MOVIE #4 Winter of Rebirth (2016)

Midcredits 94th · 80% liked

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 Isamu Tanonaka work with?

People who share at least 2 of Isamu Tanonaka's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Kenji Utsumi shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers