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Kunihiko Yuyama

Kunihiko Yuyama

Director, also writer · Born October 15, 1952 (74) · Tokyo, Japan

Kunihiko Yuyama (湯山 邦彦, Yuyama Kunihiko; born October 15, 1952) is a Japanese director best known for his work on the Pokémon anime franchise. He also directed Magical Princess Minky Momo, Leda: The Fantastic Adventure of Yohko, The Three Musketeers Anime, Ushio and Tora, Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning, Plawres Sanshiro, Slayers Return, Slayers Great, and Wedding Peach. Description above from the Wikipedia article Kunihiko Yuyama, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia .

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 15, 1952 (74)
From
Tokyo, Japan
Works as
Director, also writer
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 90 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 6% in 30 days

What are Kunihiko Yuyama's films like?

Across their 32 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
54%
Self
17%
Morality
10%
Society
6%
Ideas
5%
Survival
4%
Power
3%
Friendship22 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 32 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 26 · Serious 4 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 2 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 15

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

Gentle 9 · Charged 20 · Intense 3

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

Steady 22 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 21 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 26 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 29 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Hopeful
21
Tense
13
Thrilling
13
Warm
9
Joyful
9
Other
20

How their films linger

Hopeful27 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy19
  • Bittersweet12
  • 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 Kunihiko Yuyama's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

  • Pokémon19 titles

Subscription and free streaming for Kunihiko Yuyama'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

90 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page.

  • Pokesmonseuteo: Seongdojibang Iyagi, Choejongjang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Director

  • Sai-Kyo-Oh! Zukan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 50 episodes · Series Director

  • ポケットモンスター めざせポケモンマスター (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Show 11 episodes · Director

  • Punirunes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 25 episodes · Series Director

  • A Ripple in Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Director

  • Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle(2020)

    Animation Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back - Evolution(2019)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us(2018)

    Animation Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!(2017)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Rudolf the Black Cat(2016)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel(2016)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages(2015)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Pokemon: Hoopa, The Mischief of Pokemon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director

  • Minky Momo: Please, Santa Claus? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Co-Director

  • Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction(2014)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon: Pikachu, What's This Key? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director

  • Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened(2013)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Pokémon: Eevee & Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Director

  • Pokémon: Mewtwo - Prologue to Awakening(2013)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice(2012)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Sing Meloetta: Search for the Rinka Berries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director

  • Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director

  • Pikachu's Summer Bridge Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • Pokémon the Movie: Black - Victini and Reshiram(2011)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon the Movie: White - Victini and Zekrom(2011)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Pikachu's Big Mysterious Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Director

  • Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions(2010)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Pikachu's Sparkle Search! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director

  • Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life(2009)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time and Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Pikachu's Ice Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Director

  • Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior(2008)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Pikachu's Exploration Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Director

  • Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai(2007)

    Director · Storyboard

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate!(2006)

    Director · Storyboard Artist · Writer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Pikachu's Island Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea(2006)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon 4D: Picachu's Ocean Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Director

  • The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon(2006)

    Executive Producer · Other

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Pikachu's Ghost Carnival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew(2005)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon 3D Adventure: Find Mew! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director

  • Pikachu's Summer Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Director

  • Pokémon the Movie: Destiny Deoxys(2004)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon: Gotta Dance! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Director

  • Pokémon: Jirachi - Wish Maker(2003)

    Director · Other

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Camp Pikachu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Director

  • Pokémon Heroes(2002)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon Chronicles: The Legend of Thunder! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • Pikachu's PikaBoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Director

  • Pokemon 4Ever: Celebi - Voice of the Forest(2001)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Pichu & Pikachu's Winter Vacation 2001 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • Pikachu & Pichu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Director

  • Pokémon 3 the Movie: Spell of the Unown(2000)

    Director · Screenplay · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon: Pikachu's Winter Vacation 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • Pokémon the Movie 2000(1999)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon: Pikachu's Rescue Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • The Uncut Story of Mewtwo's Origin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director

  • Pokémon: Pikachu's Winter Vacation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • Pikachu's Vacation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director

  • Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back(1998)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon(1997)

    Show 118 episodes · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Slayers Great(1997)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • New Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning(1996)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Slayers Return(1996)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Weather Report Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Writer

  • Ear of the Golden Dragon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show Creator

  • Wedding Peach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Storyboard Artist

  • Jura Tripper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 39 episodes · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Mahô no purinsesu Minkî Momo: Tabidachi no eki(1994)

    Director

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

  • Ushio and Tora: Comically Deformed Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Director

  • Mahô no purinsesu Minkî Momo: Yume ni kakeru hashi(1993)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Legendary Brave Swordsman Yaiba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · Storyboard Artist

  • Appleland Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Director

  • Ushio and Tora (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 10 episodes · Director

  • Slow Step (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 5 episodes · Series Director

  • Leda: The Fantastic Adventure of Yohko(1985)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Time-Patrol Bon: Fujiko F. Fujio Anime Special - SF Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director

  • The Three Musketeers: Adventure of Aramis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director

  • The Three Musketeers: Adventure of Aramis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 52 episodes · Director · as 导演

  • TWD Express: Rolling Takeoff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director

  • The Three Musketeers: Pilot Episode - The Man in the Iron Mask (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director

  • Roots Search (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Supervising Producer

  • Windaria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • GoShogun: The Time Étranger(1985)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Plawres Sanshiro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 37 episodes · Director

  • GoShogun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Director · Screenplay

  • GoShogun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 26 episodes · Director · Creator

  • Josephina the Whale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 24 episodes · Director

Career shape

A full career of 88 titles from 1979 to 2024.

Biggest box office

Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)

$164M worldwide

Highest rated

Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (2005)

Midcredits 79th

Most popular right now

Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 88: 0 only acting, 1 with another roleDirecting76 of 88: 54 only directing, 22 with another role · typical Midcredits score54thWriting6 of 88: 0 only writing, 6 with another roleProducing2 of 88: 1 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew27 of 88: 10 only other crew, 17 with another role · typical Midcredits score54th

88 titles, 23 with more than one role — directing and other crew overlap on 16 of them.

By decade

1970s1 · crew1980s11 · 1 acting · 11 crew1990s21 · crew2000s28 · crew2010s21 · crew2020s6 · 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 Kunihiko Yuyama's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 35; across their 32 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Reach · how many have seen their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th13

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 36 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · director

Mahô no purinsesu Minkî Momo: Tabidachi no eki (1994)

89th percentile spread · 30% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

New Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning (1996)

Midcredits 80th · 74% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 64/100 and the pacing 39/100 in their films, across 23 reviewed titles. 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.

Is Kunihiko Yuyama's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 14 · minimalMedian of all films: 32
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 44 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Kunihiko Yuyama work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kunihiko Yuyama's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Megumi Hayashibara shares the most, 24.

Directors

Writers

  • Satoshi Tajiri20 titles    See newest 12 of 20 shared titles with Satoshi Tajiri
  • Hideki Sonoda17 titles    See newest 12 of 17 shared titles with Hideki Sonoda
  • Jun'ichi Masuda14 titles    See newest 12 of 14 shared titles with Jun'ichi Masuda
  • Ken Sugimori14 titles    See newest 12 of 14 shared titles with Ken Sugimori

Actors

  • Megumi Hayashibara24 titles    See newest 12 of 24 shared titles with Megumi Hayashibara
  • Ikue Ôtani23 titles    See newest 12 of 23 shared titles with Ikue Ôtani
  • Rica Matsumoto23 titles    See newest 12 of 23 shared titles with Rica Matsumoto
  • Inuko Inuyama20 titles    See newest 12 of 20 shared titles with Inuko Inuyama

Composers, cinematographers and editors

  • Toshio Henmi23 titles    See newest 12 of 23 shared titles with Toshio Henmi
  • Shinji Miyazaki20 titles    See newest 12 of 20 shared titles with Shinji Miyazaki
  • Takaya Mizutani8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Takaya Mizutani
  • Hisao Shirai6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Hisao Shirai

Producers

  • Masakazu Kubo19 titles    See newest 12 of 19 shared titles with Masakazu Kubo
  • Takemoto Mori19 titles    See newest 12 of 19 shared titles with Takemoto Mori
  • Chôji Yoshikawa17 titles    See newest 12 of 17 shared titles with Chôji Yoshikawa
  • Katsuhito Yamauchi16 titles    See newest 12 of 16 shared titles with Katsuhito Yamauchi

Mixed roles