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Masahiko Murata

Director · Saitama, Japan

Masahiko Murata (むらた 雅彦, Murata Masahiko, born August 8) is an animator, animation director, director and storyboard artist from Saitama Prefecture. His real name and former stage name are Masahiko Murata (村田 雅彦, Murata Masahiko). Masahiko joined Shaft in early 80's and left the company in late 90's to become a freelancer. He was the first director of OVA “Mazinkaiser”. His main works as anime film director include “Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Will of Fire”, “Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower, and “Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Blood Prison”. As for anime TV series, he was the director in “Gilgamesh”, “Corpse Princess: Aka”, “Corpse Princess: Kuro”, “NARUTO Spin-Off: Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals”, and To Your Eternity (first season), among others.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

From
Saitama, Japan
Works as
Director
Titles
25 on MovieCove · 55 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 156 days to Oct 27Down 27% in 30 days

What are Masahiko Murata's films like?

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

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
29%
Bonds
25%
Morality
18%
Survival
9%
Society
8%
Ideas
6%
Power
5%
Identity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 6 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Heightened: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their heightened movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 0 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 4 · Intense 2

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

Steady 1 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 3 · 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 1 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 4 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Thrilling
5
Hopeful
5
Warm
3
Melancholic
3
Other
5

How their films linger

Feel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet2
  • Ambiguous5

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 Masahiko Murata's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 25 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Crunchyroll (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Masahiko Murata'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

55 credits, 25 with a MovieCove page.

  • Firefighter Daigo: Rescuer in Orange(2023)

    Show 23 episodes · Director · Key Animation · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Spy Classroom(2023)

    Show 1 episode · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • To Your Eternity(2021)

    Show 20 episodes · Director · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Tower of God(2020)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Animation Director · Key Animation · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Tsukumogami Kashimasu(2018)

    Show 12 episodes · Director · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Golden Kamuy(2018)

    Show 3 episodes · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Puzzle & Dragons X(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Border 5: Pyrophoric Cult (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Ghost in the Shell Arise: Alternative Architecture(2015)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Baby Steps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 50 episodes · Director · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Ghost in the Shell: Arise - Border 1: Ghost Pain(2013)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Naruto SD: Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · Key Animation · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Blood Prison(2011)

    Director · Key Animation · Second Unit Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Mystic Archives of Dantalian(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Naruto Shippûden: The Lost Tower(2010)

    Director · Key Animation · Second Unit Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Naruto Shippûden: The Movie 3: Inheritors of the Will of Fire(2009)

    Director · Key Animation · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Corpse Princess: Aka(2008)

    Show 4 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows

  • Naruto: Shippuden(2007)

    Show 9 episodes · Director · Animation Director · Key Animation · Opening/Ending Animation · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • GR -GIANT ROBO- (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 13 episodes · Series Director

  • NIGHT HEAD GENESIS (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Storyboard Artist

  • Growlanser IV: Wayfarer of Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Ultimate Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Jinki: Extend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Key Animation · Storyboard Artist

  • Naruto: The Lost Story - Mission: Protect the Waterfall Village(2003)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

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

    Show 26 episodes · Director · Key Animation · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Mazinkaiser vs. Great General of Darkness(2003)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Naruto(2002)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · Key Animation · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Tokyo Underground (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 4 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Mazinkaiser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 8 episodes · Director

  • Saiyuki: Requiem - The Motion Picture(2001)

    Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Boy Who Saw the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Animation Director

  • Gensomaden Saiyuki(2000)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · Key Animation · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Carried by the Wind: Tsukikage Ran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Space Pirate Mito (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Eat-Man '98(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Serial Experiments Lain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Neo Ranga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 48 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

  • AWOL -Absent Without Leave- (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Next War Chronicle Ehrgeiz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Tenchi the Movie 2: The Daughter of Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Key Animation

  • Tokyo Pig (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 8 episodes · Animation Director

  • CLAMP School Detectives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Hareluya II BØY(1997)

    Show 3 episodes · Animation Director

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Those Who Hunt Elves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · Key Animation

  • Lupin the Third: The Legend of Twilight Gemini(1996)

    Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Lupin III: Dead or Alive(1996)

    Animation Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Hajime Ningen Gon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Twelve Warrior Explosive Eto Rangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Animation Director

  • Bonobono (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Key Animation

  • Tama from 3rd Street, please! Find Momochan! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Animation Director · Character Designer

  • Madonna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · Key Animation

  • Touch: The Ace Without a Number (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Key Animation

  • Touch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 7 episodes · Key Animation

  • Vanessa Et La Magie Des Rêves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 5 episodes · Key Animation

  • Attacker You! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · Key Animation

Career shape

A full career of 54 titles from 1984 to 2023.

Biggest box office

Naruto Shippûden: The Lost Tower (2010)

$17M worldwide

Highest rated

Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Blood Prison (2011)

Midcredits 83rd

Most popular right now

Corpse Princess: Aka (2008)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing34 of 54: 8 only directing, 26 with another role · typical Midcredits score67thOther crew46 of 54: 20 only other crew, 26 with another role · typical Midcredits score65th

54 titles, 26 with more than one role — other crew and directing overlap on 26 of them.

By decade

1980s5 · crew1990s17 · crew2000s18 · crew2010s10 · crew2020s4 · 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 Masahiko Murata's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 73rd percentile, the median of all 9; across their 6 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 76th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Approval · how many liked their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Reach · how many have seen their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Midcredits score across 25 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 25 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · director

Puzzle & Dragons X (2016)

90th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Naruto (2002)

Midcredits 96th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 64/100 and the pacing 49/100 in their films, across 5 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.

Who does Masahiko Murata work with?

People who share at least 2 of Masahiko Murata's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Masashi Kishimoto shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers