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Takao Kato

Director · Japan

Takao Kato (加戸 誉夫 Kato Takao; 1963–) is a Japanese anime director and animator, best known for directing the TV series of To Love-Ru, Pandora Hearts and Rio: Rainbow Gate!.

Biography from TMDB.

From
Japan
Works as
Director
Titles
12 on MovieCove · 41 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 28Up 26% in 30 days

What are Takao Kato's films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
49%
Bonds
39%
Survival
8%
Morality
4%
Identity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
4
Thrilling
3
Romantic
3
Hopeful
2
Absurd
2
Other
3

How their films linger

Fun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet2
  • Ambiguous2

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 Takao Kato's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 12 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Crunchyroll (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Takao Kato'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

41 credits, 12 with a MovieCove page.

  • Koala's Diary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 49 episodes · Series Director

  • There's No Freaking Way I'll Be Your Lover! Unless...(2025)

    Show 3 episodes · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World(2024)

    Show 24 episodes · Series Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers(2022)

    Show 12 episodes · Director · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Zoids Wild Zero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 50 episodes · Series Director

  • Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest(2019)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Eiga Drive Head: Tomika Hyper Rescue – Kidō Kyūkyū Keisatsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Director

  • Tomica Hyper Rescue Drive Head Kidō Kyūkyū Keisatsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 37 episodes · Series Director

  • Hip Whip Girl: Keijo!!!!!!(2016)

    Show 12 episodes · Series Composition · Writer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Triage X (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 10 episodes · Director

  • Space Battleship Yamato 2199: A Voyage to Remember (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Writer

  • Argevollen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Storyboard

  • Space Battleship Yamato 2199(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Baku Tech! Bakugan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 90 episodes · Director

  • Upotte!!(2012)

    Show 10 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all shows

  • Abnormal Physiology Seminar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 13 episodes · Series Director

  • Rio: Rainbow Gate! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Major: The Ball of Friendship(2008)

    Director · Storyboard · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • To LOVE-Ru(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Over Drive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Storyboard · Storyboard Artist

  • Mega Man Star Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 76 episodes · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Buso Renkin(2006)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Mega Man Maverick Hunter X: The Day of Σ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Storyboard Artist

  • Rockman.EXE: The Program of Light and Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Director · Storyboard

  • Duel Masters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 51 episodes · Director

  • MegaMan NT Warrior (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 209 episodes · Director

  • Zoids: New Century (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 26 episodes · Director

  • Zoids: Chaotic Century (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Chousoku Spinner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 22 episodes · Director

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

    Show 2 episodes · Storyboard Artist

  • Compiler Festa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Blue Seed(1994)

    Show 26 episodes · Director · Assistant Director · Storyboard · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Ogre Slayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Ogre Slayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · Series Director

  • Compiler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Director

  • Macross 7(1994)

    Show Director

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 10 episodes · Storyboard · Storyboard Artist

  • Free Kick Toward Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

  • NG Knight Lamune & 40 EX (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

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

    Director

  • Sonic Soldier Borgman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Director

Career shape

A full career of 39 titles from 1988 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Major: The Ball of Friendship (2008)

$11M worldwide

Highest rated

More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers (2022)

Midcredits 83rd

Most popular right now

To LOVE-Ru (2008)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing25 of 39: 15 only directing, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thWriting9 of 39: 2 only writing, 7 with another roleOther crew19 of 39: 11 only other crew, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rd

39 titles, 11 with more than one role — directing and other crew overlap on 7 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · crew1990s12 · crew2000s9 · crew2010s13 · 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.

Who does Takao Kato work with?

People who share at least 2 of Takao Kato's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Naruhisa Arakawa shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers