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Tatsuya Ishihara

Tatsuya Ishihara

Director, also writer · Born July 31, 1966 (60) · Maizuru, Kyoto, Japan

Tatsuya Ishihara (Japanese: 石原 立也, born July 31, 1966) is a Japanese television and film director from Maizuru, Kyoto working for the Japanese animation studio Kyoto Animation.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 31, 1966 (60)
From
Maizuru, Kyoto, Japan
Works as
Director, also writer
Titles
29 on MovieCove · 44 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 78% in 30 days

What are Tatsuya Ishihara's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
41%
Bonds
35%
Society
22%
Power
2%
Friendship9 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 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 7 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

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

Grounded 2 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 5 · Intense 1

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 2 · 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 5 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 3 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
10
Joyful
8
Hopeful
6
Contemplative
7
Thrilling
3
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet9
  • 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 Tatsuya Ishihara's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 29 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Crunchyroll (19).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Tatsuya Ishihara'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

44 credits, 29 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Sound! Euphonium: The Final Movie, Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Other

  • Sound! Euphonium: The Final Movie, Part 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Other · Second Unit Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to Be Loved(2025)

    Director · Second Unit Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Tokubetsuhen Hibike! Euphonium ~Ensemble Contest~(2023)

    Director · Second Unit Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Sound! Euphonium the Movie - Our Promise: A Brand New Day(2019)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Tsurune(2018)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Liz and the Blue Bird(2018)

    Second Unit Director · Supervising Technical Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions the Movie: Take on Me(2018)

    Director · Second Unit Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Sound! Euphonium the Movie: May the Melody Reach You!(2017)

    Director · Second Unit Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid(2017)

    Show 12 episodes · Director · Opening/Ending Animation · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • A Silent Voice: The Movie(2016)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Sound! Euphonium: The Movie - Welcome to the Kitauji High School Concert Band(2016)

    Director · Second Unit Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Myriad Colors Phantom World(2016)

    Show 13 episodes · Director · Opening/Ending Animation · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Sound! Euphonium(2015)

    Show 39 episodes · Director · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Amagi Brilliant Park(2014)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Dera-chan of the Southern Islands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Beyond the Boundary(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions the Movie: Rikka Takanashi Revision(2013)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Free!(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Tamako Market(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions(2012)

    Show 24 episodes · Director · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • K-On! The Movie(2011)

    Second Unit Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Nichijou: My Ordinary Life(2011)

    Show 26 episodes · Director · Series Director · Storyboard Artist · Writer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Nichijou: My Ordinary Life Episode 0 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya(2010)

    Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • K-On!(2009)

    Show 36 episodes · Director · Key Animation · Opening/Ending Animation · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Clannad(2007)

    Show 44 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Lucky Star(2007)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Kanon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 24 episodes · Director · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

  • The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya(2006)

    Show 28 episodes · Director · Series Director · Storyboard Artist · Writer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 12 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Full Metal Panic!(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Doraemon: Nobita and the Robot Kingdom(2002)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Inuyasha(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Super Milk-Chan Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Sakura Wars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Hyper Police (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Baby and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 5 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

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

    Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Tenchi Universe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 5 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Lord of Lords Ryu Knight: Adeu's Legend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Storyboard Artist

  • What Is Happiness? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Director · Animation Director

  • Edokko Boy: Gatten Tasuke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

Career shape

A full career of 42 titles from 1990 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Doraemon: Nobita and the Robot Kingdom (2002)

$17M worldwide

Highest rated

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Sound! Euphonium (2015)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing33 of 42: 4 only directing, 29 with another role · typical Midcredits score85thWriting2 of 42: 0 only writing, 2 with another roleOther crew38 of 42: 9 only other crew, 29 with another role · typical Midcredits score86th

42 titles, 29 with more than one role — other crew and directing overlap on 29 of them.

By decade

1990s9 · crew2000s8 · crew2010s21 · 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 Tatsuya Ishihara's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 90th percentile, the median of all 13; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 89th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

89thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up20
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th2

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · director

Sound! Euphonium the Movie: May the Melody Reach You! (2017)

81st percentile spread · 17% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (2010)

Midcredits 98th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 79/100 and the pacing 66/100 in their films, across 4 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 Tatsuya Ishihara's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and alcohol & drugs run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles0–48 · median 18 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles20–54 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles12–36 · median 20 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles0–22 · median 3 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles22–39 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian 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 Tatsuya Ishihara work with?

People who share at least 2 of Tatsuya Ishihara's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Yasuhiro Takemoto shares the most, 12.

Directors

Writers

  • Jukki Hanada8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Jukki Hanada
  • Ayano Takeda5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with Ayano Takeda
  • Fumihiko Shimo4 titles    See all 4 shared titles with Fumihiko Shimo
  • Shôji Gatô3 titles    See all 3 shared titles with Shôji Gatô

Actors

  • Ayaka Asai5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with Ayaka Asai
  • Chika Anzai5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with Chika Anzai
  • Tomoyo Kurosawa5 titles    See all 5 shared titles with Tomoyo Kurosawa
  • Haruki Ishiya4 titles    See all 4 shared titles with Haruki Ishiya

Composers, cinematographers and editors

  • Kengo Shigemura7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Kengo Shigemura
  • Akito Matsuda6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Akito Matsuda
  • Kazuya Takao4 titles    See all 4 shared titles with Kazuya Takao
  • Ryûta Nakagami3 titles    See all 3 shared titles with Ryûta Nakagami

Producers

  • Hideaki Hatta10 titles    See all 10 shared titles with Hideaki Hatta
  • Yôko Hatta8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Yôko Hatta
  • Shin'ichi Nakamura7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Shin'ichi Nakamura
  • Shigeru Saitô6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Shigeru Saitô