Masami Ōbari

Masami Ōbari (大張正己, Ōbari Masami, born January 24, 1966) is a noted Japanese anime director, animation director and mecha and character designer.

After graduating from high school in 1985, Masami Obari began his career when he joined the animation studio Ashi Production, where he worked on shows such as Special Armored Battalion Dorvack, Transformers, and Star Musketeer Bismarck. Soon after, at the age of 19, he got his first major break when he landed the role of mecha designer on Dancouga – Super Beast Machine God. Not too long after, at the young age of 21, he was given his first directorial role by directing episodes 5 and 6 of the Bubblegum Crisis OVA series.

In 1993 he founded Studio G-1 with fellow animators Kazuto Nakazawa, Masahiro Yamane, Takehiro Nakayama, and Atsuko Ishida, to whom Masami Obari was married, but from whom he is now divorced. Studio G-1 was later disbanded and was reformed under the name of Studio G-1 Neo in the year 2000.

Although not originally interested in animation he was inspired when he formed a high school friendship with classmate Satoshi Urushihara

Director

Original Video Animation

• 1988 Moonlight Rambler (Part 5 of Bubblegum Crisis)
• 1989 Red Eyes (Part 6 of Bubblegum Crisis)
• 1991–1993 Detonator Orgun
• 1996 Battle Arena Toshinden
• 1996 Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer
• 1997–1998 Voogie's Angel (co-directed with Aoi Takenouchi)
• 1999 Dangaizer 3
• 2001–2003 Angel Blade
• 2001–2003 Marine a Go Go
• 2002 Viper GTS
• 2004–2005 Angel Blade Punish!

Television series

• 1997 Virus Buster Serge
• 2000 Platinumhugen Ordian
• 2002 Gravion
• 2004 Gravion Zwei
• 2007 Jūsō Kikō Dancouga Nova
• 2007 Prism Ark
• 2010–2011 Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Inspector

Animated feature film

• 1994 Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture

Designer

Character design

Direct-to-video animation

• 1990–1992 Guardian of Darkness (Monster Design)
• 1996 Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer
• 1997–1998 Voogie's Angel
• 2001–2003 Angel Blade (Monster Design)
• 2004–2005 Angel Blade Punish!

Television series

• 1997 Virus Buster Serge

Animated feature film

• 1992 Fatal Fury: Legend of the Hungry Wolf
• 1993 Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle
• 1994 Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture

Video games

• 1995 Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer (also voices Brider in the game and OVA)

Mecha design

Direct-to-video animation

• 1985–1987 Fight! Iczer One
• 1987–1991 Bubblegum Crisis (DD design)
• 1987–1989 Dangaioh
• 1999 Dangaizer 3
• 2001–2003 Marine a Go Go

Television series

• 1985 Dancouga – Super Beast Machine God
• 1994–1995 Brave Police J-Decker (Guest Mecha Design for episodes 1–3)
• 2000 Platinumhugen Ordian
• 2002 Gravion
• 2004 Gravion Zwei
• 2007 Jūsō Kikō Dancouga Nova
• 2010–2011 Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Inspector

Video games

• 2007 Super Robot Wars: Original Generations
• 2007 Super Robot Wars Original Generation Gaiden
• 2008 Super Robot Wars Z