Shoji Kawamori

Shoji Kawamori (real name - Masanori Kawamori, p. 28/02/1960, Toyama Prefecture) - the famous fur designer and anime director. Alias "Shoji" - short form of "Masanori".

Originally Kawamori wanted to create designs of this technique, first - cars, then - aircraft and missiles. But in Japan there was no real opportunity for training in such work, therefore, still at university, he was invited to engage in fur-design in the anime.

His first job was a small design for TV-series on the grounds manga Leiji Matsumoto, "Space Pirate Captain Harlok" [Uchuu Kaizoku Captain Harlock] (1978-1979). Thereafter Kawamori began work as a designer in fur-fur-sentae and space operas.

In 1980, Kawamori as a fur designer participated in the creation of the studio "Sunrise" feature-length film directed by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko "Cruz, Joe" [Crusher Joe]. It was while working on this film Kawamori met with the team "Studio Nue".

The real success came to Kawamori when friends from the "Studio Nue" invited him to work with them on the TV series "Hyperspace Fortress Macross" [Chou Jikuu Yousai Macross] (1982-1983). His designs have made the present furor and greatly influenced the subsequent history of fur-design. In fur-design, Kawamori also took part in creating the concept of the series (under the pseudonym Kurokawa, Eiji)

. Kawamori also participated in a full-length film "Hyperspace Fortress Macross: Do you remember our love?" [Chou Jikuu Yousai Macross: Ai Oboete Imasu Ka?] (1984) as the second director and the establishment OAV "Hyperspace Fortress Macross: Memories of the 2012-th year of" [Chou Jikuu Yousai Macross: Flashback 2012] (1987) as the main producer,


. Besides, . Kawamori took part in the creation of fur-design TV series "Mobile Police Patleybor" [Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor] (1989-1990), . "Cyber Formula GPIks new time" [Shinseiki GPX Cyber Formula] (1991), . "Cowboy Bebop" [Cowboy Bebop] (1998, . 1998-1999) and "Star Knights of the Stars rogue" [Seihou Bukyou Outlaw Star] (1998), . OAV-series "Giant Star Wars Dangayo" [Haja Taisei Dangaio] (1989-1991), . "Mobile warrior GANDA 0083: The memory of" Stardust "[Kidou Senshi Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory] (1991-1992), . "Moldayver" [Moldiver] (1993) and "Submarine Number 6" [Ao no 6-go] (1998-2000), . as well as the full-length film "Ghost in the" Armor "[Ghost in the Shell] (1995),


. However, the most significant of his work - directing genius OAV-series and movie "Macross Plus" [Macross Plus] (1994-1995), . TV-series "The Vision Eskaflona" [Tenkuu no Escaflowne] (1996) and TV-movie "Vision in Ihatove: Spring Kenji" [Iihatov Genso: Kenji no Haru] (1996) - Filming lyrical autobiography of the great Japanese writer Kenji Miyazawa,
. Also, "the conscience" Kawamori creating TV and OAV-series "Macross 7" [Macross 7] (1994-1998).

In 2001, began to emerge, two new science fiction TV series, directed by Kawamori, - a serious "Earth Girl Arjuna" [Chikyuu Shoujo Arujuna] (2001) and a parody of "Family Defenders of the Earth" [Chikyuu Bouei Kazoku] (2001).

Kawamori - an interesting example of the evolution of fur designer in concept designer. As he himself admits in his interview, he would be interested to "play" with their designs, see what you can do with them in terms of producer. He, having a professional engineering education, has always tried to make their designs most plausible (though not always technically perfect).