Shoichi Masuo

Directing

Shoichi Masuo

Born 1960-02-24 · Tōkyō, Japan

Shōichi Masuo was a Japanese animator, animation director, and director renowned for his contributions to the anime industry. He began his career in the late 1970s and became known for his work on series such as Gunbuster (1988) and Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995), where he served as an animation director and key animator. Masuo was acclaimed for his dynamic action sequences and mechanical designs. In addition to his animation work, he directed the OVA series Aim for the Top 2! (2004). Masuo's influence extended through his mentorship of younger animators and his dedication to advancing the quality of animation in Japan.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth poster
7.4

Originally a collection of clips from the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series, Death was created as a precursor to the re-worked ending of the series. Rebirth was intended as that re-worked ending, but after production overruns Rebirth became only the first half of the first part of The End of Evangelion, with some minor differences.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth

1997

Revival of Evangelion poster
7.7

Revival of Evangelion is a re-edit of the Neon Genesis Evangelion films , released in 1998. It consists of Evangelion: Death (which was essentially a clip show that summarized the entire regular series) and The End of Evangelion , re-edited together to make a version that tells the entire story of Evangelion. It is considered to be the final form of the Evangelion films.

Revival of Evangelion

1998

EVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)² poster
6.8

A highly experimental film presenting a story out of chronological order taking place 15 years after a near-apocalyptic catastrophe, about four traumatized 14 year olds who are tasked with piloting massive humanoid decisive weapons called Evangelion, the psychologically maladjusted adults who handle and command them, and the events and forces that affect them or which they take part in as they engage massive hostile invaders known as "Angels."

EVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)²

1998

Otaku no Video poster
5.7

A hilarious mockumentary featuring an animated tale of an average person who slowly becomes an otaku (obsessive fanatic) and eventually becomes the "Otaking"! Between story segments, live action interviews with fictional die-hard otakus take place.

Otaku no Video

1991

Project A-Ko 3: Cinderella Rhapsody poster
5.8

A-ko and B-ko's pursuit of a handsome Coke-loving, motorcycle-ruding stud named Kay has a wrench thrown in when C-ko grows very jealous of him. Meanwhile, the aliens' ship floating in the bay is about to turn into the ultimate nightspot. Good luck with that, catastrophe always occurs when the three 'Ko's get together.

Project A-Ko 3: Cinderella Rhapsody

1988

Gunbuster: The Movie poster
7.2

Noriko Takaya's dream is to become a space pilot like her father, who died when she was young after an attack by alien forces in deep space. After entering Okinawa Girls Space Pilot High School, she must persuade everyone, especially herself, that she can fulfill her goal and become an accomplished pilot despite being just an ordinary girl.

Gunbuster: The Movie

2006

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story I poster
NR

The first specially edited memorial episode featuring Jean’s narration. This is a breath-taking sea adventure action animation. The story centers on a series of critical battles by the indestructible submarine, Nautilus and the conflict between Captain Nemo and the Gargoyle. It’s a shorter, more streamlined version of Nadia called "The Nautilus Story", which all but eliminates the filler arc and concentrates on the struggle between Nemo and Gargoyle. Some scenes in the more pivotal episodes are cut as well. The compilation series was made by Hideaki Anno, who was said to have been dissatisfied with the final result of the TV show. The Nautilus Story was only released in Japan on VHS and laserdisc.

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story I

1991

Crimson Wolf poster
4.3

An archaeological expedition finds the mummified bodies of Genghis Khan and his army somewhere in Mongolia. Unaware that the location is cursed, the explorers wake up the former ruler of the Mongolian empire. He warns the intruders that a large calamity will befall the world in one thousand days. The only ones who can prevent this from happening are three persons who bear wolf-shaped arrow scars. They must join forces and kill the "three emperors" so that the Khan's soul can once again sleep for a thousand years.

Crimson Wolf

1993

Crimson Wolf poster
4.3

An archaeological expedition finds the mummified bodies of Genghis Khan and his army somewhere in Mongolia. Unaware that the location is cursed, the explorers wake up the former ruler of the Mongolian empire. He warns the intruders that a large calamity will befall the world in one thousand days. The only ones who can prevent this from happening are three persons who bear wolf-shaped arrow scars. They must join forces and kill the "three emperors" so that the Khan's soul can once again sleep for a thousand years.

Crimson Wolf

1993

Gunbuster vs Diebuster: Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie poster
6.3

This double feature comprises of "Gunbuster" and "Diebuster" (aka "Gunbuster 2") condensed into a single theatrical release told in two parts with a musical intermission in between. The 95-minute "Aim for the Top! Gunbuster" movie is a compilation of the original 6-episode Gunbuster OVA, where man first meets the insect aliens and builds fighting robots and huge battleships to combat them. Takaya Noriko and Amano Kazumi lead the fight, doing massive damage to the insect's world. The 100-minute "Aim for the Top 2! Diebuster" movie completes the series, with country girl Nono leading the "Topless" fighters to protect Earth from the invading insects.

Gunbuster vs Diebuster: Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie

2006

Kishin Houkou Demonbane poster
5.0

Lily Bridge, a young journalist, arrives at Arkham City, hoping to find a big scoop. However, with all the strange things occuring around the city, only the exceptional findings are news-worthy, such as the mysterious mecha known as Demonbane. However, upon finding a small piece of machinery that seemed to be connected with the Hadou Combine, Lily is determined to find the truth. Little does she know, she enters into a dark world, involving herself with Demonbane and the powerful forces that control the city.

Kishin Houkou Demonbane

2004

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story II poster
NR

The second specially edited memorial episode featuring Jean’s narration. This is a breath-taking sea adventure action animation. The story centers on a series of critical battles by the indestructible submarine, Nautilus and the conflict between Captain Nemo and the Gargoyle. It’s a shorter, more streamlined version of Nadia called "The Nautilus Story", which all but eliminates the filler arc and concentrates on the struggle between Nemo and Gargoyle. Some scenes in the more pivotal episodes are cut as well. The compilation series was made by Hideaki Anno, who was said to have been dissatisfied with the final result of the TV show. The Nautilus Story was only released in Japan on VHS and laserdisc.

Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story II

1991

Submarine 707 Revolution poster
6.4

A high-tech terrorist plagues the ocean... To counter the subversive activities of the USR, a shadowy terrorist group menacing the seas, the leading nations of the world join forces to form the Peace Keeping Navy (PKN). Its inauguration ceremony, however, quickly turns into disaster as Admiral Red, charismatic leader of the USR, launches a surprise attack on the PKN. With fi erce fi repower, Red lets his intentions be known that he will destroy anything that gets in the way of his twisted vision of an ideal future... Dive into this exciting deep-sea military action-adventure thriller, as Captain Hayami and the crew of the 707 try to outwit Admiral Red's gargantuan nuclear submarine!

Submarine 707 Revolution

2006

Otaku no Video 1982 poster
4.0

Part 1 of a mockumentary featuring an animated tale of an average person who slowly becomes an otaku (obsessive fanatic) and eventually becomes the “Otaking”! Between story segments, live action interviews with fictional die-hard otakus take place.

Otaku no Video 1982

1991