Directed credits
13
Active
Regular directing credits.
Director
Mahiro Maeda
Directing
Career Snapshot
ExplainedThese indicators come from TMDB. They are relative signals, not review ratings.
TMDB popularity
0.8
Low visibility
TMDB internal trend index. Higher usually means more searches and page activity now.
Directed movies: 9Directed series: 4All crew credits: 64
TMDB ID: 56341
IMDb ID: nm0535340
Known for: Directing
Born: March 14, 1963
Age: 62
Place of birth: Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, Japan
Gender: Male
Adult content flag: No
Career span: 1984 - 2025
Years active: 42
Average TMDB rating: 7.2
Wikidata: Q81078
Frequent jobs
Director (12)Series Director (1)Key Animation (20)Storyboard Artist (6)Animation (5)Creature Design (5)Storyboard (3)Original Story (2)Art Designer (1)Character Designer (1)
Biography
Mahiro Maeda (前田 真宏 Maeda Mahiro) born March 14, 1963 is one of the most prominent Japanese anime creators working today, having worked as director, character designer, and animator for many of Japan's top series. Helen McCarthy in 500 Essential Anime Movies called him "one of the most imaginative visualists in anime". He also worked on Concept Art and Design for Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), which won six Academy Awards. He has been one of the top contributors at the anime studio GONZO for many years, having directed Blue Submarine No. 6, Final Fantasy: Unlimited and Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo. His design work ranges from 2 of the "Angels" in Neon Genesis Evangelion to production and mechanical design for such series as Magic User's Club (魔法使いTai! Mahō Tsukai Tai!), The Vision of Escaflowne and Last Exile. He was also the designer of the invaders in Gatekeepers 21. His earlier years were spent mostly at the famed Studio Ghibli, where he helped animate classics such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, and Porco Rosso. Maeda is also one of the select Japanese directors to actively collaborate with the international film media on various projects. He provided key animation for the animation sequence in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Vol. 1. His directorial work has also been featured in such exclusive package films as The Animatrix (segment: "The Second Renaissance Parts I and II"), Genius Party Beyond (segment: "Gala"), and Ani*Kuri15 (segment: "Princess Onmitsu"). He has also visited the American Anime Expo convention in 2000 and 2003.
Movies
Directed Movies
Movies directed by Mahiro Maeda.
6.0
Hammerhead
Director
2015 Movie
6.2
20min Walk from Nishi-Ogikubo Station, 2 Bedrooms, Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2mos Deposit, No Pets Allowed
Director
2014 Movie
Peaceful Times (F02) Petit Film
Director
2013 Movie
6.3
Genius Party Beyond
Director
2008 Movie
6.4
Ani*Kuri15
Director
2008 Movie
7.2
The Animatrix
Director
2003 Movie
7.5
The Second Renaissance Part II
Director
2003 Movie
7.5
The Second Renaissance Part I
Director
2003 Movie
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water - Nautilus Story III
Director
1991 Movie
Series
Directed Series
Series directed by Mahiro Maeda.
Movies
Top Rated Movies
Highest rated movies linked with Mahiro Maeda.
8.3
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Key Animation
1997 Movie
8.2
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
Key Animation
2021 Movie
8.0
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Animation
2003 Movie
8.0
Castle in the Sky
Key Animation
1986 Movie
7.8
Porco Rosso
Key Animation
1992 Movie
7.8
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
Key Animation
2009 Movie
7.6
Mad Max: Fury Road
Animation
2015 Movie
7.5
The Second Renaissance Part II
Director
2003 Movie
7.5
The Second Renaissance Part I
Director
2003 Movie
7.4
Gamera 2: Attack of Legion
Creature Design
1996 Movie
7.4
Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris
Creature Design
1999 Movie
7.4
Only Yesterday
Key Animation
1991 Movie
Series
Top Rated Series
Highest rated series linked with Mahiro Maeda.
8.5
Kaiju No. 8
Creature Design • 23 eps
2024 Series
8.4
One-Punch Man
Key Animation • 1 eps
2015 Series
8.2
Kill la Kill
Key Animation • 1 eps
2013 Series
7.7
Rage of Bahamut
Storyboard Artist • 1 eps
2014 Series
7.7
Gunbuster
Key Animation • 1 eps
1988 Series
7.5
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
Director • 1 eps
1990 Series
7.2
SSSS.GRIDMAN
Creature Design • 1 eps
2018 Series
Movies
Most Popular Movies
Most viewed movie titles linked with Mahiro Maeda.
7.6
Mad Max: Fury Road
Animation
2015 Movie
8.0
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Animation
2003 Movie
8.0
Castle in the Sky
Key Animation
1986 Movie
8.3
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Key Animation
1997 Movie
7.8
Porco Rosso
Key Animation
1992 Movie
7.2
The Animatrix
Director
2003 Movie
7.2
Shin Godzilla
Storyboard
2016 Movie
8.2
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
Key Animation
2021 Movie
7.2
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
Key Animation
2012 Movie
7.8
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
Key Animation
2009 Movie
7.0
Shin Kamen Rider
Conceptual Design
2023 Movie
7.4
Only Yesterday
Key Animation
1991 Movie
Series
Most Popular Series
Most viewed series linked with Mahiro Maeda.
8.4
One-Punch Man
Key Animation • 1 eps
2015 Series
8.5
Kaiju No. 8
Creature Design • 23 eps
2024 Series
8.2
Kill la Kill
Key Animation • 1 eps
2013 Series
7.7
Rage of Bahamut
Storyboard Artist • 1 eps
2014 Series
7.5
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
Director • 1 eps
1990 Series
7.5
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Storyboard Artist • 3 eps
2025 Series
7.2
SSSS.GRIDMAN
Creature Design • 1 eps
2018 Series
7.7
Gunbuster
Key Animation • 1 eps
1988 Series
7.2
Last Exile
Production Design • 26 eps
2003 Series
4.4
Lemon Angel
Key Animation • 1 eps
1987 Series
5.6
VanDread
Key Animation • 1 eps
2000 Series
7.1
Japan Animator Expo
Storyboard • 2 eps
2014 Series
Movies
Other Crew Work in Movies
Additional movie credits for Mahiro Maeda.
7.9
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-
Storyboard Artist
2025 Movie
6.0
Special Broadcast Movie "Shin Kamen Rider" Premise/Act 1: Kumo-Aug
Art Designer
2023 Movie
7.0
Shin Kamen Rider
Conceptual Design
2023 Movie
5.9
EVANGELION:3.0(-120min.)
Comic Book
2023 Movie
3.1
SSSS.GRIDMAN Grand Episode
Creature Design
2023 Movie
7.0
Adam by Eve: A Live in Animation
Concept Artist
2022 Movie
8.2
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time
Key Animation
2021 Movie
6.1
A Good Child's History Anime: The Giant Turnip (Inc.)
Key Animation
2016 Movie
7.2
Shin Godzilla
Storyboard
2016 Movie
4.0
Last Exile: Ginyoku no Fam Movie - Over the Wishes
Original Story
2016 Movie
6.4
Rapid Rouge
Original Concept
2015 Movie
7.6
Mad Max: Fury Road
Animation
2015 Movie
5.5
Kanón
Storyboard Artist
2015 Movie
7.5
Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark
Storyboard Artist
2014 Movie
7.2
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
Key Animation
2012 Movie
6.6
Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo
Special Effects
2012 Movie
Series
Other Crew Work in Series
Additional series credits for Mahiro Maeda.
7.5
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Storyboard Artist • 3 eps
2025 Series
8.5
Kaiju No. 8
Creature Design • 23 eps
2024 Series
7.2
SSSS.GRIDMAN
Creature Design • 1 eps
2018 Series
8.4
One-Punch Man
Key Animation • 1 eps
2015 Series
7.1
Japan Animator Expo
Storyboard • 2 eps
2014 Series
7.7
Rage of Bahamut
Storyboard Artist • 1 eps
2014 Series
7.7
Ando Lloyd ～A.I. knows LOVE ?～
Original Story • 10 eps
2013 Series
8.2
Kill la Kill
Key Animation • 1 eps
2013 Series
7.2
Gankutsuou
Executive Producer • 24 eps
2004 Series
7.2
Last Exile
Production Design • 26 eps
2003 Series
5.0
Gate Keepers 21
Storyboard • 1 eps
2002 Series
6.7
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
Character Designer • 25 eps
2001 Series
5.6
VanDread
Key Animation • 1 eps
2000 Series
4.4
Doomed Megalopolis
Key Animation • 3 eps
1991 Series
7.7
Gunbuster
Key Animation • 1 eps
1988 Series
4.4
Lemon Angel
Key Animation • 1 eps
1987 Series
Movies
Acting Appearances in Movies
Movie cast credits for Mahiro Maeda.
