Mitsutoshi Kubota
{{Short description|Japanese animation producer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mitsutoshi Kubota
| native_name = 久保田 光俊
| birth_date = 1960
| birth_place = Kikugawa, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan{{Cite web |url=https://shizukuru.pref.shizuoka.jp/satellite_office/column/shaft.html|script-title=ja:首都圏集中型のアニメ業界に変革を。その第一歩は静岡市から(株式会社シャフト)|trans-title= Reforming the Anime Industry Concentrated in the Toktoy Metropolitan Area. The first step is Shizuoka City (Shaft)|language= Japanese|date= December 23, 2022|access-date= January 9, 2023}}
| nationality = Japanese
| occupation = Producer, color designer
| employer = Shaft
| years_active = 1980–present
}}
{{Nihongo|Mitsutoshi Kubota|久保田 光俊|Kubota Mitsutoshi|lead=yes}} is a Japanese painter, color designer, producer, and the current president of Shaft.{{cite web|url= http://www.allcinema.net/prog/show_p.php?num_p=279914|title=久保田光俊 |accessdate=June 8, 2017|work=allcinema|publisher=Stingray|language= Japanese}}
Career
Kubota began his career in the anime industry as a cel painter in the 1980s as a sub-contractor with painting studio Shaft, which had been founded in 1975 by Hiroshi Wakao.{{cite web |title=Company |url=http://www.shaft-web.co.jp/company/ |website=Shaft |accessdate=December 30, 2020 |language=Japanese}} The next year, he did his first job as color designer on Hitotsuboshi-ke no Ultra Baasan (1982–1983). From then until 1995, Kubota mainly served as a cel painter, color coordinator, and coloring inspector. In 1995, Kubota moved up to production management, which began with Shaft's first original series: Juuni Senshi Bakuretsu Eto Ranger.{{cite thesis |last=Rubin |first= Lucy Paige|year=2017|title= Between Comedy and Despair: The House Style of Studio Shaft|type= Bachelor of the Arts|publisher= Wesleyan University|url= https://digitalcollections.wesleyan.edu/object/ir-978|access-date=May 24, 2021}} He was promoted to managing director of the studio that year.{{Cite magazine|magazine= SPOT|language= Japanese|volume= 7|page=76|publication-date= September 16, 2017|script-title=ja:プロデューサー 久保田光俊|trans-title= Producer Mitsutoshi Kubota}} The year after, Kubota and Shaft were approached by Triangle Staff and Ryūtarō Nakamura to produce the second episode of their Legend of Crystania: The Chaos Ring OVA series, which the studio and Kubota accepted the offer to.{{Cite web |url= https://gigazine.net/news/20160916-playback-ryutaro-nakamura/|website= Gigazine|script-title= ja:中村隆太郎監督の作品をこれからも楽しんでいきたいという思いが詰まった「プレイバック中村隆太郎」レポート|trans-title= "Playback Ryūtarō Nakamura", a Report Filled with the Desire to Continue to Enjoy the Work of Director Ryūtarō Nakamura|date= September 16, 2016|access-date= April 12, 2022|language= Japanese}} In 2004, Shaft's founder, Hiroshi Wakao, retired as president of the company and Kubota was chosen to succeed him, with the former staying as a chairman with the studio.
After watching several Akiyuki Shinbo's works as a director, namely The SoulTaker and Le Portrait de Petit Cossette, Kubota invited the former to become a director and mentor with the studio for the purpose of creating a uniquely identifiable brand. Shinbo brought many talents to the studio, such as directors Shin Ōnuma, Tatsuya Oishi, Naoyuki Tatsuwa, and Tomoyuki Itamura, and the studio has since achieved fame for having "arthouse" productions and "striking" visuals throughout the studio's works.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2016-11-08/interview-studio-shaft-president-mitsutoshi-kubota/.108592|title= Interview: Studio SHAFT president Mitsutoshi Kubota|website= AnimeNewsNetwork|author= Jones, Evan|date= November 8, 2016|access-date= January 3, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2017-01-18/the-secret-of-studio-shaft/.110526|title= The Secret of Studio SHAFT|website= AnimeNewsNetwork|date= January 18, 2017|author= Creamer, Nick|access-date= January 3, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-list/2012-09-08|title= The List - 8 Most Visually Striking Anime Production|author= Loveridge, Lynzee|date= September 8, 2012|access-date= January 3, 2021}} In the mid-2000s, following several instances of Triangle Staff and Nakmaura outsourcing episodes of their series to Shaft, Kubota asked Nakamura to direct REC at the studio, which Nakamura agreed to. During production of the series, Kubota was approached to produce a film version of Kino's Journey, which Nakamura had previously directed at Triangle Staff, to which Kubota and Shaft obliged their services.
Kubota remains relatively active in the creative process to Shaft's series. For The Quintessential Quintuplets∽, Kazuya Shiotsuki mentioned that Kubota directly supervised the creation of the key visuals for the work and gave much of his opinion on the colors.{{Cite web |url=https://artistunknown.info/2023/08/04/interview-with-quintessential-quintuplets-tv-special-staff-at-otakon-2023/|title= Interview with Quintessential Quintuplets TV Special Staff at Otakon 2023|author=Nate "Kbnet"|date= August 4, 2023|website= Artist Unknown|access-date= August 5, 2023}} Doroinu also mentioned that Kubota came up with the idea of expressing a theme of "connectivity" in the Magia Record anime adaptation.{{sfn|Maeda|Nakagami|Kawabata|Nishitani|2020|p=105}} It was also Kubota's idea to change Nagisa Momoe's hair color from blonde to white in Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion according to Shinbo.{{sfn|Kizawa|Takayama|Saitou|2014|p=107}}
Works
=Television series=
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; margin=auto; "
!scope="col" width=5%| Year !scope="col" width=20%| Title !scope="col" width=10%| Studio !scope="col" width=10%| Producer !scope="col" width=10%| Planner !scope="col" class="unsortable"| Other roles and notes !scope="col" class="unsortable"| Ref(s) |
rowspan="2"|1980
|Time Bokan Series: Time Patrol Tai Otasukeman |{{no}} |{{no}} |Cel painter | |
Kaibutsu-kun
|{{no}} |{{no}} |Cel painter | |
1981
|{{no}} |{{no}} |Cel-painting inspector | |
1982
|Hitotsuboshi-ke no Ultra Baasan |Knack |{{no}} |{{no}} |Color designer | |
rowspan="3"|1983
|Superbook 2 |Tatsunoko Production |{{no}} |{{no}} |Color coordinator | |
Serendipity the Pink Dragon
|Zuiyo |{{no}} |{{no}} |Cel painter | |
Nine 2
|{{no}} |{{no}} |Cel painter | |
1984
|Knack |{{no}} |{{no}} |Cel-painting inspector | |
1985
|Group TAC |{{no}} |{{no}} |Cel painter | |
1987
|{{no}} |{{no}} |Color coordinator | |
rowspan="2"|1988
|Studio Pierrot |{{no}} |{{no}} |Cel painter | |
City Hunter
|{{no}} |{{no}} |Color coordinator | |
1989
|{{no}} |{{no}} |Color coordinator | |
1990
|Tatsunoko Production |{{no}} |{{no}} |Color coordinator | |
1991
|Oh! My Konbu |Studio Koriumi |{{no}} |{{no}} |Special effects | |
1992
|{{no}} |{{no}} |Special effects | |
1994
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{no}} |Special effects | |
1995
|Juuni Senshi Bakuretsu Eto Ranger |Shaft |{{no}} |{{no}} |Production assistant | |
1997
|AIC |{{yes|Production producer}} |{{no}} | | |
1998
|Radix |{{yes|Production producer}} |{{no}} | |{{sfn|Shinbo|2012|p=240}} |
1999
|Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventures |AIC |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
2000
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
2001
|Gainax |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
2002
|Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful |Gaianx |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
2003
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2004
|This Ugly yet Beautiful World |Gainax |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2005
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
Pani Poni Dash!
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2006
|REC |Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
Negima!?
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="3"|2007
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
Ef: A Tale of Memories
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="3"|2008
|Zoku Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei |Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
Hidamari Sketch x 365
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
Ef: A Tale of Melodies
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="5"|2009
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
Natsu no Arashi!
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
Bakemonogatari
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
Zan, Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
Natsu no Arashi! Akinai-chuu
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="4"|2010
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
Hidamari Sketch x Hoshimittsu
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
Arakawa Under the Bridge
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
And Yet the Town Moves
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="4"|2011
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
Maria Holic Alive
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
Hidamari Sketch x SP
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2012
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
Nekomonogatari: Black
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2013
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
Monogatari Series Second Season
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="4"|2014
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
Mekakucity Actors
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
Hanamonogatari
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
Tsukimonogatari
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="3"|2015
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
Nisekoi:
|Shaft |{{yes|Chief producer}} |{{no}} | | |
Owarimonogatari
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
2016
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2017
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
March Comes In like a Lion 2nd Season
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
2018
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
2019
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2020
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
Assault Lily Bouquet
|Shaft |{{yes|Produce}} |{{yes}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2021
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
Magia Record: The Eve of Awakening
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
rowspan="3"|2022
|Magia Record: Dawn of a Shallow Dream |Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
Luminous Witches
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
RWBY: Ice Queendom
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{no}} |Planning supervisor | |
rowspan="2"|2023
|Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead |{{no}} |{{no}} |Production assistance | |
The Quintessential Quintuplets∽
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{no}} |Animation supervisor | |
2025
|A Ninja and an Assassin Under One Roof |Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
=OVAs/ONAs=
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; margin=auto; "
!scope="col" width=5%| Year !scope="col" width=20%| Title !scope="col" width=10%| Studio !scope="col" width=10%| Producer !scope="col" width=10%| Planner !scope="col" class="unsortable"| Other roles and notes !scope="col" class="unsortable"| Ref(s) |
rowspan="2"|1987
|Yume kara, Samenai |Shaft |{{no}} |{{no}} |Color coordinator | |
Taiman Blues: Naoto Shimizu-hen
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{no}} |Color coordinator | |
1991
|Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato: Dark Genesis |Tatsunoko Production |{{no}} |{{no}} |Special effects | |
1994
|Legend of the Galactic Heroes |Kitty Film Mitaka Studio |{{no}} |{{no}} |Production assistant | |
1995
|Pastel |{{no}} |{{no}} |Cel painter | |
1996
|{{no}} |{{no}} |Production desk | |
rowspan="3"|1997
|Inma Youjo: The Erotic Temptress |Magic Bus |{{no}} |{{no}} |Production desk | |
Legend of Crystania: The Chaos Ring
|{{no}} |{{no}} |Production manager |
Sakura Diaries
|{{no}} |{{no}} |Production manager | |
1998
|Legend of the Galactic Heroes Gaiden |Shaft{{efn|name=lotgh}} |{{yes|Production producer}} |{{no}} |Production manager | |
rowspan="2"|2001
|Pastel |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
Kikaider 01: The Animation
|Radix |{{yes|Line producer}} |{{no}} | | |
2002
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2006
|rowspan="2"|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
Negima! Summer
|{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2008
|Negima! Shiroki Tsubasa Ala Alba |Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
Goku Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2009
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
Zan Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei Bangaichi
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
2011
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
2012
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
2013
|Hidamari Sketch: Sae & Hiro's Graduation Arc |Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
2014
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
2015
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2016
|The Beheading Cycle: The Blue Savant and the Nonsense Bearer |Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
Koyomimonogatari
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
2019
|Ikebukuro PR Anime |Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
2021
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
2024
|Monogatari Series Off & Monster Season |Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
=Films=
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; margin=auto; "
!scope="col" width=5%| Year !scope="col" width=20%| Title !scope="col" width=10%| Studio !scope="col" width=10%| Producer !scope="col" width=10%| Planner !scope="col" class="unsortable"| Other roles and notes !scope="col" class="unsortable"| Ref(s) |
1981
|{{no}} |{{no}} |Cel painter | |
1983
|Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer |Studio Pierrot |{{no}} |{{no}} |Cel painter | |
1984
|Kakkun Cafe |{{no}} |{{no}} |Color coordinator | |
1994
|Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie |Group TAC |{{no}} |{{no}} |Cel painter | |
2007
|Kino's Journey: Country of Illness |Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
2011
|Shaft |{{yes|Animation producer}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2012
|Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Beginnings |rowspan="3"|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Eternal
|{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
2013
|Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2016
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
Kizumonogatari II: Nekketsu
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
rowspan="2"|2017
|Shaft |{{yes}} |{{no}} | | |
Fireworks
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{no}} |Production committee |{{sfn|Oota|Shaft|2017|p=42}} |
2022
|The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie |{{no}} |{{no}} |Thanks | |
2024
|Shaft |{{no}} |{{yes}} | | |
=Video games=
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; margin=auto; "
!scope="col" width=5%| Year !scope="col" width=20%| Title !scope="col" width=15%| Developer !scope="col" width=10%| Studio !scope="col" class="unsortable"| Roles !scope="col" class="unsortable"| Ref(s) |
1997
|Roommate: Inoue Ryouko |Datam Polystar |Shaft |Animation producer | |
2001
|Shaft |Production manager | |
2003
|Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel 2nd |Gainax |Gainax |Production | |
2017
|f4samurai |Shaft |Production assistance | |
2021
|Shaft |Executive producer | |
Notes
=General notes=
{{notelist}}
=Book citations=
- {{cite book|script-title=ja:新房語|trans-title=Shinbogatari|last= Shinbo|first= Akiyuki|language= Japanese|date= July 27, 2012|publisher= Ichijinsha|isbn=978-4758012591}}
- {{Cite book|script-title=ja:劇場版魔法やまどかマギカ[新編]叛逆の物語公式ガイドブック only you.|trans-title= Movie Version Puella Magi Madoka Magica [New Edition] Story of Rebellion Official Guidebook only you.|editor1-first=Yukito|editor1-last=Kizawa| editor2-first=Atsushi|editor2-last=Takayama| editor3-first=Fusano|editor3-last=Saitou| publisher=Houbunsha|year=2014|ISBN=978-4832244290}}
- {{cite book |script-title=ja:パンフレット 打ち上げ花火、下から見るか?横から見るか?|trans-title= Pamphlet: Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom?|date= August 18, 2017|language= Japanese|publisher= Toho|author1-last= Oota|author1-first= Keiji|author2= Shaft}}
- {{cite book|script-title=ja:マギアレコード 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ外伝 TVアニメ公式ガイドブック 1巻|trans-title=Magia Record Puella Magi Madoka Magica TV Anime Official Guidebook Volume 1|year=2020|publisher=Houbunsha|last1=Maeda|first1=Hisashi|last2=Nakagami|first2=Yoshikatsu|last3=Kawabata|first3=Takeshi|last4=Nishitani|first4=Nanako|
language=Japanese|isbn=978-4832272019}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Anime News Network|person|22034}}
- {{IMDb name|1562757}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kubota, Mitsutoshi}}