Masahiko Murata

Masahiko Murata (むらた 雅彦, Murata Masahiko, born August 8) is an animator, animation director, director and storyboard artist from Saitama Prefecture. His real name and former stage name are Masahiko Murata (村田 雅彦, Murata Masahiko). Masahiko joined Shaft in early 80's and left the company in late 90's to become a freelancer. He was the first director of OVA “Mazinkaiser”. His main works as anime film director include “Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Will of Fire”, “Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower, and “Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Blood Prison”. As for anime TV series, he was the director in “Gilgamesh”, “Corpse Princess: Aka”, “Corpse Princess: Kuro”, “NARUTO Spin-Off: Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals”, and To Your Eternity (first season), among others.

Ghost in the Shell Arise - Border 1: Ghost Pain (2013)

The story is set in 2027, one year after the end of the fourth non-nuclear war. New Port City is still reeling from the war's aftermath when it suffers a bombing caused by a self-propelled mine. Then, a military member implicated in arms-dealing bribes is gunned ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kazuchika Kise  •  Masahiko Murata
CAST:  Maaya Sakamoto  •  Ikkyu Juku  •  Kenichirou Matsuda  •  Kazuya Nakai

The story is set in 2027, one year after the end of the fourth non-nuclear war. New Port City is still reeling from the war's aftermath when it suffers a bombing caused by a self-propelled mine. Then, a military member implicated in arms-dealing bribes is gunned ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kazuchika Kise  •  Masahiko Murata
CAST:  Maaya Sakamoto  •  Ikkyu Juku  •  Kenichirou Matsuda  •  Kazuya Nakai

Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Blood Prison (2011)

After his capture for attempted assassination of the Raikage, leader of Kumogakure, as well as killing Jōnin from Kirigakure and Iwagakure, Naruto is imprisoned in Hōzukijou: A criminal containment facility known as the Blood Prison. Mui, the castle master, uses ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiko Murata
CAST:  Junko Takeuchi  •  Mie Sonozaki  •  Masaki Terasoma  •  Chie Nakamura

After his capture for attempted assassination of the Raikage, leader of Kumogakure, as well as killing Jōnin from Kirigakure and Iwagakure, Naruto is imprisoned in Hōzukijou: A criminal containment facility known as the Blood Prison. Mui, the castle master, uses ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiko Murata
CAST:  Junko Takeuchi  •  Mie Sonozaki  •  Masaki Terasoma  •  Chie Nakamura

Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower (2010)

Adventurous

Assigned on a mission to capture Mukade, a missing-nin, Naruto Uzumaki sets out for the once glorious historic ruins of "Ouran", where he pursues and corners the rouge ninja. Mukade's goal is revealed to be a dormant leyline within the ruins; he unleashes the power ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiko Murata
CAST:  Kazuhiko Inoue  •  Chie Nakamura  •  Junko Takeuchi  •  Toshiyuki Morikawa

Assigned on a mission to capture Mukade, a missing-nin, Naruto Uzumaki sets out for the once glorious historic ruins of "Ouran", where he pursues and corners the rouge ninja. Mukade's goal is revealed to be a dormant leyline within the ruins; he unleashes the power ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiko Murata
CAST:  Kazuhiko Inoue  •  Chie Nakamura  •  Junko Takeuchi  •  Toshiyuki Morikawa

Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Will of Fire (2009)

Ninjas with bloodline limits begin disappearing in all the countries and blame points toward the fire nation. By Tsunade's order, Kakashi is sacrificed to prevent an all out war. After inheriting charms left by Kakashi, Naruto fights through friends and foes to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiko Murata
CAST:  Chie Nakamura  •  Junko Takeuchi  •  Kazuhiko Inoue  •  Romi Park

Ninjas with bloodline limits begin disappearing in all the countries and blame points toward the fire nation. By Tsunade's order, Kakashi is sacrificed to prevent an all out war. After inheriting charms left by Kakashi, Naruto fights through friends and foes to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiko Murata
CAST:  Chie Nakamura  •  Junko Takeuchi  •  Kazuhiko Inoue  •  Romi Park

Naruto: The Lost Story - Mission: Protect the Waterfall Village! (2003)

Naruto and his friends must get back a jug of stolen holy water from a band of higher class ninjas.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiko Murata  •  Hayato Date
CAST:  Junko Takeuchi  •  Kazuhiko Inoue  •  Chie Nakamura  •  Noriaki Sugiyama

Naruto and his friends must get back a jug of stolen holy water from a band of higher class ninjas.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiko Murata  •  Hayato Date
CAST:  Junko Takeuchi  •  Kazuhiko Inoue  •  Chie Nakamura  •  Noriaki Sugiyama

Mazinkaiser vs Great Darkness General (2003)

Mazinkaiser vs the Great general of darkness is a retelling of 1974's Mazinger Z vs. The Great General of Darkness. The new Mazinger Team is overwhelmed by the surprise assault of the subterranean Mykene empire resulting in many casualties, but Mazinkaiser ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiko Murata
CAST:  Sayaka Aida  •  Hiroya Ishimaru  •  Ai Uchikawa  •  Akiko Hiramatsu

Mazinkaiser vs the Great general of darkness is a retelling of 1974's Mazinger Z vs. The Great General of Darkness. The new Mazinger Team is overwhelmed by the surprise assault of the subterranean Mykene empire resulting in many casualties, but Mazinkaiser ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiko Murata
CAST:  Sayaka Aida  •  Hiroya Ishimaru  •  Ai Uchikawa  •  Akiko Hiramatsu

Growlanser IV: Wayfarer of Time (2005)

After a harrowing period of war, the countries of Valcania, Dulkheim and Igrecias form a confederation and begin a new system of political order. However, three years later many are still unhappy with this system, and a group of nobles led by Lyros, Prince of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiko Murata
CAST:  Mie Sonozaki  •  Naozumi Takahashi  •  Ryoko Nagata  •  Takeshi Kusao

After a harrowing period of war, the countries of Valcania, Dulkheim and Igrecias form a confederation and begin a new system of political order. However, three years later many are still unhappy with this system, and a group of nobles led by Lyros, Prince of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Masahiko Murata
CAST:  Mie Sonozaki  •  Naozumi Takahashi  •  Ryoko Nagata  •  Takeshi Kusao

 (more)

DIRECTION:  Kazuchika Kise  •  Masahiko Murata
CAST:  Maaya Sakamoto  •  Ikkyu Juku  •  Kenichirou Matsuda  •  Kazuya Nakai