Kazuo Komatsubara

Birth : 1943-12-24, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

Death : 2000-03-24

History

Kazuo Komatsubara (小松原 一男 or 小松原 一夫, Komatsubara Kazuo, December 24, 1943 – March 24, 2000) was a Japanese animator, animation director and character designer born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. He worked as an independently contracted character designer for Toei Animation in the 1970s and 1980s. He was a member of the board of directors of animation studio Oh! Production (which he helped found along with Norio Shioyama, Kōichi Murata, and Kōshin Yonekawa). He died on March 24, 2000 due to a cancerous tumor on his neck.

Movies

Metropolis
Key Animation
Kenichi and his detective uncle, Shunsaku Ban, leave Japan to visit Metropolis, in search of the criminal, Dr. Laughton. However, when they finally find Dr. Laughton, Kenichi and Shunsaku find themselves seperated and plunged into the middle of a larger conspiracy. While Shunsaku searches for his nephew and explanations, Kenichi tries to protect Tima (a mysterious young girl), from Duke Red and his adopted son Rock, both of whom have very different reasons for wanting to find her.
Devilman Memorial
Character Designer
Summary of the 1972 Devilman series. Originally released on VHS and Laser Disc in 1999 and has never been released on DVD. It was also included in the Devilman blu-ray box set.
Detective Conan: The Fourteenth Target
Key Animation
A mysterious attacker has appeared and is assaulting people whose names contain a number from the standard deck of cards in descending order. When Conan Edogawa points out that all the victims are related to the now famous detective Kogorou Mouri, suspicion immediately falls upon the recently released convict Jou Murakami, as Kogorou was the one responsible for his arrest ten years prior. With potential victims still at risk, Conan and the police are determined to catch the culprit. As the case gradually unfolds, both Conan and his friend Ran Mouri learn more about her parents' separation and the truth on what transpired a decade ago.
A Chinese Ghost Story: The Tsui Hark Animation
Animation Director
A young man falls in love with a ghost and must avoid a variety of ghostbusters out to eliminate her and each other.
Detective Conan: The Time Bombed Skyscraper
Key Animation
Conan Edogawa is facing a dilemma: Ran Mouri has asked Shinichi Kudou out to the movies and he is unable to provide a convincing excuse not to go. However, when the day of the date arrives, he has more pressing problems to worry about—a great amount of plastic explosives has recently been stolen and the culprit has challenged Shinichi to find and dispose of the bombs he has scattered across the city. Now forced in a race against time, Conan must not only protect the city, but also figure out who the mastermind is and his reason for confronting Shinichi.
Little Twins: Bokura no Natsu ga Tondeiku
Animation Director
Little Twins
Character Designer
In these adaptations of lsamu Tsuchida's picture books for children, Tiffle and Tuffle are two little twins in pointed hats who live on Coracle Island and have a few light-hearted adventures.
I am Devilman, the Devil!
Character Designer
As Akira Fudo wakes up, he finds himself in a "chibi" form, which he thinks doesn't fit a hero such as himself. He is not the only one that has changed. Together with Ryo and Miki, they set out on a journey to restore their proper appearances and find out what caused this change. During their adventure they find several other characters from the world of Go Nagai, such as Mazinger Z, Dr. Hell, Baron Ashura, and others.
Fair, then Partly Piggy
Animation Director
Noriyasu seems like an average third-grader, but his life goes haywire after he catches his mother reading his private daily journal. In an effort to astonish her, he begins writing outlandish lies about a giant snake in the bathroom, cooking pencils for dinner, and a rain of pigs, but Noriyasu is the one who's shocked when his writings play out in reality and everyone else treats the events as normal. Things become even more chaotic when he takes several stabs at being a newspaperman, producing “fake news” that become the talk of the town and one resulting in an apocalyptic porcine holiday.
Fair, then Partly Piggy
Character Designer
Noriyasu seems like an average third-grader, but his life goes haywire after he catches his mother reading his private daily journal. In an effort to astonish her, he begins writing outlandish lies about a giant snake in the bathroom, cooking pencils for dinner, and a rain of pigs, but Noriyasu is the one who's shocked when his writings play out in reality and everyone else treats the events as normal. Things become even more chaotic when he takes several stabs at being a newspaperman, producing “fake news” that become the talk of the town and one resulting in an apocalyptic porcine holiday.
Wee Wendy
Animation Director
A sickly young Swiss girl named Muriel discovers that little people live out in the woods. One of these little folk, Wendy, befriends her - soon, buoyed by the mysterious healing power of Wendy's people, Muriel is following Wendy back out to the woods to have adventures.
Arei's Mirror ~ Way to Virgin Space
Character Designer
Meguru and Mayu are two future-wanderers hoping to find the mythical Mirror of Arei that is said to allow all who glimpse it to pass beyond the edge if the universe. Highjacked by renegade android Zero, the trio joins forces when they realise that they are all searching for the same thing.
Arei's Mirror ~ Way to Virgin Space
Animation Director
Meguru and Mayu are two future-wanderers hoping to find the mythical Mirror of Arei that is said to allow all who glimpse it to pass beyond the edge if the universe. Highjacked by renegade android Zero, the trio joins forces when they realise that they are all searching for the same thing.
Space Pirate Captain Harlock: Arcadia of My Youth
Animation Director
After a drawn-out, viciously-fought war, the earth has been conquered by the alien Illumidus Empire. Harlock, a captain in earth's fleet, crashes his ship to prevent the Illumidus from using it, and flat-out refuses to join them. With the help of his allies, Tochiro and the space pirate Emereldas, and his lover Miya, he wages a private and bitter war against the Illumidus.
Adieu Galaxy Express 999
Animation Director
Two years after the events of Galaxy Express 999, Earth has become a battlefield, and Tetsuro is summoned to board the Three-Nine once more. In this, the shattering, full-length theatrical conclusion to Leiji Matsumoto's epic story, all questions will be answered and all mysteries will be revealed as Tetsuro embarks on a journey which will reveal a secret so awful, even Maetel herself can hardly bear to speak of it.
Galaxy Express 999: Claire of Glass
Character Designer
While travelling on the Galaxy Express with Maetel, Tetsuro befriends Claire who was forced by her mother to exchange her organic body for crystal glass. When danger threatens Tetsuro, Claire tries to help him.
Galaxy Express 999: The Movie
Animation Director
In the future, one can achieve immortality by obtaining a mechanized body. Orphaned, young Tetsuro hitches a ride on the space train Galaxy Express 999 in the hope of obtaining a cyborg body to avenge his mother's death. Along the way, he meets Maetel, who is the spitting image of his dead mother.
Galaxy Express 999: The Movie
Character Designer
In the future, one can achieve immortality by obtaining a mechanized body. Orphaned, young Tetsuro hitches a ride on the space train Galaxy Express 999 in the hope of obtaining a cyborg body to avenge his mother's death. Along the way, he meets Maetel, who is the spitting image of his dead mother.
Space Pirate Captain Harlock: Mystery Of The Arcadia
Character Designer
The story on Arcadia's mystery, on which the 13th television episode was based.
Space Pirate Captain Harlock: Mystery Of The Arcadia
Animation Director
The story on Arcadia's mystery, on which the 13th television episode was based.
Magnerobo Ga-Keen
Graphic Designer
Evil space creatures retreat from the treacherous Ice Age and hibernate on the ocean floor. They awaken millions of years later to conquer Earth! Only the ingenuity and resources of Sir Miles and his awesome robot creations have a chance at defeating them! He enlists world karate champion Janis to pilot the robot Magnon, and his daughter Lady Ester Nevers, to pilot Magneta. When Janis and Lady Ester unite the two Robots, Magnon and Magneta are transformed into Magnos, the ultimate power robot! Will the might of the malevolent space aliens defeat Magnos? Or, will Magnos triumph over the evil forces and protect Earth's freedom against future invaders? As suspense mounts, you'll discover what happens in this exciting adventure of humans and machines good versus evil!
Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid
Key Animation
The story of a beautiful mermaid who gave up a kingdom for her beloved prince.