View source for Mamoru Oshii

{{Short description|Japanese filmmaker, television director, and writer (born 1951)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name                  = Mamoru Oshii
| native_name           = 押井守
| native_name_lang      = ja
| image                 = Mamoru Oshii - Lucca Comics & Games 2015.JPG
| imagesize             = 
| caption               = Oshii at [[Lucca Comics & Games]] in 2015
| birth_name            =
| birth_date            = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1951|8|8}}
| birth_place           = [[Tokyo]], Japan
| death_date            = 
| death_place           = 
| other_names           = 
| occupation            = Film director<br />screenwriter<br />[[mangaka]]<br />television director<br />novelist
| years_active          = 1977–present
| spouse                = 
| partner               = 
| known_for             = ''[[Ghost in the Shell]]''
| relatives             = [[Otsuichi]] (son-in-law)
}}

{{Nihongo|'''Mamoru Oshii'''|押井 守|Oshii Mamoru|born 8 August 1951}} is a Japanese filmmaker, television director and writer. Famous for his philosophy-oriented storytelling, Oshii has directed a number of acclaimed [[anime]] films, including ''[[Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer]]'' (1984), ''[[Angel's Egg]]'' (1985), ''[[Patlabor 2: The Movie]]'' (1993), and ''[[Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|Ghost in the Shell]]'' (1995). He also holds the distinction of directing the first ever [[Original video animation|OVA]], ''[[Dallos]]'' (1983). As a writer, Oshii has worked as a screenwriter, and occasionally as a [[manga|manga writer]] and novelist. His most notable works as a writer include the manga ''[[Kerberos Panzer Cop]]'' (1988–2000) and its feature film adaptation ''[[Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade]]'' (1999).

For his work, Oshii has received and been nominated for numerous awards, including the [[Palme d'Or]] and [[Leone d'Oro]] (Golden Lion). He has also attracted praise from many directors, including [[James Cameron]], [[Steven Spielberg]] and [[The Wachowskis]], especially for his work on ''Ghost in the Shell''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rose |first1=Steve |title=Hollywood is haunted by Ghost in the Shell |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/oct/19/hollywood-ghost-in-the-shell |access-date=January 21, 2022 |work=the Guardian |date=October 19, 2009 |language=en}}</ref>

==Career==

===Early career (1977–1982)===
Oshii has said he had an interest in [[Christianity]] and the [[Bible]] from an early age. In an interview with ''[[Animerica]]'' magazine in 1996 that "I really liked the Bible when I was a little boy. And when I was a student, at one point I was planning to enter a seminary, but I didn't. Even now, though, I read the Bible sometimes."<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Horn |first=Carl Gustav |date=February 1996 |title=A Director's Dreamscape – The Animerica Interview with Mamorou Oshii |journal=Animerica |publisher=[[Viz Media]] |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=4–5, 18–21}}</ref> 

As a student, Mamoru Oshii was fascinated by the film ''[[La Jetée]]'' by [[Chris Marker]].<ref name="Wah Lau 2003 78">{{cite book   | last = Wah Lau  | first = Jenny Kwok  | title = Multiple Modernities: Cinemas and Popular Media in Transcultural East Asia  | publisher = Temple University Press  | year = 2003  | page = 78  | isbn = 1-56639-986-6 }}</ref> He also repeatedly watched [[Cinema of Europe|European cinema]], such as films by [[Federico Fellini]], [[Ingmar Bergman]], [[Michelangelo Antonioni]] and [[Jean-Pierre Melville]].<ref name="bergen">{{Cite news  | last = Bergen  | first = Andrez  | author-link = Andrez Bergen  | title = The Age of Innocence  | newspaper = [[Daily Yomiuri]]  | date = March 2004  | url = http://andrezbergen.tripod.com/id13.html  | access-date = 16 June 2009  | archive-date = 26 July 2011  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110726184452/http://andrezbergen.tripod.com/id13.html  | url-status = live  }}</ref> These filmmakers, together with [[Jean-Luc Godard]], [[Andrei Tarkovsky]] and [[Jerzy Kawalerowicz]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.midnighteye.com/interviews/mamoru_oshii.shtml|title=Midnight Eye interview: Mamorou Oshii|access-date=19 September 2008|archive-date=16 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916152235/http://www.midnighteye.com/interviews/mamoru_oshii.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> would later serve as influences for Oshii's own cinematic career.<ref name="aphrodisiac">{{Cite web |url=http://www.popmatters.com/film/interviews/oshii-mamoru-040923.shtml |title=THERE IS NO APHRODISIAC LIKE INNOCENCE |access-date=19 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013054536/http://www.popmatters.com/film/interviews/oshii-mamoru-040923.shtml |archive-date=13 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was also influenced by his father, who was a cinephile.<ref name="Shuffle">{{cite book   | editor=傻呼嚕同盟 (Shahulu tongmeng) | title = 日本動畫五天王 (Riben Donghua Wu Tianwang) | publisher = 大塊文化  | year = 2006 | isbn = 9867291913}}</ref>

In 1976, he graduated from [[Tokyo Gakugei University]]. The following year, he entered [[Tatsunoko Productions]] and worked on his first [[anime]] as a [[storyboard artist]] on ''[[Ippatsu Kanta-kun]]''.<ref name=ruh5,6>{{cite book   | last = Ruh  | first = Brian  | title = Stray Dog of Anime: The Films of Mamoru Oshii | url = https://archive.org/details/straydoganimefil00ruhb  | url-access = limited  | publisher = Palgrave Macmillan  | year = 2004  | page = [https://archive.org/details/straydoganimefil00ruhb/page/n15 5]  | isbn = 1-4039-6334-7 }}</ref> During this period at Tatsunoko, Oshii worked on many anime as a storyboard artist, most of which were part of the ''[[Time Bokan]]'' television series. In 1980, he moved to [[Studio Pierrot]] under the supervision of his mentor, Hisayuki Toriumi.<ref name=ruh5,6/>

===Success with ''Urusei Yatsura'' (1981–1984)===
Mamoru Oshii's work as director and storyboard artist of the animated ''[[Urusei Yatsura]]'' TV series brought him into the spotlight. Following its success, he directed two ''Urusei Yatsura'' films: ''[[Urusei Yatsura: Only You]]'' (1983) and ''[[Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer]]'' (1984). The first film, though an original story, continued much in the spirit of the series. ''Beautiful Dreamer'' was also written by Oshii with no consultation from Takahashi<ref>Mamoru Oshii commentary in U.S. Manga Corps DVD release of ''Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer''</ref> and was a significant departure and an early example of his now contemporary style.<ref>{{cite book 
  | last = Ruh
  | first = Brian
  | title = Stray Dog of Anime: The Films of Mamoru Oshii
  | url = https://archive.org/details/straydoganimefil00ruhb
  | url-access = limited
  | publisher = Palgrave Macmillan
  | year = 2004
  | page = [https://archive.org/details/straydoganimefil00ruhb/page/n47 37]
  | isbn = 1-4039-6334-7 }}</ref> ''Beautiful Dreamer'' is also notable for experimenting with concepts such as a [[time loop]], where a high-school class relives the same day over and over again,<ref name="seattletimes">{{cite news|last=Hartl|first=John|title=Disney will Distribute Animated Japanese Movie|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19980903/2769906/disney-will-distribute-animated-japanese-movie|access-date=15 May 2017|date=3 September 1998|archive-date=17 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417154924/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19980903&slug=2769906|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as dreams and reality manipulation.<ref name="Marko">{{cite book |last1=Schmeink |first1=Lars |last2=Müller |first2=Hans-Harald |title=Fremde Welten: Wege und Räume der Fantastik im 21. Jahrhundert |date=2012 |publisher=[[Walter de Gruyter]] |isbn=9783110276732 |page=170 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-1rnBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA170 |language=de |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-date=5 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805110132/https://books.google.com/books?id=-1rnBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA170 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===''Dallos'', ''Lupin'', ''Angel's Egg'' and ''Anchor'' (1983–1985)===
In the midst of his work with Studio Pierrot, Oshii took on independent work and directed the first [[OVA]], ''[[Dallos]]'', in 1983. In 1984, Oshii left Studio Pierrot.<ref>{{cite book 
  | last = Ruh
  | first = Brian
  | title = Stray Dog of Anime: The Films of Mamoru Oshii
  | url = https://archive.org/details/straydoganimefil00ruhb
  | url-access = limited
  | publisher = Palgrave Macmillan
  | year = 2004
  | page = [https://archive.org/details/straydoganimefil00ruhb/page/n16 6]
  | isbn = 1-4039-6334-7 }}</ref> 
Around this time, Oshii was hired to direct a movie for [[Lupin the Third]] for summer 1985, for which he started writing a column in [[Animage]] magazine in December 1984.<ref>文 押井守、イラスト 天野喜孝「映画『ルパン三世』制作おぼえがき」『アニメージュ』1984年12月号、pp.38–39</ref> However, his proposal for it was very eccentric, with the producers from [[Yomiuri TV]] and [[Toho]] opposed his vision of the film, saying that it "made no sense". The film had been widely advertised with Oshii's name attached to it, and with the project based around him, they could not make the film without his proposal getting approved, and it was cancelled.<ref>インタビュー押井守 幻の押井ルパンは『虚構を盗む』はずだった」『THEルパン三世FILES ルパン三世全記録　〜増補改訂版〜』キネマ旬報社、1998年、p.35</ref><ref>押井守『すべての映画はアニメになる』徳間書店、2004年、p.159</ref> He would later go on to reuse themes and concepts he had come up with for the movie in later works such as [[Angel's Egg]], [[Ghost in the Shell]], and multiple [[Patlabor]] movies.<ref>「インタビュー押井守 幻の押井ルパンは『虚構を盗む』はずだった」『THEルパン三世FILES ルパン三世全記録 〜増補改訂版〜』キネマ旬報社、1998年、p.36</ref><ref>押井守『イノセンス創作ノート 人形・建築・身体の旅+対談』徳間書店、2004年、p.73</ref><ref>『BSアニメ夜話Vol.03 機動警察パトレイバー』キネマ旬報社、2006年、p.75</ref>

Oshii said that creating ''Ghost in the Shell'' allowed him to "finally get over Lupin"<ref>野田真外編著『前略、押井守様。』フットワーク出版、1998年</ref> but continued to use elements from it in future films such as [[009 RE:CYBORG]], which was directed by [[Kenji Kamiyama]], a student of Oshii, that Oshii was originally supposed to direct and had him participating in the scriptwriting for, which was also heavily influenced by the themes of Oshii's Lupin, which reused some of its plot,<ref>「神山健治インタビュウ」『S-Fマガジン』2012年12月号、pp.6、190</ref> and {{ill|The Next Generation Patlabor: Shuto Kessen|ja|THE NEXT GENERATION -パトレイバー- #『THE NEXT GENERATION パトレイバー 首都決戦』|vertical-align=sup}}, which reused the ending he originally had in mind for Lupin.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://paranoid3333333.hatenadiary.org/entry/20150510/1431255857 | title=幻の押井ルパンの系譜『The Next Generation パトレイバー首都決戦』 | date=10 May 2015 }}</ref> He originally wanted to use this ending for the first Patlabor movie but was stopped by Izubuchi and others.<ref>「インタビュー押井守 幻の押井ルパンは『虚構を盗む』はずだった」『THEルパン三世FILES ルパン三世全記録 〜増補改訂版〜』キネマ旬報社、1998年、pg 36</ref><ref>『BSアニメ夜話Vol.03 機動警察パトレイバー』キネマ旬報社、2006年、pg 75</ref> Oshii was eventually able to revisit Lupin in [[Lupin the 3rd Part 6]] in which he wrote the script for two episodes<ref>{{cite web | url=https://natalie.mu/comic/pp/lupin_part6 | title=今から追いつける！「ルパン三世 Part6」押井守・湊かなえら脚本陣が贈る、異色のルパンミステリーを徹底解説 - コミックナタリー 特集・インタビュー }}</ref> of which the second, "Darwin's Bird"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/457593 | title=押井守が脚本手がけた「ルパン三世 Part6」第10話の場面カット解禁 }}</ref> reused some elements from the cancelled movie.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kinopurata-life.com/lupin3/ | title=ルパン三世Part6 押井守 脚本作「ダーウィンの鳥」 | date=27 November 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://note.com/yoh160/n/n16bb0a787a5e | title=押井守ファンなら、「ルパン三世」Part6第10話は必見である｜yoh | date=24 January 2024 }}</ref>

Moving to [[Studio Deen]], Oshii wrote and directed ''[[Angel's Egg]]'' (1985), a surreal film rich with Biblical symbolism, featuring the character designs of [[Yoshitaka Amano]]. A producer of the film, [[Toshio Suzuki (producer)|Toshio Suzuki]], later founded [[Studio Ghibli]] with [[Hayao Miyazaki]] and [[Isao Takahata]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/whoswho/#suzuki|title=Who's Who // Nausicaa.net|access-date=19 September 2008|archive-date=17 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917134901/http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/whoswho/#suzuki|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the release of the film, Miyazaki and Takahata began collaborating with Mamoru Oshii on his next film, ''Anchor''. The film was canceled early in the initial planning stages when the trio had artistic disagreements.<ref>{{cite book 
  | last = Ruh
  | first = Brian
  | title = Stray Dog of Anime: The Films of Mamoru Oshii
  | url = https://archive.org/details/straydoganimefil00ruhb
  | url-access = limited
  | publisher = Palgrave Macmillan
  | year = 2004
  | pages = [https://archive.org/details/straydoganimefil00ruhb/page/n69 59], 60
  | isbn = 1-4039-6334-7 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/interviews/oshii_on_mt.html|title=Oshii on Miyazaki and Takahata // Hayao Miyazaki Web|access-date=19 September 2008|archive-date=17 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917001559/http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/interviews/oshii_on_mt.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite their differences, Toshio Suzuki and Studio Ghibli would later help Oshii with his production of ''[[Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence]]'' (2004).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0840699/|title=Toshio Suzuki – IMDB Profile|website=[[IMDb]]|access-date=19 September 2008|archive-date=18 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418071236/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0840699/|url-status=live}}</ref> To this day, Oshii maintains skeptical, but respectful, views of each of Takahata and Miyazaki's films. Though he has been critical of Miyazaki's attitude towards his workers, he also claims that he would feel "strangely empty" and "it would be boring" if both Miyazaki and Takahata stopped making films.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/interviews/oshii_on_mt.html|title=Oshii on Miyazaki and Takahata|access-date=27 June 2009|archive-date=28 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428163504/http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/interviews/oshii_on_mt.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''Patlabor'' and live-action (1987–1993)===
In the late 1980s, Oshii was solicited by his friend [[Kazunori Itō]] to join [[Headgear (artist group)|Headgear]] as a director. The group was composed of [[Kazunori Itō]] (screenwriter), [[Masami Yuki]] (manga artist), [[Yutaka Izubuchi]] (mechanical designer), [[Akemi Takada]] (character designer) and Mamoru Oshii (director).<ref>{{cite book 
  | last = Ruh
  | first = Brian
  | title = Stray Dog of Anime: The Films of Mamoru Oshii
  | url = https://archive.org/details/straydoganimefil00ruhb
  | url-access = limited
  | publisher = Palgrave Macmillan
  | year = 2004
  | pages = [https://archive.org/details/straydoganimefil00ruhb/page/n84 74], 76
  | isbn = 1-4039-6334-7 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patlabor.info/headgear.htm|title=Headgear|access-date=19 September 2008|archive-date=28 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928151650/http://www.patlabor.info/headgear.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Together they were responsible for the ''[[Patlabor]]'' TV series, OVA, and films.<ref>ポストメディア編集部『機動警察パトレイバー 完全設定資料集 Vol.3 -劇場映画編(1)-』 2007, pg 213–214.</ref>

Between production of the Patlabor movies/series, Oshii delved into live-action for the first time, releasing his first non-animated film, ''[[The Red Spectacles]]'' (1987). This led to another live-action work titled ''[[Stray Dog: Kerberos Panzer Cops]]'' (1991); both films are part of Oshii's ongoing ''[[Kerberos Saga]]''. Following ''Stray Dog'' Oshii made yet another live-action film, ''[[Talking Head (film)|Talking Head]]'' (1992).

In the early 1990s, Oshii was approached by Studio Ghibli to direct an animated film adaptation of [[Ken'ichi Sakemi]]'s novel ''[[Bokkō (novel)|Bokkō]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://magmix.jp/post/193329 |author= |title=ジブリ「後継者育成の失敗」には長い歴史があった 押井守、片渕須直の「監督作品」も幻に? |date= 4 November 2023|access-date= 29 November 2023|language=ja|website=magmix|publisher=mediavague Co., ltd.}}</ref> Animator [[Katsuya Kondō|Katsuya Kondo]] even drew image boards, but the project was cancelled again due to a conflict between Oshii and Miyazaki.<ref>{{cite book |last= Oshii|first= Mamoru|date= 2017|title= 誰も語らなかったジブリを語ろう|trans-title= Let's talk about Ghibli that no one talked about.|url= https://www.tokuma.jp/book/b494984.html|language= ja|location= Tokyo|publisher= [[Tokuma Shoten]]|isbn=978-4198645021|pages=411}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://niihama.info/event/article/12?loc=ja|language= ja|title= VR展覧会 近藤勝也e-museum|date= |access-date= 29 November 2023|website= にいはま紀行|publisher= [[Niihama]], [[Ehime Prefecture]]}}</ref>

===''Ghost in the Shell'' and international acclaim (1995–2008)===
In 1995, Mamoru Oshii released his landmark animated [[cyberpunk]] film, ''[[Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|Ghost in the Shell]]'', in Japan, the United States, and Europe. It hit the top of the US [[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] video charts in 1996, the first anime video ever to do so.<ref name="Wah Lau 2003 78"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2004-09-09/ghost-in-the-shell-taking-the-world-by-storm|title=Ghost in the Shell taking the World by Storm|access-date=19 September 2008|archive-date=14 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114143726/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2004-09-09/ghost-in-the-shell-taking-the-world-by-storm|url-status=live}}</ref> Concerning a female cyborg desperate to find the meaning of her existence, the film was a critical success and is widely regarded to be a masterpiece and anime classic. Additionally, Oshii said that creating ''Ghost in the Shell'' allowed him to "finally get over Lupin"<ref>野田真外編著『前略、押井守様。』フットワーク出版、1998年</ref> 

After a 5-year hiatus from directing to work on other projects, Oshii returned to live-action with the Japanese-Polish feature ''[[Avalon (Japanese film)|Avalon]]'' (2001), which was selected for an out of competition screening at the [[2001 Cannes Film Festival|Cannes Film Festival]]. His next animated feature film was the long-awaited sequel to ''Ghost in the Shell'', titled ''[[Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence]]''. Four years in the making, the film focuses on [[Batou]] as he investigates a series of gruesome murders, while trying to reconcile with his deteriorating humanity. Though it received mixed reviews, ''Innocence'' was selected to compete at the [[2004 Cannes Film Festival]]<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4200520/year/2004.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence |access-date=30 November 2009 |work=festival-cannes.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119212923/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4200520/year/2004.html |archive-date=19 January 2012 }}</ref> for the coveted [[Palme d'Or]] prize, making it the first (and thus far, only) anime to be so honored.<ref>{{cite press release
  | title = GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE invited to compete at this year's CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
  | publisher = About.com
  | date = 2 May 2004
  | url = http://anime.about.com/cs/animetitles/a/aa050104a.htm
  | access-date = 20 May 2009
  | archive-date = 17 July 2011
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110717032857/http://anime.about.com/cs/animetitles/a/aa050104a.htm
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref>

Oshii was approached to be one of the directors of ''[[The Animatrix]]'', but he was unable to participate because of his work in ''Innocence''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dvd.ign.com/articles/401/401629p2.html|title=Interviewing the Animatrix, Part 1|date=9 May 2003 |access-date=26 January 2010|archive-date=23 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323215652/http://dvd.ign.com/articles/401/401629p2.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Following ''Innocence'', Oshii also contemplated directing a segment for the anthology film ''[[Paris, je t'aime]]'', but ultimately declined the offer.<ref name="aphrodisiac"/>

Meanwhile, in 2005, there were talks of a [[Kenta Fukasaku]] and Oshii collaboration. It was announced that Oshii would write the script for a film titled ''Elle is Burning'', as well as provide CGI consultation, while Fukasaku would direct.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Miike|first=Takashi |author-link=Takashi Miike|date=22 October 2005|title=Some Details on the Oshii / Fukasaku Collaboration Elle Is Burning|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2005/10/some-details-on-the-oshii-fukasaku-collaboration-elle-is-burning.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117064145/http://screenanarchy.com/2005/10/some-details-on-the-oshii-fukasaku-collaboration-elle-is-burning.html|archive-date=17 November 2016|access-date=13 October 2020|website=ScreenAnarchy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Miike|first=Takashi |author-link=Takashi Miike|date=13 July 2005|title=KENTA FUKASAKUS' 'ERU NO RAN' SCREENPLAY & CGI BY MAMORU OSHII|url=http://twitchfilm.net/news/2005/10/some-details-on-the-oshii-fukasaku-collaboration-elle-is-burning.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826022526/http://twitchfilm.com/news/2005/07/kenta-fukasakus-eru-no-ran-screenplay-cgi-by-mamoru-oshii.php|archive-date=26 August 2012|access-date=23 March 2010|website=[[Twitch Film]]|quote=Little confusing information in broken English over at the Production I.G forum says that it was recently {{sic|anno|uned|nolink=y}} that Fukasakus' 'Eru No Ran' (working title), which starts working in the first half of next year (suggests this is the film after the one we have recently seen the teaser for?) will be written by Mamoru Oshii, and that he will {{sic|infa|ct|nolink=y}} also be helping out on the CGI work too.␤Apparently Oshii has no desire to keep flogging away at future 'Ghost in the Shell' sequels so must be moving on to "different challenges", that is according to {{sic|rumb|limgs|nolink=y}} i've read elsewhere in the past week. The I.G forum post mentions and links to this Sponichi Japanese-text page.}}</ref> Although Oshii completed the script, the film was ultimately shelved because, among other problems, the large budget it would require.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ryuganji.blogspot.com/2010/03/hopes-for-fukasaku-oshii-collaboration.html|title=Hopes for Fukasaku + Oshii collaboration still burning faintly|date=20 March 2010|access-date=23 March 2010|archive-date=8 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708062225/http://ryuganji.blogspot.com/2010/03/hopes-for-fukasaku-oshii-collaboration.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Mamoru Oshii promotes NEC Sky Crawlers.jpg|thumb|250px|Oshii promotes ''[[The Sky Crawlers (film)|The Sky Crawlers]]'', 2 June 2008.]]
Oshii's next film, ''[[The Sky Crawlers (film)|The Sky Crawlers]]'' (2008), competed for the [[Golden Lion]] in the [[Venice Film Festival]]. Subsequent to ''The Sky Crawlers'', Oshii wrote the screenplay to the [[Production I.G]] film ''Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai'', which has been described as possibly the first ever anime documentary.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sffs.org/content.aspx?catid=8,38,54&pageid=1397 |title=Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai – San Francisco Film Society |access-date=27 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110071151/http://www.sffs.org/content.aspx?catid=8,38,54&pageid=1397 |archive-date=10 January 2010 }}</ref>

===Return to live-action and anime directing hiatus (2009–present)===
In 2009, he wrote and directed the live-action feature ''[[Assault Girls]]'' and served as creative director for the Production I.G-produced segment of the animated short film anthology ''[[Halo Legends]]''. In 2010, Oshii announced his next film will be an adaptation of [[Mitsuteru Yokoyama]]'s ''[[Tetsujin-28]]'' manga.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-12-27/ghost-in-the-shell-oshii-announces-tetsujin-28-film|title=Ghost in the Shell's Oshii Announces Tetsujin 28 Film (Updated)|access-date=23 March 2010|archive-date=6 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406073427/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-12-27/ghost-in-the-shell-oshii-announces-tetsujin-28-film|url-status=live}}</ref> The Tetsujin-28 project turned out to be a live action film called '28 1/2'.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deiz.com/28go/ |title=28 1/2 official site |access-date=3 August 2011 |archive-date=28 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728175314/http://www.deiz.com/28go/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2012, Oshii announced that he was working on a new live-action film. He will be writing and directing the military science-fiction thriller ''[[Garm Wars: The Last Druid]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2012-10-29/ghost-in-the-shell-director-mamoru-oshii-trades-cyberpunk-for-steampunk-in-the-last-druid/garm-wars|title=Ghost in the Shell Director Mamoru Oshii Trades Cyberpunk for Steampunk in The Last Druid: Garm Wars|access-date=28 November 2014|archive-date=4 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204235152/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2012-10-29/ghost-in-the-shell-director-mamoru-oshii-trades-cyberpunk-for-steampunk-in-the-last-druid/garm-wars|url-status=live}}</ref> The film's trailer was released in September 2014,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://twitchfilm.com/2014/09/watch-the-trailer-for-oshiis-live-action-garm-wars-the-last-druid.html |title=Watch The Trailer For Oshii's Live Action GARM WARS: THE LAST DRUID |access-date=28 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202192823/http://twitchfilm.com/2014/09/watch-the-trailer-for-oshiis-live-action-garm-wars-the-last-druid.html |archive-date=2 December 2014 }}</ref> and the premiere screening was held the following month at the 27th [[Tokyo International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://2014.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/works.php?id=42 |title=Special Screenings: GARM WARS The Last Druid |access-date=28 November 2014 |archive-date=5 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205122151/http://2014.tiff-jp.net/en/lineup/works.php?id=42 |url-status=live }}</ref>

He followed with the live-action film ''[[Tōkyō Mukokuseki Shōjo]]'', a suspense thriller released in July 2015.<ref name=ann>{{cite web|url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-30/mamoru-oshii-makes-live-action-thriller-tokyo-mukokuseki-shojo/.87658|title= Mamoru Oshii Makes Live-Action Thriller Tōkyō Mukokuseki Shōjo|date= 30 April 2015|access-date= 1 May 2015|work= [[Anime News Network]]|archive-date= 1 May 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150501091625/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-30/mamoru-oshii-makes-live-action-thriller-tokyo-mukokuseki-shojo/.87658|url-status= live}}</ref>

In March 2017, [[Toonami]] began airing ''Sand Whale and Me'', a live-action micro-series directed by Oshii. In 2018, it was reported that an anime film adaptation of ''[[Chimera (novel series)|Chimera]]'' is under production, with Oshii serving as director.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2018-03-15/comic-natalie-mamoru-oshii-directs-anime-film-of-baku-yumemakura-chimera-novels/.129012 |title=Comic Natalie: Mamoru Oshii Directs Anime Film of Baku Yumemakura's Chimera Novels |last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|date=March 15, 2018 |website=[[Anime News Network]]|accessdate=May 5, 2024}}</ref>

In June 2019, Oshii announced ''[[Vladlove]]'', a comedy series that he described as a "girl-meets-girl story" about a vampire. The project also departs from the Japanese anime world's production committee system because Oshii is backed by a single investor, real estate company [[Ichigo Inc.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2019/07/04/films/no-stopping-elders-anime-mamoru-oshii-announces-latest-project-vladlove/#.XSWe_i2B3q0|title=Anime's Aging but Active Artists: Mamoru Oshii on his Latest Project, 'Vladlove'|date=4 July 2019|access-date=10 July 2019|archive-date=5 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705121801/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2019/07/04/films/no-stopping-elders-anime-mamoru-oshii-announces-latest-project-vladlove/#.XSWe_i2B3q0|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Style==
Oshii has stated his approach to directing is in direct contrast to what he perceives to be the Hollywood formula, i.e. he regards the visuals as the most important aspect, followed by the story and the characters come last. He also notes that his main motivation in making films is to "create worlds different from our own."<ref>{{cite book 
  | last = Nelmes
  | first = Jill
  | title = Introduction to Film Studies
  | publisher = Routledge
  | year = 2007
  | pages = 228, 229
  | isbn = 978-0-415-40929-2 }}</ref>

Mamoru Oshii's films typically open with an action sequence. Thereafter, the film usually follows a much slower rhythm punctuated by several sequences of fast action. Oshii also frequently inserts a montage sequence in each of his movies, typically two-minutes long, muted of dialogue and set against the backdrop of [[Kenji Kawai]]'s music.<ref>{{cite web | title = senses of cinema – Mamoru Oshii | url = http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/directors/04/oshii.html | access-date = 21 May 2009 | archive-date = 27 February 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090227044919/http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/directors/04/oshii.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Recurrent imagery include reflections/mirrors,<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Lunning
  | first = Frenchy
  | title = Mechademia 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga
  | publisher = Univ Of Minnesota Press
  | year = 2006
  | page = [https://archive.org/details/mechademia1emerg0000unse/page/118 118]
  | isbn = 0-8166-4945-6
  | url-access = registration
  | url = https://archive.org/details/mechademia1emerg0000unse/page/118
  }}</ref> flocks of birds,<ref name="avclub">{{cite web | title = Mamoru Oshii A.V. Club Interview | website = [[The A.V. Club]] | date = 15 September 2004 | url = https://www.avclub.com/mamoru-oshii-1798208379 | access-date = 24 May 2009 | archive-date = 10 January 2013 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130110163858/http://www.avclub.com/articles/mamoru-oshii,13890/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Miyazaki vs Oshii around Patlabor 2 // Hayao Miyazaki Web | url = http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/interviews/m_oshii_patlabor2.html | access-date = 24 May 2009 | archive-date = 17 February 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180217071756/http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/interviews/m_oshii_patlabor2.html | url-status = live }}</ref> and [[basset hound]]s similar to his own.<ref name="avclub"/><ref name="inspi">{{cite web | title = Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence – The Inspiration | url = http://anime.about.com/library/weekly/bl_inspiration.htm | access-date = 19 May 2009 | archive-date = 17 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110717033022/http://anime.about.com/library/weekly/bl_inspiration.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> The basset hound was seen most prominently in ''[[Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence]]'',<ref name="inspi"/> and was a major plot point in his live-action film ''[[Avalon (2001 film)|Avalon]]''.

Oshii is especially noted for how he significantly strays from the source material his films are based on, such as in his adaptations of ''Urusei Yatsura'' and ''Ghost in the Shell''. In their original manga versions, these titles exhibited a mood that was more along the lines of frantic slapstick comedy (''Urusei Yatsura'') or convivial [[dramedy]] (''Ghost in the Shell''). Oshii, in adapting the works created a slower and darker atmosphere especially noticeable in ''[[Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer]]''. For the ''[[Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|Ghost in the Shell]]'' movie, Oshii elected to leave out the humor and character banter of [[Masamune Shirow]]'s original manga. This can also be seen in ''[[Patlabor 2: The Movie]]'', in which Oshii eschewed the slice-of-life aspect of the original source in favor of a more [[political thriller]] focused story.  

"Oshii's work... steers clear of such stereotypes in both image and sexual orientation," wrote [[Andrez Bergen]] in an article on Oshii that appeared in Japan's ''[[Daily Yomiuri]]'' newspaper in 2004. "His movies are dark, thought-provoking, minimalist diatribes with an underlying complexity; at the same time he pushes the perimeters of technology when it comes to the medium itself. Character design plays equitable importance."<ref name="bergen"/>

Oshii also wrote and directed several animated movies and live-action films based on his personal political views, influenced by the [[Anpo protests]] of the 1960s and 1970s in which he participated.<ref>{{cite book 
  | last = Ruh
  | first = Brian
  | title = Stray Dog of Anime: The Films of Mamoru Oshii
  | url = https://archive.org/details/straydoganimefil00ruhb
  | url-access = limited
  | publisher = Palgrave Macmillan
  | year = 2004
  | page = [https://archive.org/details/straydoganimefil00ruhb/page/n90 80]
  | isbn = 1-4039-6334-7 }}</ref> The Anpo protests were protests during 1960s Japan against the [[Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan|US-Japan Security Treaty]]. The first film to touch on this political background was the live-action film ''[[The Red Spectacles]]''. This film, set in the same world as the Oshii-scripted film ''[[Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade]]'' (1999), is about a former member of the special unit of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Force dealing with a [[fascist]] government.

Many of his works include references to [[Christianity]] and the [[Bible]].<ref name=":1" />

==Influence==
[[The Wachowskis]] are known to have been impressed with ''[[Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|Ghost in the Shell]]'' and went as far as to screen it to producer [[Joel Silver]] to show him what kind of film they wanted to make for ''[[The Matrix]]''.<ref>[[Joel Silver]], interviewed in "Scrolls to Screen: A Brief History of Anime" featurette on ''[[The Animatrix]]'' DVD.</ref><ref>[[Joel Silver]], interviewed in "Making ''The Matrix''" featurette on ''The Matrix'' DVD.</ref> Indeed, various scenes from ''Ghost in the Shell'' have been seemingly lifted and transposed in ''The Matrix''.<ref>{{cite web | title = A Matrix & Ghost in the Shell Comparison | url = http://webmirror.kobran.org/matrixgits/page1.html | access-date = 26 January 2010 | archive-date = 18 December 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141218060132/http://webmirror.kobran.org/matrixgits/page1.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>"Scrolls to Screen: A Brief History of Anime" featurette on ''[[The Animatrix]]'' DVD</ref> ''Ghost in the Shell'' was also the chief inspiration for the video game ''[[Oni (video game)|Oni]]''.<ref>{{cite web | title =  Interview with lead engineer Brent Pease | url =  http://oni.bungie.org/special/part1/brent.html | access-date =  24 March 2010 | archive-date =  24 October 2017 | archive-url =  https://web.archive.org/web/20171024095440/http://oni.bungie.org/special/part1/brent.html | url-status =  live }}</ref>

His 1984 anime film ''[[Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer]]'', which experimented with concepts such as a [[time loop]], dreams, and reality manipulation, has drawn comparisons to later films including ''[[Groundhog Day (film)|Groundhog Day]]'' (1993) and ''[[Dark City (1998 film)|Dark City]]'' (1998),<ref name="seattletimes"/><ref name="Marko"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Camp |first1=Brian |last2=Davis |first2=Julie |title=Anime Classics Zettai!: 100 Must-See Japanese Animation Masterpieces |date=2011 |publisher=[[Stone Bridge Press]] |isbn=9781611725193 |page=10 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PLc22hQhZGwC&pg=PT10 |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-date=5 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805141720/https://books.google.com/books?id=PLc22hQhZGwC&pg=PT10 |url-status=live }}</ref> and is believed to have influenced these films.<ref>{{cite news |title=Off the Shelf – Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer |url=https://www.highdefdigest.com/blog/off-the-shelf-urusei-yatsura-2-bluray/ |work=High-Def Digest |date=12 September 2018 |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120180209/https://www.highdefdigest.com/blog/off-the-shelf-urusei-yatsura-2-bluray/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Marko"/>

[[Kenji Kamiyama]], the director of the ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'' television series, considers Oshii his mentor,<ref>{{cite web | title = Behind the Scenes Part 10: Kenji Kamiyama (Director) | url = http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/47_/s08_/index.html | access-date = 27 January 2010 | archive-date = 4 October 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091004022328/http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/47_/s08_/index.html | url-status = live }}</ref> and states that he "totally tried to copy" Oshii's style when creating the ''Stand Alone Complex'' series.<ref>{{cite web | title = Interview: Kenji Kamiyama | url = http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/02_/s08_/index.html | access-date = 27 January 2010 | archive-date = 27 October 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121027173642/http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/02_/s08_/index.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

Many have also noted the similarities in the Helghast design from the ''[[Killzone (series)|Killzone]]'' series of video games to the Kerberos Panzer Protect Gear, first seen in the 1987 film ''[[The Red Spectacles]]''. Asked of these observations, [[Guerrilla Games]], [[video game developer]] for the Killzone series, did not address the similarities. The developers contend the Helghast design was inspired by the gas masks of World War I,<ref>{{cite web| title =Guerrilla Games of Killzone (Guerrilla Games/Sony) Interview| url =http://www.ugo.com/channels/games/features/killzone/| access-date =24 March 2010| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110517011605/http://www.ugo.com/channels/games/features/killzone/| archive-date =17 May 2011}}</ref> though this does not account for the similarity in the glowing red/orange eyes between the two designs.

[[James Cameron]] is another filmmaker who has voiced his admiration for Oshii, stating at one point that ''[[Avalon (2001 film)|Avalon]]'' was "the most artistic, beautiful and stylish sci-fi film."<ref>DVD cover of Miramax release of ''Avalon''</ref> He also praised ''Ghost in the Shell'', stating it was "the first truly adult animation film to reach a level of literary and visual excellence."<ref>{{cite web| title =Manga.com – Ghost in the Shell| url =http://www.manga.com/ghost/| access-date =27 January 2010| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100129043706/http://www.manga.com/ghost| archive-date =29 January 2010}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
As of 2009, Oshii lived in [[Atami]], [[Shizuoka Prefecture]], Japan with his dog, a [[Mixed-breed dog|mutt]] named Daniel.<ref>{{cite web | title = Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence – The Creators | url = http://anime.about.com/library/weekly/bl_creators.htm | access-date = 19 May 2009 | archive-date = 17 July 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110717033009/http://anime.about.com/library/weekly/bl_creators.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> When commenting on religion he said "I'm not a Christian, but I've been reading the Bible since my student days".<ref name=":1" />

==Collaboration==
Mamoru Oshii has worked extensively with [[Production I.G]]. Every animated film he has made since ''[[Patlabor: The Movie]]'' (1989) has been produced under the studio. He also worked closely with screenwriter [[Kazunori Itō]]; they made five films together, beginning with ''[[The Red Spectacles]]'' and ending with ''[[Avalon (2001 film)|Avalon]]''. His closest colleague, however, is music composer [[Kenji Kawai]]. Kawai has composed most of the music in Oshii's work, including ten of his feature films. According to Oshii, "Kenji Kawai's music is responsible for 50 percent of [his] films' successes" and he "can't do anything without [Kenji Kawai]."<ref>{{cite web
  | title = The Japan Times Online Interview
  | url = http://search.japantimes.co.jp/member/member.html?mode=getarticle&file=fl20070313jk.html
  | access-date = 21 May 2009}}</ref>

==''Kerberos'' saga==
{{details|topic=the ''Kerberos'' saga|Kerberos saga}}

===1980s===
[[File:Hellhoundsmanga.png|thumb|150px|The English version of ''[[Kerberos Panzer Cop]]'']]

The [[Kerberos saga|''Kerberos'' saga]] is Mamoru Oshii's lifework, created in 1986.<ref name="av.watch.impress.co.jp">{{cite web
  | script-title=ja:押井守の｢ケルベロス｣最新作はラジオドラマ
  | url=http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20060524/joqr.htm
  | access-date=25 May 2009
  | language=ja
  | archive-date=7 August 2011
  | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807110746/http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20060524/joqr.htm
  | url-status=live
  }}</ref> A [[military science fiction]] [[Media franchise|franchise]] and [[alternate history]] universe, it spans all media and has lasted for more than 20 years since his January 1987 radio drama ''[[While Waiting for the Red Spectacles]]''. In 1987, Oshii released ''[[The Red Spectacles]]'', his first live-action feature and the first ''Kerberos'' saga film. The manga adaptation, ''[[Kerberos Panzer Cop]]'', written by Mamoru Oshii and illustrated by [[Kamui Fujiwara]], was serialized in 1988 until 1990.

===1990s===
Acts 1~4 of'' Kerberos Panzer Cop'' was compiled in 1990 as a single volume. In 1991, the live-action film adaptation of the ''[[tankōbon]]'' was released as ''[[StrayDog Kerberos Panzer Cops]]''. In 1999, the Oshii-scripted ''[[Jin-Roh]]: The Wolf Brigade'', the anime feature film adaptation of the manga's first volume, was directed by Oshii's collaborator [[Hiroyuki Okiura]], and was released in International Film Festivals starting in France.<ref>{{cite book 
  | last = Beck
  | first = Jerry
  | title = The Animated Movie Guide
  | url = https://archive.org/details/animatedmoviegui0000beck
  | url-access = registration
  | publisher = Chicago Review Press
  | year = 2005
  | page = [https://archive.org/details/animatedmoviegui0000beck/page/130 130]
  | isbn = 1-55652-591-5 }}</ref>

===2000s===
In 2000, the second part of the manga (Acts 5~8) was serialized, then published and compiled as a second volume. After the manga's completion and publishing as volumes 1 and 2, ''[[Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade]]'' was finally released in Japan during the same year.<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Production I.G> Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade> OVERVIEW
  | url = http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/15_/s00_/index.html
  | access-date = 25 May 2009
  | archive-date = 30 March 2009
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090330203607/http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/15_/s00_/index.html
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref> In 2003, ''Kerberos Panzer Cop'''s sequel, ''[[Kerberos Saga Rainy Dogs]]'' was serialized, then compiled as a single volume in 2005. In 2006 ''[[Kerberos Panzer Jäger]]'' was broadcast in Japan as a 20-year celebration of the saga. The same year, Oshii revealed his plan to release an anime/3DCG adaptation film of the drama in 2009, the ''[[Kerberos Panzer Jäger#Anime feature adaptation project|Kerberos Panzer Blitzkrieg project]]''.<ref name="av.watch.impress.co.jp"/> In late 2006, Oshii launched a ''Kerberos'' saga crossover manga series titled ''[[Kerberos & Tachiguishi]]''.

==Other work==
In addition to his directing work, Oshii is a prolific screenwriter and author of manga and novels. As well as writing the ''[[Kerberos saga|Kerberos]]'' series of manga, Oshii wrote the script for the manga ''[[Seraphim 266613336Wings|Seraphim 266,613,336 Wings]]'' originally illustrated by [[Satoshi Kon]].<ref>{{cite book 
  | last = Amano
  | first = Masanao
  | title = Manga Design
  | publisher = Taschen
  | year = 2004
  | page = 228
  | isbn = 3-8228-2591-3 }}</ref> Their collaboration was difficult due to artistic differences over the development of the story and ''Seraphim'' was not completed.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://konstone.s-kon.net/modules/works/index.php?content_id=5 | title = Kon's Tone Unreleased Comic | language = ja | access-date = 14 February 2014 | archive-date = 26 February 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140226105053/http://konstone.s-kon.net/modules/works/index.php?content_id=5 | url-status = live }}</ref> Part one was serialised in 16 instalments in the May 1994 through November 1995 issues of monthly ''[[Animage]]''. 

Following Satoshi Kon's death in 2010 it was partially reissued in a special memorial supplement of ''[[Monthly Comic Ryū]]'' and published in comic book form the same year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://konstone.s-kon.net/modules/info/index.php?page=article&storyid=42 |date=19 October 2010 |title=Kon's Tone 月刊COMICリュウ 12月号 |trans-title=Kon's Tone December issue Monthly Comic Ryū |language=ja |access-date=14 February 2014 |archive-date=26 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226103323/http://konstone.s-kon.net/modules/info/index.php?page=article&storyid=42 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-12-08/satoshi-kon-seraphim-opus-manga-reprinted | title=Satoshi Kon's Seraphim, Opus Manga Reprinted | publisher=Anime News Network | date=8 December 2010 | access-date=14 February 2014 | archive-date=25 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225140144/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-12-08/satoshi-kon-seraphim-opus-manga-reprinted | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Oshii |first1=Mamoru |last2=Kon |first2=Satoshi |date=4 December 2014 |page=231 |script-title=ja:セラフィム 2億6661万3336の翼 |trans-title=Seraphim: 266,613,336 Wings |url=http://www.tokuma.jp/bookinfo/9784199502200 |language=ja |location=Tokyo |publisher=Tokuma Shoten |isbn=978-4-19-950220-0 |access-date=14 February 2014 |archive-date=7 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307073850/http://www.tokuma.jp/bookinfo/9784199502200 |url-status=live }}</ref> Oshii has since worked on a ''Seraphim'' ''Prologue'', the ''Three Wise Men's Worship Volume'', with illustrations by [[Katsuya Terada]], released by [[Tokuma Shoten]] as another ''Ryū'' supplement.<ref>{{cite book |last=Terada |first=Katsuya |title=Select country or region |date=10 April 2013 |page=250 |script-title=ja:寺田克也 ココ10年 |trans-title=Tetsuya Terada 10 Ten – 10 Year Retrospective |url=http://pie.co.jp/english/10/ |language=ja |location=Tokyo |publisher=Pie International |isbn=978-4-7562-4376-8 |access-date=14 February 2014 |archive-date=26 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226212944/http://pie.co.jp/english/10/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Oshii also wrote the screenplay of ''[[Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade]]''<ref>{{cite web | title = Production I.G > Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade> STAFF & CAST | url = http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/15_/s03_/index.html | access-date = 19 May 2009 | archive-date = 30 March 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090330203658/http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/15_/s03_/index.html | url-status = live }}</ref> and is credited as a co-planner for ''[[Blood: The Last Vampire]]'' (2000)<ref>{{cite web | title = Production I.G > Blood: The Last Vampire> STAFF & CAST | url = http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/14_/s03_/index.html | access-date = 19 May 2009 | archive-date = 11 June 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090611003554/http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/14_/s03_/index.html | url-status = live }}</ref> and ''[[Blood+]]''.<ref>{{cite web| title = Production I.G > BLOOD+> STAFF & CAST| url = http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/20_/s03_/index.html| access-date = 19 May 2009| archive-date = 2 May 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090502064221/http://productionig.com/contents/works_sp/20_/s03_/index.html| url-status = live}}</ref> Oshii also wrote the first tie-in novel for the film entitled ''Blood: The Last Vampire: Night of the Beasts''. It was published originally in Japan in October 2000, and later received an English-translated North American release on 23 November 2005.<ref name="novels">{{cite web|url=http://www.production-ig.co.jp/contents/goods/04_/04_0770_/index.html |title=Blood the Last Vampire manga and novel releases |publisher=[[Production I.G]] |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927012535/http://www.production-ig.co.jp/contents/goods/04_/04_0770_/index.html |archive-date=2011-09-27 |access-date=2021-02-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Oshii is also credited as providing "story concept" for ''[[Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG]]''; he describes his role as supervision of the entire series and being responsible for writing the plot of each of the show's episodes.<ref name="aphrodisiac"/> In 2005 Oshii served as supervisor for the ''Mobile Police Patlabor Comes Back: MiniPato'' video game.<ref>{{cite web | title = Production I.G > Mobile Police Patlabor Comes Back: MiniPato> STAFF & CAST | url = http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/36_/s03_/index.html | access-date = 20 May 2009 | archive-date = 18 November 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061118171857/http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/36_/s03_/index.html | url-status = live }}</ref> In 2008, he again served as special consultant for the development of a video game, ''[[The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces]]''.

In 2025, Oshii made a special appearance in ''[[Death Stranding 2: On the Beach|Death Stranding 2: On The Beach]],'' a video game by [[Hideo Kojima]] and his development studio, [[Kojima Productions]], as an [[Non-player character|NPC]] known in-game as "The Pizza Chef." Keenan Shimizu provided his voice.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Death Stranding 2: On the Beach credits (PlayStation 5, 2025) |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/244242/death-stranding-2-on-the-beach/credits/playstation-5/ |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=MobyGames |language=en}}</ref> 

==Awards and nominations==
'''[[Annie Awards]]''':

* 1996: [[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Directing in a Feature Production|Outstanding Achievement for Directing in a Feature Production]] (''[[Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|Ghost in the Shell]]'') - nominated 
* 2004: Outstanding Achievement for Directing in a Feature Production (''[[Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence|Ghost in the Shell: Innocence]]'') - nominated
* 2016: [[Winsor McCay Award]]

'''[[Animation Kobe]]:'''
*1996: Feature Film Award (''Ghost in the Shell'')<ref name="これまでの記録">{{cite web|url=http://www.anime-kobe.jp/archive/index.html |script-title=ja:これまでの記録 |access-date=19 May 2009 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419102114/http://www.anime-kobe.jp/archive/index.html |archive-date=19 April 2009 }}</ref>
*2004: Feature Film Award (''Ghost in the Shell: Innocence'')<ref name="これまでの記録"/>

'''[[Cannes Film Festival]]'''
*2004: Nominated for [[Palme d'Or]] (''Ghost in the Shell: Innocence'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/2004/inCompetition.html |title=Festival de Cannes – Official Selection 2004 |publisher=Festival-cannes.com |access-date=19 May 2009 |archive-date=16 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316141411/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/2004/inCompetition.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''[[Sci-Fi-London|London Sci-Fi Film Festival]]:'''
*2002: Best Feature Film (''[[Avalon (2001 film)|Avalon]]'')<ref>{{cite web | title = SCI-FI-London film festival 1–3 Feb 2002 | url = http://www.sci-fi-london.com/2002web/moviepics/avalon.htm | access-date = 19 May 2009 | archive-date = 16 September 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080916143827/http://www.sci-fi-london.com/2002web/moviepics/avalon.htm | url-status = live }}</ref>

'''[[Mainichi Film Concours]]:'''
*1993: Best Animated Film (''[[Patlabor 2: The Movie]]'')<ref>{{cite web | script-title=ja:毎日映画コンクール 歴代受賞作品  | url=http://www.mainichi-msn.co.jp/geinou/cinema/eicon/etc/sakuhin.html   | access-date =19 May 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050306170055/http://www.mainichi-msn.co.jp/geinou/cinema/eicon/etc/sakuhin.html |archive-date = 6 March 2005|language=ja}}</ref>
*2008: Best Animated Film (''[[The Sky Crawlers (film)|The Sky Crawlers]]'')<ref>{{cite web | title = Production I.G – The Sky is Best Animated Feature Film at the 63rd Mainichi Film Awards | url = http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/64_/s09_/000920.html | access-date = 19 May 2009 | archive-date = 17 February 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120217093030/http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/64_/s09_/000920.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

'''[[Nihon SF Taisho Award]]:'''
*2004: 25th [[Nihon SF Taisho Award]] (''Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jlit.net/archives/archives2004.html#october-december |title=25th Nihon SF Grand Prize announced (December 4, 2004) |publisher=Jlit.net |access-date=19 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201062448/http://jlit.net/archives/archives2004.html |archive-date=1 February 2009 }}</ref>

'''[[Sitges - Catalan International Film Festival]]:'''
*2004: Orient Express Award (''Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence'')<ref>{{cite web  | title =Sitges Previous Editions – 37 edition. 2004  | url =http://sitgesfilmfestival.com/eng/arxiu/2004/palmares#01  | access-date =8 July 2009  | archive-date =14 January 2010  | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100114202336/http://sitgesfilmfestival.com/eng/arxiu/2004/palmares#01  | url-status =live  }}</ref>

'''[[Venice Film Festival]]:'''
*2008: Nominated for [[Golden Lion]] (''The Sky Crawlers'')<ref>{{cite web | title = Production I.G – The Sky Crawlers in Competition at the 65th Venice Film Festival | url = http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/64_/s09_/000847.html | access-date = 19 May 2009 | archive-date = 14 September 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080914144730/http://www.productionig.com/contents/works_sp/64_/s09_/000847.html | url-status = live }}</ref>
*2008: Future Film Festival Digital Award (''The Sky Crawlers'')<ref>{{cite web | title = Oshii's Sky Crawlers Wins Venice Fest's Digital Award | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-09-05/oshii-sky-crawlerswins-venice-fest-digital-award | access-date = 12 June 2009 | archive-date = 9 April 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090409025209/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-09-05/oshii-sky-crawlerswins-venice-fest-digital-award | url-status = live }}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{Main|Mamoru Oshii filmography}}

'''Directed features'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
|-
|1983
|''[[Urusei Yatsura: Only You]]''
|-
|1984
|''[[Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer]]''
|-
|1985
|''[[Angel's Egg]]''
|-
|1989
|''[[Patlabor: The Movie]]''
|-
|1990
|''[[Gosenzo-sama Banbanzai!|MAROKO]]''
|-
|1992
|[[Talking Head (film)|''Talking Head'']]
|-
|1993
|''[[Patlabor 2: The Movie]]''
|-
|1995
|''[[Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|Ghost in the Shell]]''
|-
|2001
|''[[Avalon (2001 film)|Avalon]]''
|-
|2004
|''[[Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence]]''
|-
|2008
|''[[The Sky Crawlers (film)|The Sky Crawlers]]''
|-
|2014
|''[[Garm Wars: The Last Druid]]''
|-
|2019
|''Blood Friends''
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Works cited==
* {{cite book | author=Ruh, Brian | title=Stray Dog of Anime: The Films of Mamoru Oshii | publisher=Palgrave Macmillan | year=2004 | isbn=1403963347}}
* [http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2004/great-directors/oshii/ Mamoru Oshii -- Senses of Cinema: Great Directors Critical Database]
* [http://www.productionig.com/  Production I.G]
* {{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OYc7BAAAQBAJ | title=Stray Dog of Anime: The Films of Mamoru Oshii | publisher=Palgrave MacMillan | last=Ruh | first=Brian | year=2014 | isbn=9781137437891}}
* {{cite book | title=Humanity in Anime: Analyzing the Films of Mamoru Oshii | last=Hartlieb | first=Sean | year=2016 | publisher=Createspace.com. | isbn=9781530069231}}

==External links==
* [http://oshiimamoru.com/ Mamoru Oshii Official Site] [https://web.archive.org/web/20040605193742/http://oshiimamoru.com/index.htm Archived Version] {{in lang|ja}}
* {{IMDb name|0651900}}
* {{anime News Network|people|52}}

{{Mamoru Oshii}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Mamoru Oshii
|list =
{{Tokyo Anime Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Winsor McCay Award 2010s}}}}
{{KerberosSaga}}
{{Patlabor}}
{{Ghost in the Shell}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oshii, Mamoru}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Anime directors]]
[[Category:Anime screenwriters]]
[[Category:Japanese film directors]]
[[Category:Japanese science fiction film directors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Tokyo]]
[[Category:Production I.G]]
[[Category:Kerberos saga]]
[[Category:Urusei Yatsura]]
[[Category:Studio Pierrot]]
[[Category:Japanese storyboard artists]]
[[Category:Tokyo Gakugei University alumni]]