Geek It! Madman Anime Festival Spotlight: Director Tomohiko Ito
Making a mark in the animation industry, TOMOHIKO ITO is one of Japan’s notable directors who has climbed to the top of the industry over the last ten years.
To many anime fans, Ito was the director of ERASED. However, his role in ERASED was far more than that. After being shown the manga by one of his colleagues, Ito was actually the one who kick-started the adaptation by pitching the series to Aniplex.
After receiving the greenlight, Ito rose to the challenge by working closely to the mangaka’s content. However, that didn’t stop him from diverting from the manga, and executing his creative direction to fulfil his vision of the story. Creating a thriller masterpiece that feels extraordinarily cinematic, Ito’s bold vision soon translated into success, making ERASED one of 2016’s best anime series.
While most directors prefer a particular genre, director Ito has the thirst for exploring different genres. Before ERASED, director Ito headlined popular series such as SILVER SPOON and SWORD ART ONLINE. But of course, the status of ‘director’ could not have been acquired if it weren’t for his portfolio history.
Being the veteran he is, Ito has worked on numerous series from polar-opposite ends of the spectrum. Believe it or not, Ito was once Mamoru Hosoda’s assistant director for THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME and SUMMER WARS. But that’s not all. Ito also worked under Tetsurō Araki’s guidance (Attack on Titan, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, Guilty Crown) as an assistant director, episode director and storyboarder for DEATH NOTE. To top it off, Ito has got other credits in shows such as Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Blue Exorcist, and Fractale.
From light-hearted stories to thriller series with depth, there is no doubt that having Hosoda and Araki as mentors would have influenced his creativity and skills in some capacity. Despite receiving a mixture of criticism and acknowledgement amongst anime fans, Ito continuously pursued for perfection in the hopes of developing his directorial skills. At the end of the day, it goes to show that Ito-san still has a lot to offer.
And guess what? Ito-san will be coming to Madman Entertainment‘s Madfest (also known as 
Madman Anime Festival) this September 3rd and 4th in Melbourne!
Madman Anime Festival) this September 3rd and 4th in Melbourne!Bringing his extensive knowledge and experiences of the anime industry to Madfest, Ito-san will be speaking about ERASED, and the upcoming 2017 SWORD ART ONLINE: ORDINAL SCALE movie. We absolutely cannot wait to meet him at Madfest!
C t r l + G e e k P o d 
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