# Mitsutoshi Kubota

Mitsutoshi Kubota (Japanese: 久保田 光俊, Hepburn: Kubota Mitsutoshi) is a Japanese painter, color designer, producer, and the current president of Shaft.

## 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. 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. He was promoted to managing director of the studio that year. 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. 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. 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. Doroinu also mentioned that Kubota came up with the idea of expressing a theme of "connectivity" in the Magia Record anime adaptation. 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.

## Works
### Television series

| Year | Title | Studio | Producer | Planner | Other roles and notes |
| 1980 | Time Bokan Series: Time Patrol Tai Otasukeman | Tatsunoko Production | No | No | Cel painter |
| 1980 | Kaibutsu-kun | Shin-Ei Animation | No | No | Cel painter |
| 1981 | Miss Machiko | Studio Pierrot | No | No | Cel-painting inspector |
| 1982 | Hitotsuboshi-ke no Ultra Baasan | Knack | No | No | Color designer |
| 1983 | Superbook 2 | Tatsunoko Production | No | No | Color coordinator |
| 1983 | Serendipity the Pink Dragon | Zuiyo | No | No | Cel painter |
| 1983 | Nine 2 | Group TAC | No | No | Cel painter |
| 1984 | Attacker You! | Knack | No | No | Cel-painting inspector |
| 1985 | Touch | Group TAC | No | No | Cel painter |
| 1987 | Mister Ajikko | Sunrise | No | No | Color coordinator |
| 1988 | Osomatsu-kun | Studio Pierrot | No | No | Cel painter |
| 1988 | City Hunter | TMS Entertainment | No | No | Color coordinator |
| 1989 | Blue Blink | Tezuka Productions | No | No | Color coordinator |
| 1990 | Kyatto Ninden Teyandee | Tatsunoko Production | No | No | Color coordinator Special effects |
| 1991 | Oh! My Konbu | Studio Koriumi | No | No | Special effects |
| 1992 | Thumbelina: A Magical Story | Enoki Films | No | No | Special effects |
| 1994 | The Legend of Snow White | Shaft | No | No | Special effects |
| 1995 | Juuni Senshi Bakuretsu Eto Ranger | Shaft | No | No | Production assistant Production manager |
| 1997 | Battle Athletes Victory | AIC | Production producer | No | |
| 1998 | Silent Mobius | Radix Shaft | Production producer | No | |
| 1999 | Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventures | AIC | Yes | No | |
| 2000 | Dotto Koni-chan | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2001 | Mahoromatic | Gainax Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2002 | Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful | Gaianx Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2003 | Popotan | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2004 | This Ugly yet Beautiful World | Gainax Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2004 | Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2005 | He is My Master | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2005 | Pani Poni Dash! | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2006 | REC | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2006 | Negima!? | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2007 | Hidamari Sketch | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2007 | Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2007 | Ef: A Tale of Memories | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2008 | Zoku Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2008 | Hidamari Sketch x 365 | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2008 | Ef: A Tale of Melodies | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2009 | Maria Holic | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2009 | Natsu no Arashi! | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2009 | Bakemonogatari | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2009 | Zan, Sayonara Zetsubou-Sensei | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2009 | Natsu no Arashi! Akinai-chuu | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2010 | Dance in the Vampire Bund | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2010 | Hidamari Sketch x Hoshimittsu | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2010 | Arakawa Under the Bridge | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2010 | And Yet the Town Moves | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2011 | Puella Magi Madoka Magica | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2011 | Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2011 | Maria Holic Alive | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2011 | Hidamari Sketch x SP | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2012 | Nisemonogatari | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2012 | Nekomonogatari: Black | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2013 | Sasami-san@Ganbaranai | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2013 | Monogatari Series Second Season | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2014 | Nisekoi | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2014 | Mekakucity Actors | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2014 | Hanamonogatari | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2014 | Tsukimonogatari | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2015 | Gourmet Girl Graffiti | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2015 | Nisekoi: | Shaft | Chief producer | No | |
| 2015 | Owarimonogatari | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2016 | March Comes In like a Lion | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2017 | Owarimonogatari II | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2017 | March Comes In like a Lion 2nd Season | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2018 | Fate/Extra: Last Encore | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2019 | Zoku Owarimonogatari | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2020 | Magia Record | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2020 | Assault Lily Bouquet | Shaft | Produce | Yes | |
| 2021 | Pretty Boy Detective Club | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2021 | Magia Record: The Eve of Awakening | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2022 | Magia Record: Dawn of a Shallow Dream | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2022 | Luminous Witches | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2022 | RWBY: Ice Queendom | Shaft | No | No | Planning supervisor |
| 2023 | Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead | Bug Films | No | No | Production assistance |
| 2023 | The Quintessential Quintuplets∽ | Shaft | No | No | Animation supervisor |

### OVAs/ONAs

| Year | Title | Studio | Producer | Planner | Other roles and notes |
| 1987 | Yume kara, Samenai | Shaft | No | No | Color coordinator |
| 1987 | 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 Magic Bus Shaft | No | No | Production assistant Production manager Production desk |
| 1995 | Weather Report Girl | Pastel | No | No | Cel painter |
| 1996 | Shadow Skill | Zero-G Room | No | No | Production desk |
| 1997 | Inma Youjo: The Erotic Temptress | Magic Bus | No | No | Production desk |
| 1997 | Legend of Crystania: The Chaos Ring | Triangle Staff | No | No | Production manager |
| 1997 | Sakura Diaries | Shaft | No | No | Production manager |
| 1998 | Legend of the Galactic Heroes Gaiden | Shaft | Production producer | No | Production manager |
| 2001 | Initial D Extra Stage | Pastel | Yes | No | |
| 2001 | Kikaider 01: The Animation | Radix Studio Ox | Line producer | No | |
| 2002 | Arcade Gamer Fubuki | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2006 | Negima! Spring | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2006 | Negima! Summer | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2008 | Negima! Shiroki Tsubasa Ala Alba | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2008 | Goku Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2009 | Negima! Mou Hitotsu no Sekai | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2009 | Zan Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei Bangaichi | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2011 | Katteni Kaizō | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2012 | Palutena's Revolting Dinner | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2013 | Hidamari Sketch: Sae & Hiro's Graduation Arc | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2014 | Nisekoi | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2015 | Magical Suite Prism Nana | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2016 | The Beheading Cycle: The Blue Savant and the Nonsense Bearer | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2016 | Koyomimonogatari | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2019 | Ikebukuro PR Anime | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2021 | Assault Lily Fruits | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2024 | Monogatari Series Off & Monster Season | Shaft | No | Yes | |

### Films

| Year | Title | Studio | Producer | Planner | Other roles and notes |
| 1981 | Furiten-kun | Knack | No | No | Cel painter |
| 1983 | Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer | Studio Pierrot | No | No | Cel painter |
| 1984 | Kakkun Cafe | Osamu Kobayashi | 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 | Animation producer | No | |
| 2011 | Negima! Anime Final | Shaft | Animation producer | No | |
| 2012 | Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Beginnings | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2012 | Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Eternal | Shaft | No | Yes | |
| 2013 | Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2016 | Kizumonogatari I: Tekketsu | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2016 | Kizumonogatari II: Nekketsu | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2017 | Kizumonogatari III: Reiketsu | Shaft | Yes | No | |
| 2017 | Fireworks | Shaft | No | No | Production committee |
| 2022 | The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie | Bibury Animation Studios | No | No | Thanks |
| 2024 | Kizumonogatari: Koyomi Vamp | Shaft | No | Yes | |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Developer | Studio | Roles |
| 1997 | Roommate: Inoue Ryouko | Datam Polystar Fupac | Shaft | Animation producer |
| 2001 | You're Under Arrest | Hamster Corporation | Shaft | Production manager |
| 2003 | Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel 2nd | Gainax | Gainax | Production |
| 2017 | Magia Record | f4samurai | Shaft | Production assistance |
| 2021 | Assault Lily Last Bullet | Pokelabo | Shaft | Executive producer |