Masahiko Ōtsuka

Masahiko Ōtsuka (大塚 雅彦 Ōtsuka Masahiko) is a well known director, producer, screen writer, and storyboard artist known as a co-founder of Studio Trigger. He is known directorial credits including Gurren Lagann, Neon Genesis Evangelion and Studio Ghibli's Whisper of the Heart. He was a screen writer for the Little Witch Academia initial short film, a producer for the Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade sequel film, and executive producer of the series' anime TV Series adaptation. 
He has worked on many well-known Studio Trigger projects like BNA: Brand New Animal, DARLING in the FRANXX, Kill la Kill, Kiznaiver, SSSS.Gridman, and When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace.
It was Masahiko Ōtsuka who came up with the idea of founding Studio Trigger in the light of a paradigm shift concerning the method of production and management and the search for an ideal environment for the production of animation due to the same reason. Despite this and other factors which motivated him to do so (ex. the fear of too dependent on a particular studio), Masahiko Ōtsuka maintained a good relationship with Studio GainaxEXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW OF TRIGGER STUDIOhttps://www.siliconera.com/studio-triggers-ceo-wants-take-risks-enable-creative-freedom/.
In an interview during Anime Matsuri Hawaii in 2015 (the same event featuring sneak peek of Kiznaiver), he talked about the future of the anime which involved more online streaming, more global audience, and more events like Anime Matsuri itself. Upon the enthusiasm of international audience over anime industry more than local audience, he aimed to premire something in the United States. He also stated that anime is not just for kids and therefore it's up to the younger generation to bring it into the future.https://twitter.com/TheGeekiary/status/670712645792624641https://twitter.com/TheGeekiary/status/670715527581429761https://twitter.com/TheGeekiary/status/670715927994896384https://twitter.com/TheGeekiary/status/670716108186390528https://twitter.com/TheGeekiary/status/670717638771761152
==Gallery==
=== Official videos ===
Masahiko Otsuka, Studio Trigger Q&A
=== Miscellaneous ===
Sushio and co. at Pixar Animation Studios.jpg|Sushio and co. at Pixar Animation Studios
Sushio and co. at Pixar Animation Studios 2.jpg|Ditto
Sushio and co. at Pixar Animation Studios 3.jpg|Ditto
Sushio and co. at Pixar Animation Studios 4.jpg|Ditto
Masahiko Otsuka Studio Trigger.com Profile pic.jpg
Masahiko Otsuka during Anime Matsuri Hawaii 2015.jpg|Masahiko Otsuka during Anime Matsuri Hawaii 2015
Masahiko Otsuka signing autographs in Exhibit Hall 2 during Anime Matsuri Hawaii 2015.jpg|Masahiko Otsuka signing autographs in Exhibit Hall 2 during Anime Matsuri Hawaii 2015
Masahiko Otsuka discussing anime in Panel Room 2 during Anime Matsuri Hawaii 2015.jpg|Masahiko Otsuka discussing anime in Panel Room 2 during Anime Matsuri Hawaii 2015
==Trivia==
*The first animation studio Masahiko Ōtsuka he worked for was Stuio Ghibli.https://twitter.com/TheGeekiary/status/670710540428177408
*According to Masahiko Ōtsuka, he wanted to provide more insight about secondary and minor character since he and his fellow Studio Trigger staff did little regarding the matter in TV Series' second cour.https://web.archive.org/web/20220108110331/https://twitter.com/poriyama_san/status/888741616759865344
*During his time as a former member of Studio Gainax at 2011, Masahiko Ōtsuka proposed and spearheaded the 84-page Gurren Lagann Quake charity book entitled Jibun o Shinjite (Believe in Yourself) to raise charity funds for the Japanese Red Cross Society after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake (Higashi Nihon Daishinsai) disaster.https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-09-08/gurren-lagann-quake-charity-book-sold-on-kindle-storehttps://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-04-27/gainax-last-airbender-artists-sell-quake-charity-bookhttps://web.archive.org/web/20131111000031/http://grantalexander.blogspot.com/ According to his message in the website for Gainax's Talk Live Animated events, this project came from the feelings of a few anime staff wondering what they could do to help.http://talkliveanimated.web.fc2.com/index_english.html
*It is known that Masahiko Ōtsuka has visited Pixar a total of two times, the first being during 2011 during his tenure as a member of Studio Gainax accompanying various assorted Gainax members at the timehttps://web.archive.org/web/20120115013005/http://grantalexander.blogspot.com/, and the second being during 2014 as President/Co-Founder of Studio Trigger, accompanying with Tatsuru Tatemoto as intepreter to give a Q&A interview with Pixar artists Grant Alexander and Bobby Rubiohttps://web.archive.org/web/20150522230215/http://grantalexander.blogspot.com/.
*During October 7, 2011, Masahiko Ōtsuka reported on Twitter that he, director Hiroyuki Imaishi and others have established a new studio, that being Studio Triggerhttps://twitter.com/tuka_trg/status/122012552698929152. Interestingly enough, Studio Trigger's website notes that the company was established on August 22, 2011https://www.st-trigger.co.jp/about/.
*As iterated by Tatsuru Tatemoto in an interview, the following is Masahiko Ōtsuka's explanation about why original animes not as widespread as those adapted from mangas and light novels alike: "The originals are a lot more difficult to do make in Japan, there's a lot of sponsors for animation series and as a sponsor date, they don't want to take that much you know, risks, play it safe animating like a manga. It gets really like limited you know, and they need it needs to be like a really big studio in Japan to compete with like original series like Jubilee or Sunrise."Masahiko Otsuka, Studio Trigger Q&A/English Transcription text
**In the same interview, Ōtsuka admitted that Studio Trigger attaining the copyright of Little Witch Academia after three months airing at theater as part of Anime Mirai instead of the government was notable for having many sponsors to make it possible.
==References==
==External links == 
*Official Twitter: @tuka_trg
*Studio Trigger - About
===News===
*Anime News Network
**Animator: Gurren Lagann Helmer Imaishi Establishes Studio by Egan Loo October 7, 2011
**Anime Expo 2013 Studio Trigger by Bamboo Dong July 7, 2013
===Interviews===
*Anime News Network
**Interview: Masahiko Otsuka and Yoh Yoshinari of Studio Trigger by Bamboo Dong August 29, 2013
**Making Things That Others Wouldn't: An Interview with Studio TRIGGER President Masahiko Otsuka by Coop Bicknell November 8, 2023
*Full Frontal
**Episodic Gurren Lagann Interviews with Director Hiroyuki Imaishi & co. – Episode 5 (Anime Style, January 2008) by NohAcro and Josh Dunham March 24, 2020 
***Japanese source (Anime Style) - 第５話　俺にはさっぱりわからねえ！February 1, 2013
** Episodic Gurren Lagann Interviews with Director Hiroyuki Imaishi & co. – Episode 6 (Anime Style, January 2008) by NohAcro and Josh Dunham April 29, 2020
***Japanese source (Anime Style) - 第５話　俺にはさっぱりわからねえ！February 1, 2013
*Gigazine
**Interview with President Masahiko Otsuka of TRIGGER who produced the movie 'Promere', the work is completed after the creators stimulated each other and increased by logc_nt June 5, 2019
***Japanese source (Gigazine) - 映画「プロメア」を制作したTRIGGERの大塚雅彦社長にインタビュー、クリエイターがお互い刺激し合って高まった末に作品が完成する by logc_nt June 5, 2019
**Interview with Masahiko Otsuka, president of TRIGGER, who takes the reins of the rampage horse staff who are 'one work completely burned' about the back side of 'Promare' production and management by log1l_ks October 18, 2019
***Japanese source (Gigazine) - 「1作品完全燃焼」な暴れ馬スタッフたちの手綱を取るTRIGGERの大塚雅彦社長に「プロメア」制作の裏側や経営のことについてインタビュー by log1l_ks October 18, 2019
*Studio Trigger.com
**Exclusive Interview of Studio Trigger by Otaking December 30, 2011 (Archived on October 16, 2014)
**INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE DU STUDIO TRIGGER by Otaking March 1, 2013 (Archived on July 14, 2013) | English Translation
**Exclusive Interview With Studio Trigger In Paris by Otaking May 9, 2013 (Archived on June 4, 2019)
*Siliconera
**Studio Trigger’s CEO Wants To Take Risks, Enable Creative Freedom by Ishaan Sahdev June 19, 2014
*Tokyo Otaku Mode News
**Answering Fans’ Wishes with Kickstarter: Studio Trigger (“Little Witch Academia 2”) Interview [1/3] by TOM July 30, 2013
***Japanese version (Netorabo) - ファンの期待に応えるための「Kickstarter」という選択　『リトルウィッチアカデミア2』のスタジオトリガー　ロングインタビュー[1/3] August 12, 2013
**Answering Fans’ Wishes with Kickstarter: Studio Trigger (“Little Witch Academia 2”) Interview [2/3] by TOM August 3, 2013
***Japanese version (Netorabo) - ファンの期待に応えるための「Kickstarter」という選択　『リトルウィッチアカデミア2』のスタジオトリガー　ロングインタビュー[2/3] August 13, 2013
**Answering Fans’ Wishes with Kickstarter: Studio Trigger (“Little Witch Academia 2”) Interview [3/3] by TOM August 7, 2013
***Japanese version (Netorabo) - ファンの期待に応えるための「Kickstarter」という選択　『リトルウィッチアカデミア2』のスタジオトリガー　ロングインタビュー[3/3] August 14, 2013
*The-O Network
**Masahiko Otsuka Interview @ Anime Expo 2013 by Jason Young July 16, 2013
*WAVE MOTION CANNON
**EPISODIC GURREN LAGANN INTERVIEWS WITH DIRECTOR HIROYUKI IMIASHI & CO. – EPISODE 1 (ANIME STYLE, JANUARY 2008) by NohAcro and Josh Dunham April 10, 2018 
***Japanese source (Anime Style) - 第１話　お前のドリルで天を突け！ January 22, 2013
**EPISODIC GURREN LAGANN INTERVIEWS WITH DIRECTOR HIROYUKI IMIASHI & CO. – EPISODE 2 (ANIME STYLE, JANUARY 2008) by NohAcro and Josh Dunham October 2, 2019
*** Japanese source (Anime Style) - 第２話　俺が乗るって言ってんだ!! January 23, 2013
**EPISODIC GURREN LAGANN INTERVIEWS WITH DIRECTOR HIROYUKI IMIASHI & CO. – EPISODE 3 (ANIME STYLE, JANUARY 2008) by NohAcro and Josh Dunham October 15, 2019
***Japanese source (Anime Style) - 第３話　顔が２つたぁナマイキな!! January 24, 2013
**EPISODIC GURREN LAGANN INTERVIEWS WITH DIRECTOR HIROYUKI IMIASHI & CO. – EPISODE 4 (ANIME STYLE, JANUARY 2008) by NohAcro and Josh Dunham November 15, 2019
***Japanese source (Anime Style) - 第４話　顔が多けりゃ偉いのか？ January 25, 2013
*XD
**作り手の熱量の“渦”から、良いアニメは生まれる。 TRIGGER代表・大塚雅彦インタビュー (in Japanese; in English: A good animation is born from the "vortex" of the creator's heat. Interview with Masahiko Ōtsuka, Representative of TRIGGER) by 須藤 輝 (Sudō Hikaru) 2021年9月15日
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Category:Films staff