Takuya WADA

Takuya WADA has been interested in animation forever and made his debut as an animator when still in high school. He learned the animation techniques of the masters, from Hayao MIYAZAKI (Studio Ghibli) to Yasuo OTSUKA (Toei Animation and Studio Ghibli) or Akio SUGINO (Mushi Production and Madhouse). 

When he left high school, he started working as a professional animator straight away and began with Lupin the 3rd. As a key animator, he worked on the mecha anime Invincible Robo Trider G7, on the famous Cat’s Eye, or the equally popular Space Cobra, to mention only a few.

As he was only 20, his talent was already acknowledged and he became the animation director for many anime: Hokuto no Ken, Ashita no Joe, Peacock King, adapted from the manga Kujaku-Ô, the movie Lupin the 3rd vs Detective Conan, and mecha series such as Patlabor, Special Armored Battalion Dorvack and Machine Robo. On Violence Jack, he was both the chara-designer and screenwriter, on top of animation director. 

Then he moved to the USA to learn make-up and special effect techniques in Hollywood. He directed the make-up on several horror movies: Ring, Spiral, Rasen, Ring 2, and Parasite Eve. He’s also worked as the special effect director on several TV shows. He became a movie director too for the tokusatsu film Jushin Thunder Liger: Fist of Thunder and for Yajuu Densetsu: Dragon Blue.

Takuya WADA also shares his knowledge and know-how with the youngest and has been a lecturer for 25 years at Yoyogi Institute of Animation. And that’s not the end of the long list of his talents: he is also a designer for wrestling costumes and made those worn by Great Muta, Kensuke Sasaki, or Atsushi Onita.

Come meet Takuya WADA during the 3 days of the festival for panels and signings!