Ayumu Watanabe (渡辺 歩, Watanabe Ayumu; born September 3, 1966) is a Japanese animation director. After joining Shin-Ei Animation, he directed multiple Doraemon animated films. As a freelancer, he also worked on numerous animated adaptations such as Space Brothers, After the Rain, and Komi Can't Communicate.
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Biography
Ayumu Watanabe was born in Tokyo on September 3, 1966. He started his career in 1986 when he joined Studio Mates as a key animator. Two years later, Watanabe moved to Shin-Ei Animation, where he worked on the animated adaptation of the Doraemon comic series, as well as direct multiple anime films in the franchise. As a freelancer, he also directed numerous animated adaptations such as Space Brothers, After the Rain, and Komi Can't Communicate. He also worked with Studio 4°C on the films Children of the Sea and Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko.
Works
TV series
Atashin'chi (2002; storyboards)
Space Brothers (2012–2014; director)
Mysterious Girlfriend X (2012; director)
Danchi Tomoo (2013–2015; director)
If Her Flag Breaks (2014; director)
Ace Attorney (2016–2019; director)
After the Rain (2018; director)
Gurazeni (2018; director)
Major 2nd (2018–2020; director)
Komi Can't Communicate (2021–2022; chief director)
Summer Time Rendering (2022; director)
You Are Ms. Servant (2024; director)
Ganglion (2025; director)
Akane-banashi (2026; director)
Witch Hat Atelier (2026; director)
Films
Doraemon: Nobita and the Windmasters (2003; chief animation director)
Doraemon: Nobita in the Wan-Nyan Spacetime Odyssey (2004; assistant director, chief animation director)
Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur 2006 (2006; director, screenplay)
Doraemon: Nobita and the Green Giant Legend (2008; director)
Space Brothers #0 (2014; director)
Children of the Sea (2019; director)
Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021; director)
Freedom in the Sky (TBA; director)
Doraemon Comes Back (1998; director, animation director)
Nobita's the Night Before a Wedding (1999; director, animation director)
A Grandmother's Recollections (2000; director, animation director)
Good Luck! Gian!! (2001; director)
The Day When I Was Born (2002; director)
Pa-Pa-Pa the Movie: Perman (2003; director, screenplay)
Pa-Pa-Pa the Movie: Perman: Tako de Pon! Ashi wa Pon! (2004; director)
Ōkii Ichinensei to Chiisana Ninensei (2014; director)
OVAs
Magical Princess Minky Momo: A Duo of Sincerity Toward a Dream of Longing (2026; director)
