Hiromi Muranaka

Hiromi Muranaka
Profile
Gender:	Male
Date of birth:	unknown
Place of birth:	Japan
Location:	Japan
Also known as Hirobi Muranaka.

Hiromi Muranaka (村中 博美 ,Muranaka Hiromi) is a Japanese animator and animation director. In Detective Conan, he has been credited as Hirobi Muranaka (村中 ひろび ,Muranaka Hirobi) since 1999. He is the head of Studio Mu (スタジオ・ムー), and also a member of the Japan Animators and Directors Association (日本アニメーター・演出協会).

Biography

Muranaka first debuted as a key animator in 1972 via the anime Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (科学忍者隊ガッチャマン); first served as animation director in 1979. In the end of 1970, he founded the studio Anime R (アニメアール) in Osaka Prefecture, along with the animator Moriyasu Taniguchi (谷口 守泰); as a result, he became one of the most renowned animators at that time. Later on, he established Studio Mu with the aim of creating a "second Anime AR" (The studio had nurtured some animators like Asako Nishida, Rie Fujiwara, and Yukari Watabe). Although he rarely works with Taniguchi, they still play mahjong together.

Works in Detective Conan

• See Animation directed by Hiromi Muranaka
• See Animation directed by Hirobi Muranaka

Muranaka has been involved in the Detective Conan anime since 1996, starting with the 1st part of Luxury Liner Serial Murder Case, which he first did key animation for the anime. Then, he became animation director, starting Sports Club Murder Case, and worked regularly thereafter. From episode 139 (2nd part of The Final Screening Murder Case) onwards, his name crediting manner was changed from full kanji "村中博美" into "村中ひろび"; until the 1st part of The Sealed Western-Style Window in 2006, he stopped serving as a regular animation director for the anime. After that, he only did some trivial works here and there as key animator, animation director, as well as assistant animation director, under his full kana "むらなかひろび".

Participation in: 9 openings and 2 endings

• Ichibyōgoto ni Love for you (Opening 23): Key animation
• Revive (Opening 25): Key animation
• Everlasting Luv (Opening 26): Key animation
• MAGIC (Opening 27): Key animation
• As the Dew (Opening 28): Key animation
• SUMMER TIME GONE (Opening 29): Key animation
• Don't Wanna Lie (Opening 31): Key animation
• Misty Mystery (Opening 32): Key animation
• Greed (Opening 38): Key animation
• Koigokoro Kagayaki Nagara (Ending 32): Key animation
• Tomorrow is the last Time (Ending 36): Key animation

Participation in: 21 movies

• The Last Wizard of the Century (Movie 3): Key animation
• Captured in Her Eyes (Movie 4): Key animation
• Countdown to Heaven (Movie 5): Key animation
• Crossroad in the Ancient Capital (Movie 7): Key animation
• Magician of the Silver Sky (Movie 8): Key animation
• Strategy Above the Depths (Movie 9): Key animation
• The Private Eyes' Requiem (Movie 10): Key animation (Miscredited as "中村博美")
• Jolly Roger in the Deep Azure (Movie 11): Key animation
• Full Score of Fear (Movie 12): Key animation
• The Raven Chaser (Movie 13): Key animation
• The Lost Ship in the Sky (Movie 14): Key animation
• Quarter of Silence (Movie 15): Key animation
• The Eleventh Striker (Movie 16): Key animation
• Lupin III vs. Detective Conan: The Movie (Crossover movie): Key animation
• Dimensional Sniper (Movie 18): Key animation
• Sunflowers of Inferno (Movie 19): Key animation
• The Crimson Love Letter (Movie 21): Key animation
• Zero the Enforcer (Movie 22): Key animation
• The Fist of Blue Sapphire (Movie 23): Key animation
• The Scarlet Bullet (Movie 24): Key animation
• The Bride of Halloween (Movie 25): Key animation

Participation in: 2 OVAs

• Shinichi and Ran, Memories of Mahjong Tiles and Tanabata (Magic File 3): Key animation
• Chase the Mysterious Comet Monster! (Shogakukan Illustrated Encyclopedia Series 6): Key animation

Participation in: 2 specials

• The Disappearance of Conan Edogawa: The Worst Two Days in History (Special 5): Key animation
• Episode One: The Great Detective Turned Small (Special 6): Key animation

Other notable works

Anime

• Lupin III: Seven Days Rhapsody: Key animation
• Lupin III: The Secret of Twilight Gemini: Key animation
• Macross Plus: Key animation
• Ouran High School Host Club: Key animation
• Rurouni Kenshin: Key animation

References

1. Page partially or completely translated from the Chinese version of September 3, 2023.
2. 村中博美 - Wikipedia (Japanese)
3. Anime News Network