Makoto Matsuda
Description
Makoto Matsuda is a Japanese creator, producer, and business executive known primarily as the founder of the planning and production company Nelke Planning. He is credited as the original creator behind the anime and manga series Examurai Sengoku, which serves as a key example of his work in multimedia franchise development. His career spans original content creation, anime production, and the development of theatrical adaptations of popular media properties.
The most prominent original work associated with Matsuda is Examurai Sengoku, a television anime series that aired in 2009. The series presents a futuristic narrative featuring samurai based on members of the musical group EXILE, who are transported back to Japan's Warring States period. Matsuda is listed as the original creator for this anime, with the series composition handled by Kōji Miura and character designs by Hiroshi Takahashi. In addition to the anime, Matsuda is also credited as the manga author for Examurai Sengoku in 2009 and its related series Examurai in 2010, indicating his direct involvement in expanding the property across different media.
Beyond his work on Examurai Sengoku, Matsuda has held various production roles in the anime industry. He served as an executive producer for the 2022 anime Rusted Armors and as a planner for the 2012 series Light Club. He was also involved as a planner for the Examurai Sengoku anime itself, demonstrating his multifaceted role in bringing his original concepts to production. His company, Nelke Planning, is central to his professional identity, and his business activities are closely tied to his creative output.
Matsuda holds a significant position in the Japanese entertainment industry as a pioneer and executive in the field of 2.5-dimensional musical theater, a genre that adapts anime, manga, and video games for the stage. As the founder of Nelke Planning in 1994 and later as Chairman of the Board of The Japan 2.5 Musical Association, he has produced numerous acclaimed stage adaptations of major franchises. His theatrical credits include productions based on The Prince of Tennis, NARUTO, Sailor Moon, Demon Slayer, and My Hero Academia, many of which have been performed internationally in Asia, Europe, and the United States. This work in adapting existing media for live performance complements his original work in anime and manga, positioning him as a creator who operates at the intersection of multiple entertainment sectors.
His body of work suggests an artistic identity focused on action-oriented narratives, often blending historical Japanese settings with futuristic or fantastical elements. The Examurai Sengoku series combines samurai tropes with science fiction concepts, a fusion that reflects a recurring pattern in his creative output. Matsuda's industry significance lies in his dual role as both an original creator of anime and manga properties and a producer who has shaped the landscape of media mix and theatrical adaptation in Japan. Through Nelke Planning and his leadership in the 2.5D musical field, he has been instrumental in developing cross-platform entertainment strategies that move properties from page to screen to stage.
The most prominent original work associated with Matsuda is Examurai Sengoku, a television anime series that aired in 2009. The series presents a futuristic narrative featuring samurai based on members of the musical group EXILE, who are transported back to Japan's Warring States period. Matsuda is listed as the original creator for this anime, with the series composition handled by Kōji Miura and character designs by Hiroshi Takahashi. In addition to the anime, Matsuda is also credited as the manga author for Examurai Sengoku in 2009 and its related series Examurai in 2010, indicating his direct involvement in expanding the property across different media.
Beyond his work on Examurai Sengoku, Matsuda has held various production roles in the anime industry. He served as an executive producer for the 2022 anime Rusted Armors and as a planner for the 2012 series Light Club. He was also involved as a planner for the Examurai Sengoku anime itself, demonstrating his multifaceted role in bringing his original concepts to production. His company, Nelke Planning, is central to his professional identity, and his business activities are closely tied to his creative output.
Matsuda holds a significant position in the Japanese entertainment industry as a pioneer and executive in the field of 2.5-dimensional musical theater, a genre that adapts anime, manga, and video games for the stage. As the founder of Nelke Planning in 1994 and later as Chairman of the Board of The Japan 2.5 Musical Association, he has produced numerous acclaimed stage adaptations of major franchises. His theatrical credits include productions based on The Prince of Tennis, NARUTO, Sailor Moon, Demon Slayer, and My Hero Academia, many of which have been performed internationally in Asia, Europe, and the United States. This work in adapting existing media for live performance complements his original work in anime and manga, positioning him as a creator who operates at the intersection of multiple entertainment sectors.
His body of work suggests an artistic identity focused on action-oriented narratives, often blending historical Japanese settings with futuristic or fantastical elements. The Examurai Sengoku series combines samurai tropes with science fiction concepts, a fusion that reflects a recurring pattern in his creative output. Matsuda's industry significance lies in his dual role as both an original creator of anime and manga properties and a producer who has shaped the landscape of media mix and theatrical adaptation in Japan. Through Nelke Planning and his leadership in the 2.5D musical field, he has been instrumental in developing cross-platform entertainment strategies that move properties from page to screen to stage.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview