Kimiko Ueno
Description
Kimiko Ueno is a Japanese screenwriter born on January 8, 1975, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. She graduated from the Japan Institute of the Moving Image, formerly known as the Japan School of Movie, and initially aspired to become a film director before deciding that scriptwriting was a better fit for her disposition.
Ueno made her debut as a writer in 2008 with the live-action television drama RH Plus. The following year, she transitioned to animation, writing for the children's comedy series Gokyoudai Monogatari. Since then, she has become a prolific and highly regarded figure in the anime industry, known for her versatility and notable writing speed.
Ueno is credited as the co-creator of the original anime series ZENSHU, which was produced by MAPPA and aired in 2025. She served as the series composer and wrote the screenplay for all twelve episodes. The series follows a young prodigy animator who is transported into the world of a classic, doomed anime film, where her drawing abilities become a tool to change the narrative. Ueno has stated that the concept emerged from the observation that, despite the popularity of the isekai genre, there had never been a story about an animator being reincarnated into another world.
Her career includes extensive work on both long-running children's franchises and critically acclaimed auteur-driven productions. She has written numerous episodes for the beloved series Crayon Shin-chan, in addition to scripting several of its theatrical films, including her first solo film script for Crayon Shin-chan: My Moving Story! Cactus Large Attack! in 2015. Her other series composition and scripting credits include Kuromajo-san ga Toru!!, Fūsen Inu Tinny, Super Shiro, Uchi Tama?!, Chimimo, Eternal Boys, Astro Note, and the 2024 remake of Ranma ½.
Ueno has frequently collaborated with director Shinichiro Watanabe. She wrote five episodes for his surreal space comedy Space Dandy, including the well-regarded zombie episode "Sometimes You Can't Live With Dying, Baby." She also contributed scripts to his musical drama Carole & Tuesday. Her work for Watanabe led to praise from the director, who has called her the world's best writer for stories about clumsy or inept protagonists. Her other notable collaborations include writing for Trigger's Little Witch Academia and BNA: Brand New Animal, and serving as the series composer for the acclaimed fantasy cooking anime Delicious in Dungeon.
Ueno's work often explores character-driven narratives with a strong sense of comedy, and she has demonstrated a particular talent for writing for children's properties while also contributing to more sophisticated, avant-garde projects. Her industry significance lies in her status as a highly productive and sought-after scriptwriter who has made major contributions to some of the most popular and enduring anime franchises, as well as original works like Space Dandy and ZENSHU.
Ueno made her debut as a writer in 2008 with the live-action television drama RH Plus. The following year, she transitioned to animation, writing for the children's comedy series Gokyoudai Monogatari. Since then, she has become a prolific and highly regarded figure in the anime industry, known for her versatility and notable writing speed.
Ueno is credited as the co-creator of the original anime series ZENSHU, which was produced by MAPPA and aired in 2025. She served as the series composer and wrote the screenplay for all twelve episodes. The series follows a young prodigy animator who is transported into the world of a classic, doomed anime film, where her drawing abilities become a tool to change the narrative. Ueno has stated that the concept emerged from the observation that, despite the popularity of the isekai genre, there had never been a story about an animator being reincarnated into another world.
Her career includes extensive work on both long-running children's franchises and critically acclaimed auteur-driven productions. She has written numerous episodes for the beloved series Crayon Shin-chan, in addition to scripting several of its theatrical films, including her first solo film script for Crayon Shin-chan: My Moving Story! Cactus Large Attack! in 2015. Her other series composition and scripting credits include Kuromajo-san ga Toru!!, Fūsen Inu Tinny, Super Shiro, Uchi Tama?!, Chimimo, Eternal Boys, Astro Note, and the 2024 remake of Ranma ½.
Ueno has frequently collaborated with director Shinichiro Watanabe. She wrote five episodes for his surreal space comedy Space Dandy, including the well-regarded zombie episode "Sometimes You Can't Live With Dying, Baby." She also contributed scripts to his musical drama Carole & Tuesday. Her work for Watanabe led to praise from the director, who has called her the world's best writer for stories about clumsy or inept protagonists. Her other notable collaborations include writing for Trigger's Little Witch Academia and BNA: Brand New Animal, and serving as the series composer for the acclaimed fantasy cooking anime Delicious in Dungeon.
Ueno's work often explores character-driven narratives with a strong sense of comedy, and she has demonstrated a particular talent for writing for children's properties while also contributing to more sophisticated, avant-garde projects. Her industry significance lies in her status as a highly productive and sought-after scriptwriter who has made major contributions to some of the most popular and enduring anime franchises, as well as original works like Space Dandy and ZENSHU.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview