Norio Shioyama
Description
Norio Shioyama was a Japanese animator, illustrator, character designer, and animation director born in Kumamoto Prefecture on March 28, 1940. He began his career in the animation industry in 1966 when he joined Hatena Pro, and in 1970, he became one of the founding members of the studio Oh! Production. After leaving Oh! Production, he worked as a freelancer, contributing to numerous projects for studios such as Tatsunoko Pro and Sunrise. Shioyama passed away on April 13, 2017, at the age of 77.
Shioyama’s first major role as a character designer was on the 1978 television series Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3, a collaboration that drew praise from director Ryōsuke Takahashi. This partnership with Takahashi became a defining feature of his career, as he went on to serve as character designer and animation production chief on several of the director’s notable works, including the mecha series Fang of the Sun Dougram, Armored Trooper Votoms, and Panzer World Galient. His character designs and leadership in animation production for these series are considered emblematic of Sunrise’s output during the 1980s.
Beyond his television work, Shioyama was a prolific contributor to original video animations and films. Among his credits as an original creator is the 1991 OVA series Eiyū Gaiden Mosaica, for which he also served as character designer, supervising animation director, storyboard artist, and key animator. His other extensive OVA work includes numerous entries in the Armored Trooper Votoms and Yoroiden Samurai Troopers franchises, often in the dual roles of character designer and animation director. He also provided key animation for theatrical films such as Mobile Suit Gundam F91 and several InuYasha movies.
Shioyama’s artistic identity was marked by a distinctive, masculine drawing style characterized by bold lines and a powerful sense of dynamism. He was renowned for his exceptional skill in depicting fire and explosions, a technique sometimes referred to as the Shioyama Flame. His work was highly regarded for its intensity and high quality, though his detailed style was known to be challenging for other animators to adapt to for in-between animation. This led to episodes he solely animated being easily identifiable by their unique visual consistency.
Throughout his career, Shioyama received several accolades for his work. His character Chirico Cuvie from Armored Trooper Votoms won first place for Most Popular Male Character in the 1984 Anime Grand Prix. He also received awards for his contributions to the Armored Trooper Votoms: The Last Red Shoulder OVA and for his character design work on Yoroiden Samurai Troopers. His long-standing collaboration with director Ryōsuke Takahashi was a significant force in the industry, and his influence extended to later animators who sought to emulate his style. Shioyama’s contributions spanned from the late 1960s through the 2000s, leaving a substantial legacy in the fields of character design and animation direction.
Shioyama’s first major role as a character designer was on the 1978 television series Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3, a collaboration that drew praise from director Ryōsuke Takahashi. This partnership with Takahashi became a defining feature of his career, as he went on to serve as character designer and animation production chief on several of the director’s notable works, including the mecha series Fang of the Sun Dougram, Armored Trooper Votoms, and Panzer World Galient. His character designs and leadership in animation production for these series are considered emblematic of Sunrise’s output during the 1980s.
Beyond his television work, Shioyama was a prolific contributor to original video animations and films. Among his credits as an original creator is the 1991 OVA series Eiyū Gaiden Mosaica, for which he also served as character designer, supervising animation director, storyboard artist, and key animator. His other extensive OVA work includes numerous entries in the Armored Trooper Votoms and Yoroiden Samurai Troopers franchises, often in the dual roles of character designer and animation director. He also provided key animation for theatrical films such as Mobile Suit Gundam F91 and several InuYasha movies.
Shioyama’s artistic identity was marked by a distinctive, masculine drawing style characterized by bold lines and a powerful sense of dynamism. He was renowned for his exceptional skill in depicting fire and explosions, a technique sometimes referred to as the Shioyama Flame. His work was highly regarded for its intensity and high quality, though his detailed style was known to be challenging for other animators to adapt to for in-between animation. This led to episodes he solely animated being easily identifiable by their unique visual consistency.
Throughout his career, Shioyama received several accolades for his work. His character Chirico Cuvie from Armored Trooper Votoms won first place for Most Popular Male Character in the 1984 Anime Grand Prix. He also received awards for his contributions to the Armored Trooper Votoms: The Last Red Shoulder OVA and for his character design work on Yoroiden Samurai Troopers. His long-standing collaboration with director Ryōsuke Takahashi was a significant force in the industry, and his influence extended to later animators who sought to emulate his style. Shioyama’s contributions spanned from the late 1960s through the 2000s, leaving a substantial legacy in the fields of character design and animation direction.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview