is a Japanese
novelist
A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others aspire ...
,
visual novel
A , often abbreviated as VN, is a form of digital semi-interactive fiction. Visual novels are often associated with and used in the medium of video games, but are not always labeled as such themselves. They combine a textual narrative with sta ...
writer and
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
screenwriter
A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based.
...
. He is known for being the co-creator of the highly acclaimed and commercially successful anime series ''
Puella Magi Madoka Magica'', which earned him the
Tokyo Anime Award
The Tokyo Anime Awards started in 2002, but was named in 2005. The first, second and third award ceremonies were simply named 'Competition'. The award ceremonies were held at the Tokyo International Anime Fair (TAF) until 2013. In 2014, after th ...
for
Best Scriptwriter, as well as the writer of the 2003 visual novel ''
Saya no Uta
''The Song of Saya'' is a horror eroge
lolicon
visual novel by Nitroplus. The original plot was written by Gen Urobuchi, who took inspiration from reading Lovecraft novels during a lonely time in his life.
In 2009, an English fan translatio ...
'', the 2012 anime ''
Psycho-Pass'', the light novel and anime ''
Fate/Zero'', and the 2013–2014
tokusatsu
is a Japanese term for live action film or television drama that makes heavy use of practical special effects. ''Tokusatsu'' entertainment mainly refers to science fiction, war, fantasy, or horror media featuring such technology but is som ...
show ''
Kamen Rider Gaim
is a Japanese television series, a tokusatsu drama that is in the Kamen Rider Series; it is the 15th series during its Heisei period, Heisei run and 24th overall. The series, written by Gen Urobuchi, directed by Ryuta Tasaki and produced by Naomi ...
''. He currently works at
Nitroplus
Nitroplus Co., Ltd., currently styled as NITRO PLUS, formerly stylized as nitro+, and formerly known as "OKStyle", is a Japanese visual novel video game developer that has developed a number of visual novels, including eroge. They also have been ...
and
Nitro+chiral. Anime written by Urobuchi that have won the
Newtype Anime Awards have been ''Puella Magi Madoka Magica'' in 2011, ''Fate/Zero'' in 2012 and ''
Psycho-Pass: The Movie'' in 2015.
History
Urobuchi graduated from Wako University with a degree in History. He aspired to become a novelist and after seeing
Shizuku and
Kizuato
is a Japanese adult horror visual novel released on July 26, 1996, by Leaf.
Story
Koichi Kashiwagi, a college student, goes to his cousins' for his father's funeral
A funeral is a ceremony connected with the final disposition of a corps ...
by
Leaf
A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, ...
, he felt confident about the range of expression that games have. He then started working at Nitroplus and worked on ''
Phantom of Inferno
''Phantom of Inferno'' (known in Japan as ''Phantom -PHANTOM OF INFERNO-'') is an adult visual novel game created by Nitroplus, directed and written by Gen Urobuchi, distributed in North America by Hirameki International (a subsidiary of ...
'' as his debut series.
Writing style
In choosing names for the characters he develops, Urobuchi has stated that he shies away from selecting generic names that would match their personalities and instead opts for more unusual names that he believes would eliminate noise when fans try finding information on the characters with search engines. In a discussion with Urobuchi, manga writer
Kazuo Koike
was a prolific Japanese manga writer ( gensakusha), novelist, screenwriter, lyricist and entrepreneur. He is best known for his violent, artful ''seinen'' manga, notably ''Lone Wolf and Cub'' (with Goseki Kojima, 1970–6), '' Lady Snowblood'' ...
contrasted this decision with the naming style in his own works, which emphasized more forthright names that were easier to remember. However, he found that Urobuchi's method could be effective for allowing viewers to "involve themselves deeper into the story and actively work to understand the characters." Urobuchi also said he attempts to keep at least one trait in common between each individual character and himself so that he can always identify with them on some level.
Work
Visual novels
Manga
* ''Vampirdzhija Vjedogonia'' (with Tetsuya Sakata). Serialized in Comic Dragon, 2 volumes published by Dragon Comics (
Kadokawa Shoten
, formerly , is a Japanese publisher and division of Kadokawa Future Publishing based in Tokyo, Japan. It became an internal division of Kadokawa Corporation on October 1, 2013. Kadokawa publishes manga, light novels, manga anthology magazines ...
). August 2001, February 2002.
* ''Ancient Misty'' (with Tetsuya Nakamura). Serialized in
Dengeki Comic Gao!
, also known as ''Dengeki Gao!'' was a Japanese shōnen manga magazine that primarily contained manga and information about series featuring bishōjo characters. It was published from December 1992 to February 2008 by MediaWorks. The ''Gao'' in ...
, 1 volume published by
Dengeki Comics
is a manga publishing label affiliated with the Japanese publishing company ASCII Media Works (formerly MediaWorks) and is aimed at a male audience. Aside from the main Dengeki Comics label, there is the related Dengeki Comics EX label, which wa ...
(
MediaWorks). August 27, 2007.
Light novels
Anime
Series
Movies
Sound dramas
* ''Kikokugai: The Cyber Slayer'' (2004) - Script
* ''Fate/Zero'' (2008-2013) - Original creator, script (BD boxsets bonus)
Other video games
Other
Series
Movies
Awards
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Urobuchi, Gen
1972 births
Anime screenwriters
Dark fantasy writers
20th-century Japanese novelists
21st-century Japanese novelists
Japanese horror writers
Japanese psychological fiction writers
Japanese science fiction writers
Japanese screenwriters
Japanese video game designers
Living people
Thriller writers
Writers from Tokyo