is a Japanese writer and novelist. He was the head writer of anime series such as ''

Serial Experiments Lain ''Serial Experiments Lain'' is a Japanese anime television series created and co-produced by Yasuyuki Ueda, written by Chiaki J. Konaka and directed by Ryūtarō Nakamura. Animated by Triangle Staff and featuring original character desi ...

'' (1998), ''

The Big O is a Japanese mecha-anime television series created by designer Keiichi Sato and director Kazuyoshi Katayama for Sunrise. The writing staff was assembled by the series' head writer, Chiaki J. Konaka, who is known for his work on '' Se ...

'' (1999-2003), ''

Digimon Tamers is a Japanese anime television series and the third television series in the ''Digimon'' franchise, produced by Toei Animation. The series takes place in a new setting separate from the preceding series, '' Digimon Adventure'' and ''Digimon ...

'' (2001-02), ''

Hellsing ''Hellsing'' (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kouta Hirano. It was serialized in Shōnen Gahōsha's Seinen manga, manga magazine ''Young King OURs'' from April 1997 to September 2008, with its ...

'' (2001-02), and ''

Texhnolyze ''Texhnolyze'' (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese experimental anime television series animated by Madhouse and directed by Hiroshi Hamasaki. Set in the fictional city of Lux, the story focuses on Ichise, a stoic prize fighter who loses an ...

'' (2003), as well as the television drama ''

Ultraman Tiga is a Japanese tokusatsu TV drama and the eighth entry (twelfth overall) in the Ultra Series. Produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Mainichi Broadcasting System, ''Ultraman Tiga'' had aired at 6:00 pm and aired between September 7, 1996, t ...

'' (1996-97).

Personal life

Konaka was born in Tokyo, Japan on 4 April 1961. His interest in filmmaking began at the age of 10, influenced by his parents' love for movies and the wide range of film genres he experienced as a child. Konaka gave himself the middle initial "J", evoking the Christian name "John", due to him being born to parents who were members of the

Anglican Church Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

, but he does not identify as Christian. He began using the middle initial at the age of 12, when he started making

8 mm film 8 mm film is a motion picture film format in which the film strip is wide. It exists in two main versions – the original standard 8 mm film, also known as regular 8 mm, and Super 8. Although both standard 8 mm and ...

s, patterning the style after Western names such as Charles M. Schulz. Following this, he received a camera of his own, and by middle school finished a film called ''Invader''. Upon entering , Konaka joined the school's film club where he met

Makoto Tezuka , officially romanized as Macoto Tezka, is a Japanese film and anime director, born in Tokyo. He fashions himself as a visualist and is involved in the creation of moving images beyond film and animation. He partially owns Tezuka Productions and ...

who was his senior. His films during this period adopted largely science-fiction themes, and it wasn't until watching ''

The Exorcist ''The Exorcist'' is a 1973 American supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin from a screenplay by William Peter Blatty, based on The Exorcist (novel), his 1971 novel. The film stars Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller (play ...

'' and '' The Legend of Hell House'' that he began to garner an interest in horror. While working in special effects after graduating college, Konaka was offered his first scriptwriting job on

Teruyoshi Ishii is a Japanese film and television director. Works * '' Psychic Vision: Jaganrei '' (film, 1988) *'' Oira Sukeban: Kessen! Pansutō'' (film, 1992) *''Gridman the Hyper Agent'' (TV series, 1993–1994) *''Kuchisake-onna'' (film, 1996) *''Kyōfu ...

's 1988 Japanese horror film '. This served as a starting point for working on future projects. He has previously worked as a screenwriting instructor at .

Artistry and themes

Konaka's serious works generally have a dark, psychological tone. As a

Cthulhu Mythos The Cthulhu Mythos is a mythopoeia and a shared fictional universe, originating in the works of American Horror fiction, horror writer H. P. Lovecraft. The term was coined by August Derleth, a contemporary correspondent and protégé of Lovecraft, t ...

writer, he tends to add

Lovecraftian Lovecraftian horror, also called cosmic horror or eldritch horror, is a subgenre of horror, fantasy fiction and weird fiction that emphasizes the horror of the unknowable and incomprehensible more than gore or other elements of shock. It is na ...

elements to his works. He has cited ''

Ghost Hound is an anime television series, created by Production I.G and Masamune Shirow, renowned as being the creator of the ''Ghost in the Shell'' franchise. The original concept and design was first developed by Shirow in 1987. It is Production I.G's ...

'' as his favorite screenwriting project. The story-line of the early episodes of ''Digimon Tamers'' was based on one of the original scripts by Chiaki and Kazuya Konaka for '' Gamera: Guardian of the Universe'' in 1995 before the final draft by

Kazunori Itō is a Japanese anime screenwriter and artist who is well known for his work in the '' .hack'' franchise and his writing for the 1995 ''Ghost in the Shell'' movie. Itō supervised the writing for the novel, '' .hack//Another Birth'' which was wri ...

. Konaka brothers' plot was later used for ''Digimon Tamers'' and ''

Gamera the Brave is a 2006 Japanese Kaiju, ''kaiju'' film directed by Ryuta Tasaki, written by Yukari Tatsui (:ja:龍居由佳里, jp), and produced by Kadokawa Daiei Studio. It is the 12th entry in the Gamera#Films, ''Gamera'' film series, and serves as the sec ...

'' in 2006.

Controversy

In 2021, Konaka wrote a stage drama for ''Digimon Tamers 20th anniversary that was performed at DigiFes 2021, an official ''Digimon'' event held annually on August 1. The drama featured the cast of the show being confronted by a physical manifestation of "

political correctness "Political correctness" (adjectivally "politically correct"; commonly abbreviated to P.C.) is a term used to describe language, policies, or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in society. ...

" that uses "

cancel culture Cancel culture is a cultural phenomenon in which an individual thought to have acted or spoken in an unacceptable manner is ostracized, boycotted, shunned or fired, often aided by social media. This shunning may extend to social or professio ...

" as an attack. This brought attention to his blog meant for retrospective commentary on ''Digimon Tamers'', in which he also discussed conspiracy theories, and sparked international controversy among Internet Digimon circles. In response, Konaka posted a statement in English addressed to his overseas fans on August 8, 2021, to explain his circumstances and to apologize for triggering a divide among the fandom.

List of works

Anime

*''

Air Gear is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Oh! great, serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine '' Weekly Shōnen Magazine'' from November 2002 to May 2012, with its chapters collected in 37 volumes. ''Air Gear'' revolves around ...

'': Series composition, script *''

Armitage III is a 1995 cyberpunk original video animation series. It centers on Naomi Armitage, a highly advanced "Type-III" android. In 1996, the series was edited into a film called . The series was followed up in 2002 with a sequel, set some years ...

'': Screenplay * ''Astro Boy'' (2003): Script (eps 1-3, 14) *''

'': Screenplay, script *''

Birdy the Mighty is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masami Yuki. His initial attempt with the story ran in Shogakukan's ''Shōnen Sunday Zōkan'' from 1985 to 1988, but it was eventually abandoned. Over a decade later, Yuki began a re ...

'': Screenplay *''

Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 is a 1998 Japanese cyberpunk anime television series produced by AIC. It is a reboot of the 1987 OVA series ''Bubblegum Crisis'', which focuses on the Knight Sabers, a rogue vigilante group made up of four women who use powered suits to fig ...

'': Screenplay *''

Catnapped! , known outside Japan as ''Catnapped!'', is a 1995 Japanese anime fantasy comedy film, directed, created and written by Takashi Nakamura, who was also its character designer. The animation was produced by Triangle Staff. The theme song of the film ...

'': Screenplay *'' Despera'': Script *''

Devil Lady ''Devil Lady'', known in Japan as , is a 1997 manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. It is the sequel to '' Devilman''. It was originally serialized by Kodansha from January 1997 to July 2000 in the magazine '' Weekly Morning'', a ...

'': Script (episodes 1–5, 8, 12, 18, 25–26), series composition *''

Digimon Adventure 02 , originally released as ''Digimon: Digital Monsters Season 2'' in English-speaking territories, is a Japanese anime television series produced by Toei Animation. It is the sequel to ''Digimon Adventure (1999 TV series), Digimon Adventure'', ...

'': Scenario (episode 13) *''

'': Series composition, script (episodes 1–3, 7, 13–14, 23–24, 34–35, 41, 44–45, 49–51) *''

Futari Ecchi is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Katsu Aki. It has been serialized in Hakusensha's manga magazine ''Young Animal'' since December 1996, with its chapters collected in 92 volumes as of November 2024. The series ...

'': Script *''

Gasaraki is a 1998 mecha anime television series produced by Sunrise. It was directed by Ryousuke Takahashi, who also co-created the series along with Sunrise (Hajime Yatate). Goro Taniguchi was the assistant director. The screenplay was written by ...

'': Script *''

GeGeGe no Kitarō , originally known as , is a Japanese manga series created in 1960 by Shigeru Mizuki. It is best known for its popularization of the folklore creatures known as , a class of spirit-monster which all of the main characters belong t ...

'' (1996): Script (Episode 89 only) *''

'': Series composition, screenplay *'' GR: Giant Robo'': Series composition *''

'': Series composition, script (episodes 1–6, 8–9, 11–13) *''

Magic User's Club is a magical girl/ boy anime created by Triangle Staff and Junichi Sato. It was first released as a six-part OVA in 1996 and then a 13-episode TV series in 1999, which was broadcast by WOWOW, and then by the anime television network An ...

'': Script (eps 2–6), novelization (1,2,5,6) *'' Malice@Doll'': Script, original story *''

Mononoke are vengeful spirits (onryō), dead spirits (shiryō), live spirits (ikiryō), or spirits in Japanese classical literature and folk religion that were said to do things like possess individuals and make them suffer, cause disease, or even cause ...

'': Script *''

Parasite Dolls is a three-part original video animation produced by AIC and Imagica Entertainment, and written by Chiaki J. Konaka and Kazuto Nakazawa. The series is set in the ''Bubblegum Crisis'' universe and takes place after the events of the origin ...

'': Script *''

Princess Tutu is a Japanese anime television series created by Ikuko Itoh and directed by Junichi Sato and Shogo Koumoto. Inspired by ballet and fairy tales, particularly '' The Ugly Duckling'' and ''Swan Lake'', its story follows a duck who is transfor ...

'': Script (4, 9, 22, 23) *''

RahXephon is a Japanese anime television series created and directed by Yutaka Izubuchi. The series follows 17-year-old Ayato Kamina, his ability to control a mecha known as the RahXephon, and his inner journey to find a place in the world. His li ...

'': Screenplay (episodes 11–12, 17–18, 24–25) *'' RahXephon: Pluralitas Concentio'': Screenplay *''

'': Miniseries composition, script *''

Shadow Star ''Shadow Star'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Mohiro Kitoh, originally serialized in Kodansha's ''seinen'' manga magazine ''Monthly Afternoon'' from 1998 to 2003. The Japanese name is an abbrev ...

'': Series composition, script (eps 1–3, 12–13) *''

'': Series composition, script, scenario (episodes 1–4, 6, 12, 20–22) *'' Undead Girl Murder Farce'': Script (eps 5-8) *''

Vampire Princess Miyu is a Japanese horror manga series by Narumi Kakinouchi and Toshiki Hirano, as well as an anime adaptation by the same creators. The anime was originally adapted as a 4-episode original video animation (OVA) series released in 1988 ...

'': Script (ep 20)

Television dramas

*'' Ultraman: Towards the Future'': Original story (episodes 4, 11) *''

'': Screenplay (eps 3, 5-6, 9, 19-20, 25, 34-35, 43-44, 50-52) *''

Ultraman Gaia is a Japanese tokusatsu TV show and is the tenth entry (fourteenth overall) in the Ultra Series. Featuring Chiaki J. Konaka as series composer and produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Mainichi Broadcasting System (MBS TV), ''Ultraman Gaia'' was ...

'': Series composition, screenplay (eps 1-3, 5, 10, 18, 26, 40, 42, 50-51) *'' Ultra Q: Dark Fantasy'': Screenplay (episodes 7, 24-25) *''

Ultraman Max is a Japanese tokusatsu series produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting Company. Released as the fourteenth entry (twentieth overall) in the ''Ultra Series'', it aired from July 2, 2005, until April 1, 2006. The show aimed ...

'': Screenplay (eps 27, 29-30, 38-39)

Cthulhu Mythos

* ''Cthulhu's Strange Record'' * ''Insumasu wo Oou Kage'' (a Japanese television adaptation of ''

The Shadow Over Innsmouth ''The Shadow over Innsmouth'' is a Horror fiction, horror novella by American author H. P. Lovecraft, written in November – December 1931 in literature, 1931. It forms part of the Cthulhu Mythos, using its motif of a malign undersea civilizatio ...

'') * "Terror Rate", a

short story A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the old ...

included in Volume 2 of the ''Lairs of the Hidden Gods''

anthology In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs, or related fiction/non-fiction excerpts by different authors. There are also thematic and g ...

(Kurodahan Press: )

Novel

*''Marebito'' (also screenplay of 2004 feature film)

Video games

*''

'' *''Kowloon's Curse''

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Konaka, Chiaki J. 1961 births Anime screenwriters Cthulhu Mythos writers Japanese screenwriters Japanese horror writers Living people Japanese former Christians Japanese conspiracy theorists Former Anglicans