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 wage, living writing novels and other fiction, while other ...

visual novel A visual novel (VN) is a form of digital interactive fiction. Visual novels are often associated with the medium of video games, but are not always labeled as such themselves. They combine a textual narrative with static or animated illustratio ...

writer and

anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...

screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

. 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 for Best Scriptwriter, as well as the writer of the 2003 visual novel '' Saya no Uta'', the 2012 anime '' Psycho-Pass'', the light novel and anime '' Fate/Zero'', and the 2013–2014

tokusatsu is a Japanese term for live-action films or television programs that make heavy use of practical special effects. Credited to special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya, ''tokusatsu'' mainly refers to science fiction film, science fiction, War fi ...

show '' Kamen Rider Gaim''. He currently works at Nitroplus 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 by

Leaf A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the plant stem, stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leav ...

, he felt confident about the range of expression that games have. He then started working at Nitroplus and worked on '' Phantom of Inferno'' as his debut series. As of 2024, Urobuchi is the vice-president of Nitroplus.

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 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). August 2001, February 2002. * ''Ancient Misty'' (with Tetsuya Nakamura). Serialized in Dengeki Comic Gao!, 1 volume published by

Dengeki Comics is a manga publishing label affiliated with the Japanese publishing company ASCII Media Works (formerly MediaWorks (publisher), MediaWorks) and is aimed at a male audience. Aside from the main Dengeki Comics label, there is the related Dengeki Co ...

( MediaWorks). August 27, 2007.

Sound dramas

* '' Kikokugai: The Cyber Slayer'' (2004) — Script * '' Fate/Zero'' (2008–2013) — Original creator, script (anime BD boxsets bonus)

Light novels

Anime

Series

Movies

Live action

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