Atsuko Tanaka (animator)
Atsuko Tanaka is a Japanese animator. She has been involved with TMS Entertainment and many of Studio Ghibli's works. She is a member of the Japanese Animation Creators Association.
She is best known for her work on Lupin the Third, Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, Animaniacs, Princess Mononoke, The New Batman Adventures, Spirited Away, Sonic X, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo, Belle, and The Boy and the Heron. In addition to her film work, Tanaka became a freelance animator in the early 2000s, working with studios such as Studio Chizu and Studio Ponoc after her long tenure at Telecom Animation Film. This shift allowed her to contribute to newer generations of Japanese animation, broadening her range beyond the classic films of the 1990s and 2000s. As a veteran animator in a male-dominated industry, her continued freelance work illustrated the evolving role and recognition of female creators in Japanese animation.
Works
The Castle of Cagliostro - key animatorLupin the 3rd key animatorThe New Adventures of Gigantor - key animator "The Dreaded Double Robot"Downtown Story - animatorSugata Sanshirô - key animatorEnchanted Journey - animatorSpace Cobra - animator / Telecom Animation FilmHere Come the Littles - key animatorSherlock Hound - animatorGalaxy High - key animatorDuckTales - key animator "Lost Crown of Genghis Khan" The Fuma Conspiracy - key animatorLittle Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland - key animatorFox's Peter Pan & the Pirates - animation director "The Dream" / TMSTiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation - key animator / TMSAdventures of Sonic the Hedgehog - animation director "Robotnik's Pyramid Scheme"Animaniacs - animation director / Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co. Ltd.Pom Poko - animator / Telecom Animation FilmWhisper of the Heart - key animato r/ Telecom Animation FilmPinky and the Brain - animation director "A Pinky and the Brain Christmas" / TMS Kyokjichi CorporationThe Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries - animation director / key animator / Tokyo Movie Shinsha Co. Ltd.Superman: The Animated Series - storyboard artist / key animatorPrincess Mononoke - key animator / Telecom Animation FilmThe New Batman Adventures - Director / storyboard artist / key animatorCybersix - Storyboard / Director / key animatorWakko's Wish - key animator Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker - key animatorSpirited Away - Animation Supervisor / Telecom Animation FilmWXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3 - animatorSonic X - key animator "Dr. Eggman's Ambition"Hajime no Ippo: The Champion Road - key animatorHowl's Moving Castle - AnimatorMonmon the Water Spider - animation directorTales from Earthsea - key animatorPonyo - key animatorGreen Lantern: First Flight - key animatorSummer Wars - key animatorArrietty - key animatorPandane to Tamago Hime - key animatorFrom Up on Poppy Hill - key animatorThe Wind Rises - key animator / Telecom Animation FilmSpace Dandy - key animator "The Search for the Phantom Space Ramen, Baby"When Marnie Was There - key animatorThe Boy and the Beast - key animatorYour Name - key animatorMary and the Witch's Flower - key animatorMirai - key animatorBelle - key animatorThe Boy and the Heron - key animator