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Kunihiko Ikuhara

  • Director
  • Writer
  • Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Kunihiko Ikuhara was born on 21 December 1964 in Komatsushima, Tokushima, Japan. He is a director and writer, known for Penguindrum (2011), Yurikuma Arashi (2015) and Sarazanmai (2019).
BornDecember 21, 1964
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
BornDecember 21, 1964
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Known for

    Penguindrum (2011)
    Penguindrum
    7.4
    TV Series
    • Director
    Yurikuma Arashi (2015)
    Yurikuma Arashi
    6.8
    TV Mini Series
    • Director
    Jun'ichi Suwabe, Mamoru Miyano, Kôki Uchiyama, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Ayumu Murase, and Shun Horie in Sarazanmai (2019)
    Sarazanmai
    6.8
    TV Series
    • Director
    Re:cycle of Penguindrum: Part 1 - Your Train is the Survival Tactic (2022)
    Re:cycle of Penguindrum: Part 1 - Your Train is the Survival Tactic
    6.9
    • Director
    • 2022

    Credits

    IMDbPro

    Director

    • Re:Cycle of Penguindrum: Part 2 - I Love You (2022)
      Re:Cycle of Penguindrum: Part 2 - I Love You
      7.3
      • Director
      • 2022
    • Re:cycle of Penguindrum: Part 1 - Your Train is the Survival Tactic (2022)
      Re:cycle of Penguindrum: Part 1 - Your Train is the Survival Tactic
      6.9
      • Director
      • 2022
    • Jun'ichi Suwabe, Mamoru Miyano, Kôki Uchiyama, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Ayumu Murase, and Shun Horie in Sarazanmai (2019)
      Sarazanmai
      6.8
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2019
    • Yurikuma Arashi (2015)
      Yurikuma Arashi
      6.8
      TV Mini Series
      • Director
      • 2015
    • Penguindrum (2011)
      Penguindrum
      7.4
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 2011
    • Valkyrie Profile (1999)
      Valkyrie Profile
      7.9
      Video Game
      • co-director
      • 1999
    • Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena (1999)
      Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena
      7.2
      • Director
      • 1999
    • Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997)
      Revolutionary Girl Utena
      8.1
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 1997
    • Sailor Moon (1992)
      Sailor Moon
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Director
      • 1992–1996
    • Sailor Moon R: The Movie: The Promise of the Rose (1993)
      Sailor Moon R: The Movie: The Promise of the Rose
      7.6
      • Director
      • 1993
    • Make Up! Sailor Guardians (1993)
      Make Up! Sailor Guardians
      6.6
      Short
      • Director
      • 1993
    • Goldfish Warning! (1991)
      Goldfish Warning!
      7.3
      TV Series
      • Director
      • part b
      • 1991–1992

    Writer

    • Re:Cycle of Penguindrum: Part 2 - I Love You (2022)
      Re:Cycle of Penguindrum: Part 2 - I Love You
      7.3
      • original work
      • screenplay (as Ikuni Chowder)
      • 2022
    • Re:cycle of Penguindrum: Part 1 - Your Train is the Survival Tactic (2022)
      Re:cycle of Penguindrum: Part 1 - Your Train is the Survival Tactic
      6.9
      • original work
      • screenplay (as Ikuni Chowder)
      • 2022
    • Jun'ichi Suwabe, Mamoru Miyano, Kôki Uchiyama, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Ayumu Murase, and Shun Horie in Sarazanmai (2019)
      Sarazanmai
      6.8
      TV Series
      • creator: original work
      • composition
      • screenplay (as Ikunirappa) ...
      • 2019
    • Yurikuma Arashi (2015)
      Yurikuma Arashi
      6.8
      TV Mini Series
      • creator: original work
      • composition
      • screenplay (as Ikuni Gomamonaka, as Ikuni Gomamonaka) ...
      • 2015
    • Penguindrum (2011)
      Penguindrum
      7.4
      TV Series
      • creator: original creator
      • planning
      • screenplay (as Ikuni Chowder)
      • 2011
    • Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena (1999)
      Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena
      7.2
      • based on the story by
      • original concept (as Be-Papas)
      • 1999
    • Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997)
      Revolutionary Girl Utena
      8.1
      TV Series
      • creator: original work
      • original concept (as Be-Papas)
      • 1997

    Second Unit or Assistant Director

    • Re:Cycle of Penguindrum: Part 2 - I Love You (2022)
      Re:Cycle of Penguindrum: Part 2 - I Love You
      7.3
      • unit director
      • 2022
    • Re:cycle of Penguindrum: Part 1 - Your Train is the Survival Tactic (2022)
      Re:cycle of Penguindrum: Part 1 - Your Train is the Survival Tactic
      6.9
      • unit director
      • 2022
    • Brothers Conflict (2013)
      Brothers Conflict
      5.8
      TV Mini Series
      • unit director: ending
      • 2013–2015
    • Yurikuma Arashi (2015)
      Yurikuma Arashi
      6.8
      TV Mini Series
      • unit director: ending
      • 2015
    • Kokoro Connect (2012)
      Kokoro Connect
      7.4
      TV Mini Series
      • unit director: ending
      • 2012
    • Penguindrum (2011)
      Penguindrum
      7.4
      TV Series
      • unit director
      • unit director: opening
      • 2011
    • Sweet Blue Flowers (2009)
      Sweet Blue Flowers
      6.9
      TV Mini Series
      • unit director: opening
      • 2009
    • Nodame Cantabile (2007)
      Nodame Cantabile
      8.1
      TV Series
      • unit director: opening
      • 2007
    • Sailor Moon (1992)
      Sailor Moon
      7.7
      TV Series
      • unit director
      • 1993–1996
    • Majikaru Tarurûto-kun (1991)
      Majikaru Tarurûto-kun
      • assistant director
      • 1991
    • Majikaru Tarurûto-kun (1990)
      Majikaru Tarurûto-kun
      6.0
      TV Series
      • assistant director
      • 1990–1992
    • Akuma-kun (1989)
      Akuma-kun
      6.5
      TV Series
      • assistant episode director
      • 1989–1990
    • Tatakae! Râmenman (1988)
      Tatakae! Râmenman
      6.2
      TV Series
      • assistant director
      • 1988

    Personal details

    • Official sites
      • Ikuniweb
      • Ikuniweb
    • Alternative names
      • Be-Papas
    • Born
      • December 21, 1964
      • Komatsushima, Tokushima, Japan

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      He often fills his work with multiple themes and all sorts of allusions, making them more complex than they appear at first. He refuses to (at least fully) explain his works in order to leave them open to any interpretation by the viewers.
    • Quotes
      [on Penguindrum (2011)] The theme is... well, there IS a theme. But I feel like, "Please watch it to find out!" There are TWO themes though. My own personal theme, and the theme of the work itself. But that's a secret!
    • Trademarks
        Most of his works feature some aspect of the performing arts (theatre/music), which he enjoys.

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