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Hisao Shirai

Hisao Shirai

Cinematographer · Died April 28, 2019, aged 72 · Saitama, Japan

Born
December 12, 1946
Died
April 28, 2019 (aged 72)
From
Saitama, Japan
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
43 on MovieCove · 87 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 37% in 30 days

What are Hisao Shirai's films like?

Across their 36 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
32%
Bonds
30%
Survival
15%
Ideas
7%
Morality
6%
Power
5%
Society
5%
Identity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma4 titles, browse their movies with this themePower3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 31 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 13 · Serious 6 · Dark 12

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 14

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 14 · Intense 13

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 15 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 21 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 19 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 13 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 9

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 12 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 9

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 22 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 8

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
23
Melancholic
13
Thrilling
10
Joyful
8
Hopeful
11
Other
33

How their films linger

Hopeful17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Hisao Shirai's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 43 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Hisao Shirai's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

87 credits, 43 with a MovieCove page.

  • Pokémon: Eevee & Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Cinematographer

  • Ghost in the Shell 2.0(2008)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Saiyuki Reload: Burial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

  • The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon(2006)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Himawari! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 26 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Elfen Lied (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 13 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Mezzo DSA(2003)

    Show 13 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Gungrave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 26 episodes · Cinematographer

  • The Galaxy Railways(2003)

    Show 26 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Pokémon: Jirachi - Wish Maker(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Nasu: Summer in Andalusia(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Neon Genesis Evangelion: Theatrical Edition #26 Live Action Part (Special Rush Edit Version) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Cinematographer

  • Millennium Actress(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon Heroes(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Witch Hunter Robin(2002)

    Show 26 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street(2002)

    Camera Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • WXIII: Patlabor(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Aquarian Age: Sign for Evolution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 13 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Inuyasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • X(2001)

    Show 24 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Pikachu's PikaBoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Cinematographer

  • Pokemon 4Ever: Celebi - Voice of the Forest(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Ah! My Goddess: The Movie(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Argento Soma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 25 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Fighting Spirit(2000)

    Show 75 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Lupin III: Missed by a Dollar(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Cardcaptor Sakura: The Sealed Card(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Leave it to Kero! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

  • Pokémon 3 the Movie: Spell of the Unown(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Space Travelers: The Animation(2000)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Crest of the Stars: Birth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

  • Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Infinite Ryvius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 26 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Pokémon: Pikachu's Rescue Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Cinematographer

  • Crest of the Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 36 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Pokémon the Movie 2000(1999)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Master Keaton (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 39 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Spriggan(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Pikachu's Vacation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Cinematographer

  • Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Cardcaptor Sakura(1998)

    Show 92 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Legend of Basara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 13 episodes · Cinematographer

  • TRIGUN (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 26 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Evangelion: Death (True)²(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Revival of Evangelion(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Perfect Blue(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Vampire Princess Miyu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 26 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Hyper Speed GranDoll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Hakugei: Legend of the Moby Dick(1997)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Armitage III: Poly-Matrix(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • M.D. Geist II(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Special Duty Combat Unit Shinesman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Ghost in the Shell(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Saber Marionette R (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Lupin III: Farewell to Nostradamus(1995)

    Camera Production Assistant

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Armitage III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 4 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Wild 7: Biker Knights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

  • Phantom Quest Corp. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Crying Freeman 6: The Guiding Light of Memory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Cinematographer

  • Akuemon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Cinematographer

  • Miracle Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 51 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Crying Freeman 5: Abduction in Chinatown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Cinematographer

  • Comet in Moominland(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Moonlight Pierce (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • Adachi-ga Hara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • Flaming Rugby Boy: Dodge Danpei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 47 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Crying Freeman 4: A Taste of Revenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Cinematographer

  • Only Yesterday(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Slow Step (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 5 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Crying Freeman 3: Shades of Death, Part 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • Moomin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 78 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Crying Freeman 2: Shades of Death, Part 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Alfred J. Kwak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 52 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Space Family Carlvinson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • Crying Freeman 1: Portrait of a Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Cinematographer

  • My Neighbor Totoro(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • California Crisis: Gun Salvo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Camera Production Assistant

  • Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hoyoyo! The Treasure of Nanaba Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hoyoyo! The Great Race Around The World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Future War 198X(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Slump: Hoyoyo! Space Adventure(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Monster of Frankenstein(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Dracula(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 52 episodes · Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 85 titles from 1979 to 2013.

Biggest box office

Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back (1998)

$164M worldwide

Highest rated

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Fighting Spirit (2000)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography82 of 85: 82 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score73rdOther crew3 of 85: 3 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1970s1 · crew1980s12 · crew1990s41 · crew2000s30 · crew2010s1 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Hisao Shirai's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 77th percentile, the median of all 36; across their 31 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 75th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Approval · how many liked their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Reach · how many have seen their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Midcredits score across 43 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 43 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser16
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · cinematographer

Dr. Slump: Hoyoyo! Space Adventure (1982)

68th percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 72/100 in their films, across 20 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 55. The element that speaks to their work as a cinematographer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Hisao Shirai's work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs heavier than most films and profanity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles10–91 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles7–84 · median 23 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles3–53 · median 19 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs11 titles7–38 · median 29 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense12 titles14–91 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Hisao Shirai work with?

People who share at least 2 of Hisao Shirai's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Megumi Hayashibara shares the most, 11.

Directors

Writers

Actors

  • Megumi Hayashibara11 titles    See all 11 shared titles with Megumi Hayashibara
  • Rica Matsumoto9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Rica Matsumoto
  • Ikue Ôtani8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Ikue Ôtani
  • Kôichi Yamadera7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Kôichi Yamadera

Composers and editors

Producers

  • Mitsuhisa Ishikawa7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Mitsuhisa Ishikawa
  • Shigeru Watanabe7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Shigeru Watanabe
  • Chôji Yoshikawa7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Chôji Yoshikawa
  • Takemoto Mori7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Takemoto Mori

Mixed roles