Ayumu Watanabe

• Name — Ayumu Watanabe • Native Name — 渡辺 歩 • Born — 3 September 1966 • Birthplace — Tokyo, Japan • Occupation — Animation director • Years Active — 1986–present • Notable Works — * Doraemon series • Space Brothers • After the Rain • Komi Can't Communicate

Ayumu Watanabe was born in Tokyo on September 3, 1966. He started his career in 1986 when he joined Studio Mates as a key animator. Two years later, Watanabe moved to Shin-Ei Animation, where he worked on the animated adaptation of the Doraemon comic series, as well as direct multiple anime films in the franchise. As a freelancer, he also directed numerous animated adaptations such as Space Brothers, After the Rain, and Komi Can't Communicate. He also worked with Studio 4°C on the films Children of the Sea and Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko.

• Atashin'chi (2002; storyboards) • Space Brothers (2012–2014; director) • Mysterious Girlfriend X (2012; director) • Danchi Tomoo (2013–2015; director) • If Her Flag Breaks (2014; director) • Ace Attorney (2016–2019; director) • After the Rain (2018; director) • Gurazeni (2018; director) • Major 2nd (2018–2020; director) • Komi Can't Communicate (2021–2022; chief director) • Summer Time Rendering (2022; director) • You Are Ms. Servant (2024; director) • Ganglion (2025; director) • Akane-banashi (2026; director) • Witch Hat Atelier (2026; director)

• Magical Princess Minky Momo: A Duo of Sincerity Toward a Dream of Longing (2026; director)

• Doraemon: Nobita and the Windmasters (2003; chief animation director) • Doraemon: Nobita in the Wan-Nyan Spacetime Odyssey (2004; assistant director, chief animation director) • Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur 2006 (2006; director, screenplay) • Doraemon: Nobita and the Green Giant Legend (2008; director) • Space Brothers #0 (2014; director) • Children of the Sea (2019; director) • Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021; director) • Freedom in the Sky (TBA; director)

• Doraemon Comes Back (1998; director, animation director) • Nobita's the Night Before a Wedding (1999; director, animation director) • A Grandmother's Recollections (2000; director, animation director) • Good Luck! Gian!! (2001; director) • The Day When I Was Born (2002; director) • Pa-Pa-Pa the Movie: Perman (2003; director, screenplay) • Pa-Pa-Pa the Movie: Perman: Tako de Pon! Ashi wa Pon! (2004; director) • Ōkii Ichinensei to Chiisana Ninensei (2014; director)