, known professionally as , is a Japanese Jōdo Shinshū Buddhist priest of the Kozenji Temple, former anime director, and former screenwriter from Himi, Toyama Prefecture.
Biography At Shin-Ei Animation, Motohira worked as an assistant director and production coordinator.
He famously served as the chief director of the Doraemon anime series from 1981 to 1984“僧侶は元アニメ脚本家 氷見の原平さん” (in Japanese). Toyama Shimbun (July 1, 2005)., with Tsutomu Shibayama taking over for the rest of the show's run."スタッフ&声のしゅつえん" (in Japanese). Doraemon. TV Asahi. Archived from the original on January 4th, 2003. Retrieved May 15, 2026. After departing, he became a freelance screenwriter.
Motohira has written several screenplays for numerous anime film and anime series works such as Doraemon: The Record of Nobita's Parallel Visit to the West, Dorami-chan: Mini-Dora SOS!!!, Esper Mami, Crayon Shin-chan: Action Mask vs. Leotard Devil, and 21 Emon.
In 2003, his mother died, leaving his father Akira, the head priest of Kozenji Temple, living alone. After completing a year of training at the Tokyo Buddhist College at Tsukiji Hongan-ji, Motohira officially became a priest at Kozenji Temple in 2005 and currently serves as head priest of the temple.
He retired from the anime industry after writing the screenplay for the feature film Crayon Shin-chan: The Legend Called: Dance! Amigo!, released in 2006.
Filmography Television anime Doraemon (1979-2005): Chief director, screenplay, storyboard, performance (1981-1984) Onegai! Samia-don (1985-1986): Screenplay“おねがい!サミアどん | 1980年代 | TMS作品一覧” (in Japanese). TMS Entertainment, a comprehensive animation production company. TMS Entertainment official website. Mock & Sweet (1986-1987): Storyboard, performance Esper Mami (1987-1989): Screenplay Chimpui (1989-1991): Screenplay Fun & Study in the Marvel of Beginnings (1989-1991): Screenplay 21 Emon (1991-1992): Screenplay Crayon Shin-chan (1992-present): Screenplay Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1994-1995): Screenplay Soar High! Isami (1995-1996): Screenplay YAT Anshin! Uchū Ryokō (1996-1998): Screenplay KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops (1996-2004): Screenplay HARELUYA II BØY (1997): Screenplay Transformers: Armada (2002-2003): Screenplay, head writer Theatrical anime Doraemon: The Record of Nobita's Parallel Visit to the West (1988): Screenplay映画ドラえもん: のび太のパラレル西遊記 (1988) (in Japanese). 映画.com. Retrieved May 15, 2026. Dorami-chan: Mini-Dora SOS!!! (1989): Screenplayドラミちゃん: ミニドラSOS!!! (1991) (in Japanese). 映画.com. Retrieved May 15, 2026. Crayon Shin-chan: Action Mask vs. Leotard Devil (1993): Screenplay映画 クレヨンしんちゃん アクション仮面VSハイグレ魔王 (1993) (in Japanese). 映画.com. Retrieved May 15, 2026. Crayon Shin-chan: The Legend Called: Dance! Amigo! (2006): Screenplay映画クレヨンしんちゃん 伝説を呼ぶ 踊れ! アミーゴ! (2006) (in Japanese). 映画.com. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
Original video animation Dokudami Tenement (1989-1990): Screenplay St. Michael School Drifting Story (1990): Screenplay Hyper Doll (1995): Screenplay
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