Gen Urobuchi

Gen Urobuchi (虚淵 玄, Urobuchi Gen, born December 20, 1972) is a Japanese writer for visual novels, light novels, and anime. He is best known for his part in creating the highly acclaimed anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Some other of his popular works include the 2003 visual novel Saya no Uta, the 2012 anime Psycho-Pass, the light novel and anime Fate/Zero, and the 2013–2014 Kamen Rider Series Kamen Rider Gaim. He currently works at Nitroplus.
Urobuchi's works often contain dark and nihilistic themes, tragic plot twists, and heavy usage of gore. Anime written by Urobuchi that have won the Newtype Anime Award have been Puella Magi Madoka Magica in 2011, Fate/Zero in 2012 and Psycho-Pass: The Movie in 2015. His popular work Madoka Magica have also won the Japan Media Arts Festival's Grand Prize, the second television series to do so.

In choosing names for the characters he develops, Urobuchi has stated that he shies away from selecting generic names that would match their personalities and instead opts for more unusual names that he believes would eliminate noise when fans try finding information on the characters with search engines. In a discussion with Urobuchi, manga writer Kazuo Koike contrasted this decision with the naming style in his own works, which emphasized more forthright names that were easier to remember. However, he praised Urobuchi's method for inviting viewers to "involve themselves deeper into the story and actively work to understand the characters." Urobuchi also said he attempts to keep at least one trait in common between each individual character and himself so that he can always identify with them on some level.

Visual novels

• Phantom of Inferno (2000)
• Vampirdzhija Vjedogonia (2001)
• Kikokugai: The Cyber Slayer (2002)
• Jōka no Monshō (2003)
• Saya no Uta (2003)
• Outlaw Django - Zoku: Satsuriku no Django (2007)
• Psycho-Pass: Mandatory Happiness (2015) - Project Planning, Supervisor

Manga

• Vampirdzhija Vjedogonia (with Tetsuya Sakata). Serialized in Comic Dragon, 2 volumes published by Dragon Comics (Kadokawa Shoten). August 2001, February 2002. ISBN 4049261774 ISBN 4049261936
• Ancient Misty (with Tetsuya Nakamura). Serialized in Dengeki Comic Gao!, 1 volume published by Dengeki Comics (MediaWorks). August 27, 2007. ISBN 978-4840240178

Light novels

Kikokugai: The Cyber Slayer (with Chūō Higashiguchi)

• Kikokugai: The Cyber Slayer 1 - Violet Lightining Palm. Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko. December 25, 2004. ISBN 4-04-427809-1
• Kikokugai: The Cyber Slayer 2 - Demon-eyed Beauty. Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko. February 2005. ISBN 4-04-427810-5
• Kikokugai: The Cyber Slayer (single-volume paperback compilation). Sai Zen Sen Fictions (Star Seas). December 11, 2013. ISBN 978-4-06-138955-7

Hakubō no Dendōshi (with kamiwata & Akira Yasuda)

• Hakubō no Dendōshi. Nitroplus Books/Sai Zen Sen Fictions (Star Seas). December 29, 2004/March 15, 2012. ISBN 978-4-06-138824-6

Fate/Zero (with Takashi Takeuchi)

• Fate/Zero 1 - The Untold Story of the Fourth Holy Grail War. Type-Moon Books/Sai Zen Sen Publications (Star Seas). 2006/January 12, 2011. ISBN 4-06-138903-3
• Fate/Zero 2 - The Gathering of Spirits. Sai Zen Sen Publications (Star Seas). February 9, 2011. ISBN 4-06-138904-1
• Fate/Zero 3 - The Mad Feast of Kings. Type-Moon Books/Sai Zen Sen Publications (Star Seas). 2007/March 10, 2011. ISBN 4-06-138906-8
• Fate/Zero 4 - The Scattered Ones. Type-Moon Books/Sai Zen Sen Publications (Star Seas). 2007/April 7, 2011. ISBN 4-06-138908-4
• Fate/Zero 5 - The Quickening of Darkness. Sai Zen Sen Publications (Star Seas). March 10, 2011. ISBN 4-06-138910-6
• Fate/Zero 6 - Flames of Purgatory. Type-Moon Books/Sai Zen Sen Publications (Star Seas). 2007/June 10, 2011. ISBN 4-06-138912-2

Black Lagoon (with Rei Hiroe)

• Black Lagoon - Shaitane Badi. Gagaga Bunko. July 18, 2008. ISBN 4-09-451079-6
• Black Lagoon 2 - Ballad of the Sinful Wizard. Gagaga Bunko. January 18, 2011. ISBN 4-09-451249-7

Eisen Flügel (with Chūō Higashiguchi)

• Eisen Flügel. Gagaga Bunko. July 17, 2009. ISBN 4-09-451146-6
• Eisen Flügel 2. Gagaga Bunko. December 18, 2009. ISBN 4-09-451180-6

Kin no hitomi to tetsu no ken (with Yun Kōga)

• Kin no hitomi to tetsu no ken. Sai Zen Sen Fictions (Star Seas). April 14, 2011. ISBN 4-06-138802-9

Anime

Series

Movies

Sound dramas

• Kikokugai: The Cyber Slayer (2004) - Script
• Fate/Zero (2008-2013) - Original Creator, Script (Fate/Zero BD boxsets bonus)

Video games

• Puella Magi Madoka Magica Portable (2012) - Project Planning, Supervisor
• Gunslinger Stratos (2012) - Original Scenario

Tokusatsu

• Kamen Rider Gaim (2013–2014) - Series Composition, Script. 47 episodes, 44 (all but 30, 37, 47)
  • Kamen Rider Gaim: Great Soccer Battle! Golden Fruits Cup! (2014) - Original Creator, Script Supervision.

• "Psycho-Pass Anime Gets Xbox One Game by 5pb.". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. 2014-05-27. Retrieved August 19, 2016. 
• "Updated Psycho-Pass Promo Video Previews Song". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. 2012-09-13. Retrieved September 14, 2012. 
• "Expelled From Paradise Art Posted by Toei, Nitro+, Urobuchi, FMA's Mizushima". Anime News Network. 2012-09-20. Retrieved 2012-09-20. 
• "Psycho-Pass Film Slated for January 9 With Gen Urobuchi, Makoto Fukami". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. 2014-09-26. Retrieved October 10, 2014. 
• "2017 Godzilla Anime Film Penned by Gen Urobuchi". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. 2016-08-19. Retrieved August 19, 2016. 
• "Madoka Magica Gets PSP Game with Gen Urobuchi". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. 2011-08-09. Retrieved March 27, 2012.