Trivia

Watanable believes music is a universal language, and is very particular and distinct about using the proper score/songs in his animes.

He is sometimes referred to as the "Quentin Tarantino of anime".

He cites the film-noir series Lupin the Third (1971) as a major influence on his work.

Gives a series of two lectures in Michigan, on the 8th at the Detroit Film Theater, and 9th at Michigan State University. Shortly thereafter, he flies to Huston, Texas for another two lectures on the 11th and 12th at the Huston Museum of Natural Science. (February 2006)

Not to be confused with similarly named 'Excel Saga' director, Shinichi Watanabe.