[5] After that, he began to work as a freelancer for the anime and video game industry, including for Nintendo again.

Kotabe became interested in animation after watching the short film Momotarō no Umiwashi as a child.

His first project there was Hols: Prince of the Sun where he met Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.

The project was eventually canceled, and work began on the two-film series Panda!

In 1985, he was scouted by Nintendo and assumed the position of game development advisor, where he created package illustrations for Super Mario Bros.