The anime community spends a lot of time discussing their favorite shows, but we don’t spend nearly enough time talking about the talented animators who brought these stories to life. There are a lot of people in a single anime’s staff, but today we are looking at the creative head honcho, the director.
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Between series and episode directors, anime have multiple talented people behind the scenes. Today we’re looking at the directors that brought our favorite episodes to life or made an entire series or film that has stuck with us since we first watched it. Get ready to explore the talent behind anime!
10Megumi Ishitani
A new face in the industry, Megumi Ishitani’s claim to fame has come from the recent “wano arc” in theOne Pieceanime, directing some of the best One Piece episodes such as episode 1015. Fans have been blown away by Ishitani’s style and pacing approach to adapting the source material. Seriously, One Piece has never looked better.
Now that the “wano arc” has finally reached its conclusion in the anime, fans are eager to see what episodes or other projects Toei puts Ishitani on next.
9Mari Okada
Better known for her screenwriting Mari Okada has shown off her directional talents a couple of times in recent years. This is the woman who wrote screenplays such as Anohana, The Anthem In My Heart, A Lull In The Sea, and so much more. It’s safe to say she has been in the industry for a while.
Her directing talents come from movies such as Maquia: When The Promised Flower Blooms and the recent film Alice and Therese’s Illusory Factory. If you have not experienced any of Okada’s writing or directorial works then you have not yet experienced anime to the fullest.
8Rie Matsumoto
Being one of the few woman directors in the industry, Rei Matsumoto left her mark on anime and animation by directing Blood Blockade Battlefront. You may not have watched the show, but you’ve definitely seen clips. Action anime has never looked better, and Matsumoto put herself on the map with some stellar scenes and her “overly expressive” animation style.
This and her other show Kyousogiga pushed the boundaries of Japanese animation at the time, and are still being praised by Sakuga enthusiasts today! On every Sakuga animation forum and video, you are bound to find her work.
7Ai Yoshimura
Ai Yoshimura is known for directing popular anime such as Anohana, Blue Spring Ride, and the famed first season of My Teen Romantic Comedy Snafu. if you’re a slice-of-life fan, then you’re probably a Yoshimura fan.
She also served as the animation director for the popular Netflix anime B: The Beginning (we don’t talk about season 2 though). From her comedic timing skills in Daily Lives of High School Boys to her controversial choices in Oreimo as an episode director, Yoshimura is a staple in the anime community.
6Makoto Shinkai
I don’t think I need to tell most fans who this man is. Shinkai is hailed as the Miyazaki of his time ever since his break-out hit with the movie Your Name. After this worldwide sensation debuted, Shinkai was on every fan’s radar. He released the successful yet controversial “Weather With You” and his recent film Suzume.
Shinkai has been in the industry long before he created Your Name, creating fan favorites such as The Garden of Words and 5 Centimeters Per Second. Shinkai is known for his distinct animation style and his fantastical and Romantic approach to storytelling.
5Mamoru Hosoda
Hosoda, like Shinkai, is praised to be another Miyazaki of his time. Another industry staple, Mamoru Hosoda has created several of the best anime films in the medium like The Boy and The Beast, Summer Wars, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Wolf Children, and so much more.
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Every time a Hosoda film drops fans rush to see it as you can be sure it’s going to be a great movie. Hosoda is known for his “loose” animation style as well as his several stories about the bonds of family.
4Hiroyuki Imaishi
Pushing the boundaries of both animation and storytelling, Hiroyuki Imaishi has made his presence known to fans across the world. The co-founder of the famedStudio Trigger, Imaishi is responsible for Gurren Lagann,Kill la Kill, Promare, and most recently Crunchyroll’s 2022 anime of the year Cyberpunk Edgerunners.
Imaishi’s style can only be described as over the top, as it takesthe weird anime stereotypeand uses it to its utmost potential. If you have not seen any of his work, please, go live a little.
3Naoko Yamada
You know Kyoto Animation, right? The famed studio has been giving fans some of the best-looking animation in the world. Well, they would be nothing without this woman. Naoko Yamada has directed series and films such as K-ON, A Silent Voice, Tamako Market, Free, Hyouka, Nichijou, and yes evenClannad. Need I go on?
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She is most recently known for her first anime with the studio Science Saru, The Heike Story, and she even directed the chaotic Miss Koboyashi’s Dragon Maid. Yamada’s work has more than left her mark on the anime industry, it’s helped create the modern-day anime industry. Fans know every time a series comes to this director, she will be setting a new standard.
2Hayao Miyazaki
Speaking of creating the modern-day landscape, there is something to be said when every anime film is compared to your work. You knew Miyazaki would be on this list because how could he not be? Without a doubt the most well-known director in anime, Miyazaki is famous for creating classics like Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Castle In The Sky and so much more.
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The co-founder of the famousStudio Ghibli, Miyazaki and his team have beenthe standard for anime filmssince before most of us were even born. Seriously this guy has created most of anime’s classical films and is still not retired.
1Shinichirō Watanabe
Surprised that Miyazaki isn’t number one? While Miyazaki established the anime film landscape, Watanabe established the modern-day anime original landscape. Notevery anime comes from a previous source material, and a lot of classics are original ideas. Watanabe is known for creating hit titles like Cowboy Bebop, Carole and Tuesday, and Samurai Champloo.
Even though Watanabe is known for his anime originals he has still adapted some of the best manga into anime form such as Space Dandy, and Kids on the Slope. Watanabe’s anime style is so good that it has non-anime fans converting into true weebs.
