Loading...
Meet the real stars of Japanese animation. From crayons to CGI, discover the techniques and inspirations of some of Japan's most amazing animators.
2018
Shuhei Morita is a renowned digital animator who brings a distinctively Asian aesthetic to his magic realist works. He got his break thanks to one of Japan's most revered animators, and today plans projects and directs TV anime at his own CGI production company.
Kouhei Nakama is a computer animator who is in high demand around the world. From ultra-realistic abstract objects to beautiful depictions of the human body, Nakama focuses on imagery that catches the eye, as well as on a sense of liveliness -- every detail is given its own set of movements.
Keisuke Matsumoto has a passionate online fan base thanks to his 2 ongoing web animated series. His works are known for their cute characters and comic dialogue, which is inspired by a Japanese two-person comedy routine known as manzai.
Masaki Okuda is an animator who uses metamorphosis to create a satisfying harmony of music and movement -- and to demonstrate his boundless creativity. Although his preference is for hand-drawn art, he is skilled at producing digital imagery that retains the aesthetic qualities of his hand-drawn work.
Jun Aoki creates anime intended to entertain viewers with bright characters. His stories are simple, and they feature setups designed for laughs. Since launching his own anime studio 12 years ago, Aoki has produced original animated works, as well as ads for corporations and local governments.
Hoji Tsuchiya specializes in cutout animation. This technique gives him the freedom to create some truly inventive visual worlds, defined by a harmonious synchronization of music and movement.
Tomoki Misato is a young up-and-coming animator who has already won numerous awards at festivals around the world. He creates stop-motion animations featuring colorfully designed puppets and stories with plenty of twists and turns.
Hiroshi Miyamoto is an up-and-coming director at a major animation company who has helmed 2 feature-length films based on the Pretty Cure anime series. He uses cutting-edge technology to bring his 3D characters to life.
NuQ is a popular artist who works primarily in fashion advertising and music videos. She uses colorful hand-drawn animations that move at a rapid pace to present the world as she sees it through her unique perspective.
2019
Shigeyoshi Tsukahara's anime take place in settings that recall mid-20th century Tokyo. His worlds are filled with period details and feature evocative backdrops that reflect his character's emotions.
Miyo Sato specializes in paint-on-glass animation, a stop-motion technique that involves photographing images on a sheet of glass, with the images changing gradually from shot to shot. Using paint, sand, clay, and other materials, Sato brings a hand-made touch to her beautiful animations.
Junichi Yamamoto is a freelance anime director who is best known for his detailed depictions of the inner lives of his characters, usually conveyed through flashbacks that allow him to fully flesh out his characters.
Seiji O'Hara is a creator known to use subtle strokes to depict a monotone world. He displays a splendid theme in his short stories, showing no boundaries in time or area. We look into Seiji O'Hara's creativity born from his unusual background.
Yosuke Tani is an animation artist whose work reflects a unique taste of Japanese motif. He has received high praise for his Japanese festival and Yokai monster themed creations. We look into the background of Tani and his portrayal of a Japanese fantasy world unseen in the Western world.
AC-bu is a team of 2 creators with a reputation for impactful animation. Team members Adachi and Itakura will always complete each project together. We look into AC-bu's unique, one of a kind style that leaves a vivid impression with viewers.
Naoyoshi Shiotani is a creator with a reputation for his stylish science fiction projects. He has also received praise for the many sci-fi animations he has directed, with its added sense of reality due to the detailed drawings. We look into Shiotani's ability to portray every aspect of the characters he creates.
Jun Awazu is an animation director who is particular about, and continues to draw monsters. Using various styles, he is recognized for his direction in numerous dynamic computer graphic animation featuring monsters. We look into the background of Awazu who portrays the world of monster movies using only computer graphics.
Baku Hashimoto is a creator based in Hokkaido Prefecture, who is highly recognized for his works using innovative images. While he is a filmmaker, he also develops original expressive tools through computer programming, to make his own ideas a reality. We look into the creativity of Hashimoto, who continues to challenge new image expressions, using self-created state-of-the-art technology as his weapon.
Ikuo Kato is a creator with a reputation for the hand-drawn styles of his animation. From a snapshot of daily life to the afterworld, he will seek out the best techniques to express the work at hand in his creations. We look into the background of Kato and the animation he creates, using memory as a keyword.
Jun Awazu is an animation director who is particular about, and continues to draw monsters. Using various styles, he is recognized for his direction in numerous dynamic computer graphic animation featuring monsters. This time we will be bringing to you the piece that Jun Awazu put his heart and soul into in its entirety. "NEGADON: The Monster from Mars."
Taro Otani is a creator highly praised for his unique abstract impressions. His hand-drawn movements are so smooth, as if computer graphics are used, giving a peculiar sense of weightlessness. We look into Otani's sense of creativity as he continues making pieces that reflect his everyday life, while deeply pursuing the creation of "shape."
Tetsuro Kodama is an animation artist with a reputation for humorous stories. With the use of realistically drawn detailed backgrounds, and characters with an abundance of expressions, he creates computer graphics animation with an added touch of hand-drawn art. We look into the artistry of Kodama, who says it is his mission to continue creating.
2017
Yasuhiro Yoshiura creates long-form sci-fi animations set in the near future. He discusses his animated series, Time of Eve, which suggests the possibility of more intimate human-robot relationships. Humans and robots coexist in a world where the robots are developed according to Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics. The work features 3D computer-generated backgrounds that allow the "camera" to flow freely through the world as it captures the characters' emotions and relationships.
In Japan, Makoto Shinkai has become a household name, thanks to the blockbuster success of his latest feature-length animation, Your Name. The film has already smashed records in China and is currently playing in countries around the world. Shinkai tells personal stories featuring sci-fi and fantasy elements. He is best known for his use of meticulously cut memory sequences and vivid background art to depict the internal drama of his characters.
Yoshiko Misumi creates fantastical worlds featuring handcrafted artwork and an aesthetic style that rejects animation's move towards digital. The result is like watching a moving picture book. Misumi's fantasy works range from children's cartoons to independently-made animated shorts.
Taketo Shinkai creates animated sketch comedies featuring rapid-fire dialogue, minimal movement, and a distinctive pop visual style. The many shorts he has produced for TV have found a large audience, particularly among teenagers.
Atsushi Wada creates surreal worlds that are full of mind-bending details. He is known for the odd, humorous movement of his human and animal characters, which he draws entirely in thin pencil lines. Wada already has some overseas renown, having won a Silver Bear at the 2012 Berlin Film Festival.
Ryu Kato creates living paintings that dance beautifully across the screen. In both his artwork and his animation, Kato emphasizes the rhythmic and the unexpected -- qualities that he believes add a human touch to anime. Apart from his own independently produced shorts, Kato has directed animations for music videos, live concerts and TV.
Kohta Morie is a computer animator known for his dynamic and stylish visuals, which range from photorealistic expressions to cel-like animation. Although he made his start working on other artists' anime, he also writes and directs his own work.
Ryo Okawara is an illustrator and anime director who consistently experiments with style -- for example, by creating a work that resembles a series of poster illustrations come to life. The minimalist movement in his work serves to highlight the striking images he produces.
Yuhei Sakuragi is a computer animator who specializes in creating stylish female characters with a hand-drawn feel. As a digital native, he has a talent for knowing what young people, especially teenagers, look for in their anime heroines.
Toshiko Hata is an animator and illustrator who specializes in stop-motion horror comedy. Her decision to mix horror and comedy is based on her belief that these 2 genres offer the most liberating experiences for the viewer.
Tomoyasu Murata creates puppet animations that delve into themes of life and death. His works mix realism and fantasy to depict both our world and the afterlife, and he portrays his characters through expressions and actions rather than words.
Hiroyuki Seshita is an animation director who has been involved in numerous feature-length adaptations of popular sci-fi manga. He often adds his own elements to the original works to bring them to life on the big screen
Streaming availability information not available
2020
Yoshiki Imazu is an upcoming artist who creates music videos for popular musicians, and advertising. We look into the artistry of Imazu who expresses both the emptiness and comfort in everyday life through his animation, while explaining such uncertainties without the need for words.
Acclaimed animator Seiji O'Hara is known for telling cynical stories that have a glimmer of hope. O'Hara's works deal with the dark, complicated and universal themes of life people all around the world deal with. In this special episode, we will be broadcasting the full versions of O'Hara's "THE ANCESTOR" and "AYESHA."
Based in Kyoto Prefecture, moogabooga is a creative unit made up of married couple Makoto and Ayako Takano. Behind their theme "find creativity in everyday life," the duo has become masters at creating stop-motion animations with household items. Join us as we learn about moogabooga's creativity and how they add handmade warmth to their animations.
Based in Osaka Prefecture, Sukikara Makiko creates humanistic stories with animals as the main characters. Join us and find out the secret behind the critically acclaimed creator's creativity.
With over 50 music videos on his resume, Sugimoto Kosuke has been able to combine audio and visuals in ways not many others can. Join us and find out the secret behind his creativity and ability to create a story with just lyrics and music.
Inaba Hideki is a filmmaker, art director and animator with a unique style filled with swirling, colorful shapes. Although he can't speak any English, he collaborates with foreign artists using AI translation services. In this episode, we find out what drives Inaba's creativity as he uses the internet to expand his visual horizons.
Tsukahara Shigeyoshi is a critically-acclaimed creator who has won multiple awards, both in Japan and abroad. His stories take place in the downtown Tokyo suburbs and feature a unique, retro-futuristic animation style. Animation fans around the globe have lauded the detailed cityscapes and steampunk-scenery he puts together. In this special episode, we're broadcasting "Joseito (Schoolgirl)" and "The Man Traveling with a Picture in Relief," 2 of Tsukahara's popular works, complete with English voices.
A creator from Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan who specializes in rhythmical animation with illustrations and figures that move to music. He was commissioned by the Foundation for Ainu Culture to create an animation about the Ainu. The purpose of the foundation is to preserve the stories and myths passed down orally by the non-literate Ainu through music, language and animation. This episode explores the appeal of Ishiguro's portrayal of the Ainu culture, which has slowly been disappearing year by year.
Yashiro Takeshi mainly works as a director on live-action commercials. At 43, he began working on original stop-motion animated works. In addition to writing and directing, he also works with art, animation, puppet-modeling and more. He's a nature-loving Akita Prefecture-born creator who currently lives in Karuizawa. He aims to create textured visuals unique only to stop-motion animation.
The up-and-coming creator has made the cover art for various novels, created music videos, and put together image boards for animated shows, all while attending university. Okada has gained the attention of international animation fans because of the detailed, beautiful worlds he creates and his ability to tell a story in every single cut. Watch and find out why the animation world has high expectations for this young 20-something creator.
Coming from a live-action film background, Iwaisawa is almost entirely self-taught in animation production. He continues to move up in the animation world and separate himself from other animators through self-developed techniques. Iwaisawa specializes in rotoscope, an animation technique that is based on tracing over live-action footage. The painstaking work leads to highly detailed images that come to life in ways not seen in traditional animation. We will introduce you to the one-of-a-kind, internationally-acclaimed world of Iwaisawa Kenji.
2021
Satoshi Tomioka currently heads the 3DCG studio Canavan Graphics. His job encompasses directing, writing and producing, all while managing his company. The talented creator is well-known for his original comedic animation style. He has also turned his original characters into multi-faceted businesses that include goods, video games and other ventures. In this episode, we find out what drives Tomioka's creativity and how he has become a master of comical 3DCG animation.
Tomoyasu Murata is a highly-acclaimed stop-motion animation artist known for his warm puppets and elaborate productions. The "life and death" of humans has been a focus in Murata's work ever since he was a student. This time, we bring the entirety of "A Branch of a Pine Is Tied Up," Murata's masterpiece based on the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Takeshi Yashiro mainly works as a director for live-action commercials. At 43, he began working on original stop-motion animated works. He is involved in every aspect of his works, from writing and directing to art, animation, and puppet-modeling. The nature-loving creator from Akita Prefecture currently lives in Karuizawa, where he continues to pursue stop-motion animation that uses textured visuals unique to the medium.
Toshihisa Yokoshima is a creator who honed his skills at Kamikazedouga, the production company behind international hits like "Ninja Batman." Although he works in 3DCG, he maintains a hand-drawn feel through his use of lines and coloring. His detailed depiction of his characters and the science fiction settings have made him a highly acclaimed animator.
Gaku Kinoshita is a solo creator who has worked on numerous children's animations that implement his soft and unique animation style. He studied animation at an art college in the UK and creates works that children can get lost in, making full use of hand-drawn and dynamic 3DCG animation. Active across many fields, including commercials, music videos and original works, Kinoshita's goal is to continue creating pieces that bring smiles to children's faces.
Having just graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts, Department of DESIGN, Nina Ai is one of Japan's most exciting up-and-coming young creators. Her works are characterized by eccentric colors and striking visuals that stay with you long after watching the piece.
Atsushi Makino is a creator characterized by the warm, analog-style of expression he studied in the Czech Republic. He utilizes handmade materials, crafted with much time and effort, in highly-acclaimed animations that have won numerous awards, both in Japan and overseas. He is active across various fields, including commercials, music videos and TV programs, all of which make full use of his unique talent.
A creator from the tropical islands of Okinawa Prefecture who creates colorful and unique worlds based on childhood experiences from her hometown. She is also known for her cute and relatable style of animation.
Yoshitoshi Shinomiya is a one-of-a-kind creator who is active as both a traditional Nihonga artist and an animator. He uses the drawing skills he cultivated through Nihonga to put together finely crafted and elaborate animations and has become one of Japan's most versatile and acclaimed creators.
Kaoru Yoshitake is an up-and-coming creator who specializes in 3DCG animation. The use of striking colors and stylish action scenes in his 3DCG animations has led to high acclaim.
Ryoji Yamada is an up-and-coming creator known for his edgy representations of contemporary society and internationally-acclaimed hand-drawn animation.
loundraw is a multi-talented young creator gaining a lot of attention. His specialties include delicate use of light, detailed backgrounds and expression that conveys a condensed movie-like story.
Kazuo Ebisawa is known for how he uses pencil drawings to add depth and texture to his works. He specializes in portraying character emotions through slight, deliberate movements.
lae astra
Self - Narrator (voice)
2023
Sato Kodai is a creator who produces works that appeal to children and adults. He creates heartwarming stories with cutting-edge technology while retaining the nostalgic feel of cel animation. He works together with his wife, a manga artist.
Wakabayashi Moe is a creator with a unique worldview that puts together mysterious stories full of characters with slightly eerie designs. The young female artist aims to create works only possible through animation.
ShiShi Yamazaki is a young creator that uses rotoscoping to make unique visual works. She continues to impress audiences worldwide through her use of soft watercolor-like tones and smooth animation.
2022
Hosokawa Shin is an up-and-coming creator known for his meticulous stop-motion animation. Realistic sets and puppets crafted with originality come together to form Hosokawa's critically-acclaimed worldview.
Eugene is a creator known for his detailed imagery and smooth animation style, using colors and unique characters to give his works a strange, otherworldly feel.
Oda Amane is an up-and-coming creator gaining attention for the realistic yet unique feel she gives her works. She builds intoxicating characters to look at and strange, fantastic settings.
Since winning the Grand Prize for Short Animation at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, one of the world's 4 most significant animation events, Yano Honami has been a creator to watch out for. The way she implements new techniques in each work instead of focusing on 1 singular style has garnered critical acclaim worldwide.
Spirited creator Hosokawa Shin spent 13 long years creating the stop-motion animation "DINO!" all on his own. The 24-minute-long work tells a treasure-hunting tale in the jungle with a young boy and his partner, a boat-shaped crocodile named Dino. "DINO!" comes to life through intricately detailed and stunning backgrounds with charming characters. In this special episode, we're showing the full version of Hosokawa's masterpiece for the first time on TV.
Uekusa Wataru is a creator known for his cute characters and mysterious worlds, as well as his ability to synchronize music and images in fast-paced visuals.
Ryo-timo is a creator pursuing new animation methods by combining 2D art and 3DCG. He creates magical worlds that have both a hand-drawn and 3D feel.
Morishita Yusuke is a popular creator known for his animated works for children. Greatly influenced by American cartoon animation, Morishita specializes in simple and friendly character designs.
Ishidate Namiko is a young creator known for works with unique stories based on real-life experiences. Her specialty is hand-drawn animation that flows with tenderness.
Sakai Osamu is a creator who incorporates complex historical and scientific information into easy-to-understand works of art. He employs a variety of expressive techniques that change with each theme.
Tasoyamaro is a creator from the new generation known that makes super short animations made for smartphones. Fans gravitate to her ability to create comforting imagery that feels both cute and nostalgic.
