Ranking the Anime Directors I Know
In the descriptions I wrote down the movies, series I've seen from them.
List activity
77 views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
20 people
- Director
- Art Department
- Animation Department
Hiroyuki Imaishi is known for Gurren Lagann (2007), Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022) and Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997).Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill, Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, FLCL Ep. 5, Uchuu Patrol Luluco and Inferno Cop- Animation Department
- Writer
- Director
Masaaki Yuasa was born on 16 March 1965 in Fukuoka, Japan. He is a writer and director, known for Mind Game (2004), Lu Over the Wall (2017) and Adventure Time (2010).Devilman Crybaby, Ping Pong the Animation, Yoru wa Mijikashi Arukeyo Otome, Mind Game, Kemonozume, Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei, Kaiba- Writer
- Art Department
- Director
Hideaki Anno was born on 22 May 1960 in Ube, Japan. He is a writer and director, known for Shin Godzilla (2016), Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007) and The Wind Rises (2013). He has been married to Moyoco Anno since 26 March 2002.eon Genesis Evangelion and it's movies, Top wo Nerae! Gunbuster- Director
- Animation Department
- Writer
Kazuya Tsurumaki was born on 2 February 1966 in Gosen, Japan. He is a director and writer, known for Gunbuster 2: Diebuster (2004), FLCL (2000) and Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007).FLCL, Top wo Nerae 2! Diebuster, Rebuild of Evangelion Movies- Writer
- Director
- Art Department
Shin'ichirô Watanabe was born on 24 May 1965 in Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan. He is a writer and director, known for The Animatrix (2003), Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001) and Cowboy Bebop (1998).Sakamichi no Apollon, Cowboy Bebop, Space Dandy S1-2, The Animatrix, Zankyou no Terror- Director
- Art Department
- Animation Department
Mamoru Hosoda is a Japanese film director and animator. Formerly employed at Toei Animation, he went to work at Madhouse from 2005 to 2011. Hosoda left Madhouse in 2011 to establish his own animation studio, Studio Chizu. He first came to public attention in the early 2000s with the first two films in the Digimon Adventure series and the sixth film in the One Piece series.
In the later 2000s, he diversified more with other films, including 2006's The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, 2009's Summer Wars, and 2012's Wolf Children.Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki, Mirai no Mirai, Summer Wars, Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo, Digimon Adventure Movie, Bakemono no Ko, One Piece Movie 6, Omatsuri Danshaku to Himitsu no Shima- Writer
- Director
- Animation Department
Satoshi Kon was born in 1963. He studied at the Musashino College of the Arts. He began his career as a Manga artist. He then moved to animation and worked as a background artist on many films (including Roujin Z (1991) by 'Katsuhiro Otomo'). Then, in 1995, he wrote an episode of the anthology film Memories (1995) (this Episode was "Magnetic Rose"). In 1997, he directed his first feature film: the excellent Perfect Blue (1997). In 2001, he finished work on his second feature film, Millennium Actress (2001) (aka Millennium Actress).Perfect Blue, Paprika- Director
- Writer
- Animation Department
Akiyuki Shinbô was born on 27 September 1961 in Fukushima, Japan. He is a director and writer, known for Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011), Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: The Rebellion Story (2013) and Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Movie 4 - Walpurgisnacht Rising (2024).Monogatari Series, Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica and it's movies, Nisekoi, Mekakucity Actors- Director
- Writer
- Art Department
Atsuko Ishizuka is known for A Place Further Than the Universe (2018), Goodbye, Don Glees! (2021) and Supernatural: The Animation (2011).Sora Yori mo Tooi Basho, Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo- Writer
- Director
- Animation Department
Katsuhiro Ôtomo is a Japanese manga artist, screenwriter and film director. He is best known as the creator of the manga Akira and its animated film adaptation.
In 1979, after writing multiple short-stories for the magazine Action, Otomo created his first science-fiction work, titled Fireball. Although the manga was never completed, it is regarded as a milestone in Otomo's career as it contained many of the same themes he would explore in his later. In 1982, Otomo made his anime debut, working as character designer for the animated film Harmagedon. The next year, Otomo began work on a manga which would become his most acclaimed and famous work: Akira. It took eight years to complete and would eventually culminate in 2000 pages of artwork. While the serialization of Akira was taking place, Otomo decided to animate it into a feature film, although the manga was yet to be finished. In 1988, the animated film Akira was released.
Otomo became the fourth manga artist ever inducted into the American Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 2012, and was awarded the Purple Medal of Honor from the Japanese government in 2013.Akira, Steamboy, Memories- Animation Department
- Director
- Art Department
Naoko Yamada is a Japanese animator, television and film director. Working at Kyoto Animation, she directed the K-On! and Tamako Market anime series and the anime film A Silent Voice.
Yamada was born in Gunma Prefecture. As a child she enjoyed drawing images from the Patlabor and Dragonball anime series.Koe no Katachi, K-On!, Hibike! Euphonieum- Director
- Art Department
- Animation Department
Tetsurô Araki was born on 5 November 1976 in Sayama, Japan. He is a director, known for Attack on Titan (2013), Bubble (2022) and Guilty Crown (2011).Shingeki no Kyojin, Death Note, Highschool of the Dead, Kotetsujou no Kabaneri- Animation Department
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Akira Amemiya is known for KILL la KILL (2013), Gridman Universe (2023) and SSSS.Gridman (2023). He is married to Megumi Kouno.SSSS.Gridman, Inferno Cop, Ninja Slayer- Director
- Animation Department
- Writer
Shingo Natsume is known for Sonny Boy (2021), One Punch Man (2015) and Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos (2011).One Punch Man S1, Space Dandy- Animation Department
- Writer
- Art Department
Hayao Miyazaki is one of Japan's greatest animation directors. The entertaining plots, compelling characters, and breathtaking visuals in his films have earned him international renown from critics as well as public recognition within Japan.
Miyazaki started his career in 1963 as an animator at the studio Toei Douga studio, and was subsequently involved in many early classics of Japanese animation. From the beginning, he commanded attention with his incredible drawing ability and the seemingly endless stream of movie ideas he proposed.
In 1971, he moved to the A Pro studio with Isao Takahata. In 1973, he moved to Nippon Animation, where he was heavily involved in the World Masterpiece Theater TV animation series for the next 5 years. In 1978, he directed his first TV series, Future Boy Conan (1978). Then, he moved to Tokyo Movie Shinsha in 1979 to direct his first movie, the classic Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979). In 1984, he released Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), which was based on the manga of the same title he had started 2 years before. The success of the film led to the establishment of a new animation studio, Studio Ghibli. Since then, he has since directed, written, and produced many other films with Takahata. More recently, he has produced with Toshio Suzuki. All enjoyed critical and box office success, in particular Princess Mononoke (1997). It received the Japanese equivalent of the Academy Award for Best Film and was the highest-grossing (about USD $150 million) domestic film in Japan's history at the time of its release.
In addition to animation, he also draws manga. His major work was Nausicaä, an epic tale he worked on intermittently from 1982 to 1984 while he was busy making animated films. Another manga Hikotei Jidai, later evolved into Porco Rosso (1992).Ponyo, Momonoke Hime, Majo no Takkyûbin, Kaze Tachinu, Kurenai no Buta, Tenkû no Shiro Laputa, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi, Tonari no Totoro, Howl no Ugoku Shiro, Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa- Director
- Art Department
- Animation Department
Masayuki Kojima was born on 16 March 1961 in Yamanashi, Japan. He is a director, known for Made in Abyss (2017), Genesis Climber Mospeada (1983) and Tibetan Dog (2011).Made in Abyss, Monster- Animation Department
- Director
- Writer
Atsushi Nishigori is known for Gurren Lagann (2007), The Promised Neverland (2019) and Your Name. (2016).Darling in the FranXX- Writer
- Director
- Art Department
Mamoru Oshii is a Japanese filmmaker, television director and screenwriter. Famous for his philosophy-oriented storytelling, Oshii has directed a number of popular anime, including Urusei Yatsura (1981-1984), Angel's Egg (1985), Patlabor: The Movie (1989), Ghost in the Shell (1995), and Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004).
Oshii was approached to be one of the directors of The Animatrix, but he was unable to participate because of his work in Innocence.Ghost in the Shell, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, Nils no Fushigi na Tabi, Tenshi no Tamago- Director
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Isao Takahata was born on 29 October 1935 in Ise, Japan. He was a director and writer, known for Grave of the Fireflies (1988), Pom Poko (1994) and The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013). He died on 5 April 2018 in Tokyo, Japan.Hotaru no Haka