Have you seen Shirobako?

Shirobako is an awesome recent anime (FALL 2014) about a group of friends who dream of working in the anime business. Each one has a different path she wants to follow: from voice acting to writing, they are working hard to put their name on the credits of an anime show.

Which brings me to the question: Do you ever read the credits?

Each animation production involves a vast amount of people and lots of work to complete. Most of them are anime fans themselves who want to give their best to bring quality anime to the world. Their passion is the main reason behind anime’s success.

That’s why, here in MANGA.TOKYO, we are focusing on highlighting the people behind the scenes. After writing about our Not So Usual Summer 2016 List, we were obliged to go through the past work of all those incredible directors.

Ready?

Sotozaki Haruo

• Anime for Summer 2016: Tales of Zestiria the X (テイルズ オブ ゼスティリア ザ クロス) by Ufotable

Sotozaki Haruo (外崎 春雄) is a Japanese animator who lately turned into a full-time director. He has worked in many well-known anime productions over the years, mostly as an animation or episode director.

Check out some of his most famous work:

1. Basilisk (TV) : Key Animation (OP)
2. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie : Key Animation
3. Fruits Basket (TV) : Episode Director (eps 20, 23-24), Animation Director (6 episodes)
4. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (TV) : Episode Director (ED 4), Key Animation
5. Higurashi no Naku Koroni Kai (TV) : Opening Key Animation

He was also the director for the previous anime adaptation of the ‘Tales Of’ series (Tales of Symphonia).

Kishi Seiji

• Anime for Summer 2016: DanganRompa 3 (ダンガンロンパ3 -The End of 希望ヶ峰学園) by Lerche

Kinshi Seiji (岸 誠二) was chosen by the 19th Animation Kobe committee in 2014 to receive their Individual Award. It honors the entire length of his career that includes not only ‘Danganronpa’ but also Arpeggio of Blue Steel and Hamatora. Toshiya Matsushita of Animage praised his impressive portfolio.

He was also the director of the second season of Ansatsu Kyoshitsu (Assassination Classroom) and of Angel Beats (2010).

## Oonuma Shin

### Anime for Summer 2016: Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya 3rei!! By Silver Link

Oonuma Shin (大沼 心) is both an animation and theater director. His style and approach have created controversies among anime fans, with viewers either loving or hating his work.

He was the director of all the previous ‘Fate/kaleid’ seasons and he was also the series director for ‘Negima!?’

Ashino Yoshiharu

• Anime for Summer 2016: D.Gray-man Hallow by TMS Entertainment

Ashen Yoshiharu (芦野 芳晴) is a Japanese animator with an impressive portfolio. He was also the director of the first 5 episodes of the recent 2011 Thundercats reboot that, sadly, stopped after an incredible first season.

He has worked in famous productions like ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’, ‘Claymore’, and ‘Dragon Ball Z’.

He has an active Facebook account you can follow for all his latest news!

Itagaki Shin

• Anime for Summer 2016: Berserk (ベルセルク) by GEMBA & Millepensee

The anime world is nothing more than a big happy (?) family. Most of the people involved in the industry have crossed paths at some point or another.
Itagaki Shin (板垣 伸) for instance has worked in a ‘Tales of’ videogame. Ashino Yoshiharu of ‘D.Grayman’ has worked in the last ‘Berserk’ movie. Sotozaki Haruo has worked at ‘FMA: Brotherhood’ like Itagaki-san.

Other notable productions he’s been part of:

1. Ninja Scroll (TV) : Storyboard (eps 3, 11), Episode Director (ep 3), Key Animation (eps 12-13)
2. Inuyasha (TV) : Key Animation (Telecom Animation)
3. Devil May Cry (TV) : Director, Storyboard (OP; eps 1-3, 10-12), Episode Director (eps 1, 11-12), Key Animation (1 episodes)

Conclusion

Anime are not created by some magic vortex that spits out ready-made productions. They are the product of hours and hours of hard work.
If we want to be fair, we need to give these people the credit they deserve, a pat in the back; an arigato gozaimasu.
After all, we are all here for the anime, aren’t we?