It takes a lot of people to make an anime, with fans often crediting the studio as a whole instead of each individual. While many individuals are recognized for their hard work, fans usually believe the studio is more important. But with studios like MAPPA and Madhouse constantly making hit anime likeChainsaw ManandFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End, it’s hard not to focus on them. However, among the many significant roles, like animators, artists, and writers, the directors have the most important job.
Unlike Western movie directors, anime directors don’t get nearly enough credit for the impact they have on a story. They piece the overall story together andprovide insight at every step to ensure the vision is correct. Anime directors also havetheir own unique stylethat fans can see through their works, another aspect that adds a distinct flair to any given show.This list will only look at TV anime directors, so legends likeHayao MiyazakiandSatoshi Konwon’t be featured, even though they have some TV experience.
10Megumi Ishitani
Notable Works: ‘One Piece’ (1999) and ‘Dragon Ball Super’ (2015)
Unlike many of the directors on this list,Megumi Ishitaniis only an episode director, meaning she only oversees specific episodes instead of the entire series. Ishitani started her career directing short films and music videos until Toei Animation hired her to work on storyboards and direct someOne PieceandDragon Ball Superepisodes. She doesn’t necessarily have a unique style, but her episodes featurevibrant colors and dazzling animation.
While it may be too early to include Ishitani on this list because she has only recently become a director, she has quickly produced some of thebest episodes ofOne PieceandDragon Ball Super. These include theGoku vs Jiren fight andOne Pieceepisodes 957, 982, and 1015, which feature the worst generation facing off against Kaido and Big Mom. With dramatic editing and stellar fight animation, Ishitani has given fans some of the best episodes in the most popular anime and is sure to be a legendary director at the end of her career.
9Sunghoo Park
Notable Works: ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ (2020) and ‘The God of High School’ (2020)
Primarily working as a key animator for most of his career on projects such asFullmetal Alchemist: BrotherhoodandFairy Tail,Sunghoo Parkis another new director who has taken anime by storm. With his signature style being cool and stylish action and animation, Park was the director for the first season ofJujutsu Kaisen. However, he has recently started his own anime studio, E&H Studio, where he hopes to deliver anime with him in complete control.
Even thoughNinja Kamui, his first project with E&H Studio, was a flop, fans should still look at the rest of his impressive resume. Park helped makeJujutsu Kaisenone of the best recent animeprograms because of its enjoyable pacing and mind-bogglingly good animation. Every anime he directs will indeed have some of themost outstanding animation imaginable, with fluid fight scenes and massive impact.
Jujutsu Kaisen
8Yoshiyuki Tomino
Notable Work: ‘Mobile Suit Gundam’ (1979)
Many anime fans are probably unaware ofYoshiyuki Tomino, and that is because he isn’t a modern director but the creator and director ofMobile Suit Gundam. Starting his career by working on storyboards forAstro Boy, Tomino later moved to Sunrise, an anime studio known for its Sci-fi shows, where he directed multiple anime from the 1970s to the 1990s.
While Tomino has worked on other series, none would ever beas popular asMobile Suit Gundam, which isn’t hard to imagine considering this anime revolutionized a whole genre and created a multi-billion dollar industry. His signature style was to have a relatively upbeat and happy action mecha show, but it would kill off a majority of the characters near the end, a trope that still runs in most Gundam anime today.
Mobile Suit Gundam
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7Tetsurō Araki
Notable Works: ‘Attack on Titan’ (2013) and ‘Death Note’ (2006)
One of the most notable names on this list of anime from this century,Tetsurō Araki,was the director of two of the biggest anime of all time,Attack on TitanandDeath Note. He worked the majority of his career for Madhouse, and his influence can be seen in many of its popular anime before moving to WIT Studio, where he worked on the first three seasons ofAttack on Titan.
Known for creating some of thebest anime for its anime, Araki has asense of creating drama and suspense. Despite only taking on smaller jobs as of late, his latest major project was the movieBubble. While in the planning stages of big projects, he takes on more minor roles of directing anime openings and endings to ensure he doesn’t rust. Araki took a lot of inspiration from older directors and, as such,uses contrasting lights and shadowsto create a sense of drama seen inDeath Note.
Attack On Titan
6Osamu Dezaki
Notable Works: ‘Ashita no Joe’ (1970) and ‘The Rose of Versailles’ (1979)
Another legendary director many anime fans probably haven’t heard of isOsasmu Dezaki, who has since passed away afterpioneering the anime landscape. Joining Mushi Productions, the studio made by the father of anime,Osamu Tezuka, Dezaki became known for his distinct style that would inspire many future directors. He worked on legendary anime such asAshita no Joe, The Rose of Versailles, Golgo 13, andBlack Jack.
Dezaki’s revolutionary style uses stark lighting, the Dutch angle, and a split screen. However, hismost well-known impact is what he calls “postcard memories,“which is when the animation fades into a detailed painting instead of a simpler animation frame. He uses this technique in Ashita no Joe, which produced some of the most iconic scenes in anime, including Joe slumping on the stool in the ring.
The Rose of Versailles
5Naoko Yamada
WhileNaoko Yamadais also known for herextremely popular anime movies, such asA Silent Voice, she has extensive experience directing anime shows as well, includingK-On!, Clannad,Nichijou,andTamako Market. She began her career at the illustrious Kyoto Animation, known for its breathtakingly beautiful animation, where she worked as a key animator. After directingK-On!and some other series, she left to join Science SARU.
With herdistinct style of using legs to depict emotions, Yamada has created some of the best shoujo and slice-of-life anime of all time. This style and expertise are responsible for some of the best depictions of daily life anime, creating extremely relatable situations and stories. These wholesome shows are bound to make any fan spring up with joy, as her anime has aheartwarming feeling that is not present in any other anime.
4Kunihiko Ikuhara
Notable Works: ‘Sailor Moon’ (1992) and ‘Revolutionary Girl Utena’ (1997)
When fans talk about the best shoujo or magical girl anime,Sailor MoonandRevolutionary Girl Utenaare two of the most brought up and were both directed byKunihiko Ikuhara. Beginning work at Toei Animation, Ikuhara worked onSailor Moonbefore leaving to create his own group called Be-Papas, which worked onRevolutionary Girl Utenauntil it disbanded.
With his iconic style of using the transformation trope,he revolutionized it inSailor Moon, an anime unlike any other. He also used this style inPenguindrumandSarazanmai, two other projects he directed. In addition to this style, he incorporates themes criticizing capitalism, allowing for powerful stories debating human nature. Ikuhara has one of the most unique styles in anime,always creating a great experience with hidden messages.
Sailor Moon
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3Hideaki Anno
Notable Work: ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ (1995)
While fans also recognizeHideaki Annofor his work directing movies, he first directedNeon Genesis Evangelion, an anime many fans claim to be a masterpiece. Starting as a key animator in the 1980s, Anno co-founded the studio Gainax, known for its experimental anime, such asGurren LagannandFLCL. He would later leave in 2006, creating Studio Khara, which produces a good deal of popular anime, includingKaiju No.8andDarling in the Franx.
Known for hisdark vision in anime, Anno masterfully portrays inner feelings through avant-garde storytelling. His directing style creates a vivid picture through a messy story, which is excellent for psychological shows, as seen inNeon Genesis Evangelion. Afterremaking the story into a new vision, his style is even more evident. With Anno’s ability tocapture vulnerable feelings and relatable emotions through a complex story, fans wish he would direct more anime.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
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2Masaaki Yuasa
Notable Works: ‘Devilman: Crybaby’ (2018) and ‘The Tatami Galaxy’ (2010)
Starting his career as an animator for popular kids' shows,Masaaki Yuasawould later direct his two standouts inKaibaandThe Tatami Galaxy. In 2013, he would then co-found Science SARU and direct various legendary anime, includingDevilman: Crybaby, Ping Pong The Animation, andKeep Your Hands Off Eizoken!Known for his avant-garde focus and idiosyncratic art style, Yuasa stands out among the biggest names in anime.
Yuasa is one of themost influential anime directors, using his experimental style to deliver profound stories through inventive animation, creating some of the most unique anime ever. Most ofhis anime tends to be shorter, providing a compact experience brimming with vibrance and creativity. His directing style takes inspiration from everyday things and puts them into an art form, allowing him to create meaningful and innovative stories that everyone can relate to.
Devilman Crybaby
1Shinichirō Watanabe
Notable Works: ‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998) and ‘Samurai Champloo’ (2004)
With anime likeCowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Space Dandy, and the upcomingLazarus,Shinichirō Watanabeis the most well-known anime directed. Starting his career at the popular sci-fi anime studio Sunrise, Watanabe would jump between famous studios such as Manglobe, Bones, and now MAPPA. With him being an auteur,his style heavily incorporates music into the world, a mashup of genres and mature themes.
Withfans deeming many of his anime perfect, Watanabe’s style proves to beeffective at creating unique worlds, characters, and stories. Combining sci-fi, Western, 1940s New York film noir, jazz music, and Hong Kong action films, he createdCowboy Bebop, one of the most acclaimed anime by fans and critics alike.Watanabe’s unique style is a blessing for anime, creating special shows with never any dull moments. Fans listen whenever he announces a new anime, leavingLazaruswith high hopes.
