Oct 17, 2020 6:54 AM
Top Anime Directors in the Industry
Anime Relations:
Mononoke Hime
Below is a list of my favorite directors in the anime industry. I tried to place an emphasis on skill over influence, and placed those with a more appealing body of work near the top. Those with fewer releases will naturally fall lower on the list. I feel this is also an opportunity to highlight some amazing TV directors that don't always the get the same level of recognition movie directors receive. Please tell me what you think in the comments. Are there any big name directors I've missed?
Shinichiro Watanabe
Notable releases: Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Macross Plus, Kids on the Slope
Distinctive Style: "Watanabe is noted for blending together multiple genres in his anime. He has a distinct vision regarding the importance of the score of his works and believes that music is the universal language."
Masaaki Yuasa
Notable releases: Kaiba, Mind Game, The Tatami Galaxy, Ping Pong the Animation, Kemonozume
Distinctive Style: "Known for his wild, freeform style, Yuasa is one of the most visually distinct forces in animation."
Hayao Miyazaki
Notable releases: Princess Mononoke, Nausicaa, Future Boy Conan, Porco Rosso, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro
Distinctive Style: "Miyazaki's works are characterized by the recurrence of themes such as humanity's relationship with nature and technology, the wholesomeness of natural and traditional patterns of living, the importance of art and craftsmanship, and the difficulty of maintaining a pacifist ethic in a violent world."
Osamu Dezaki
Notable releases: The Rose of Versailles, Treasure Island, Space Adventure Cobra, Tomorrow's Joe
Distinctive Style: "Dezaki was known for his distinct visual style, which makes use of split screen, stark lighting, extensive use of dutch angle, and pastel freeze frames that he called "postcard memories", which may be his most famous trademark."
Satoshi Kon
Notable releases: Paranoia Agent, Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers, Paprika
Distinctive Style: "Kon used the hand-drawn medium to explore social stigmas and the human psyche, casting a light on our complexities in ways that might have failed in live action."
Mamoru Oshii
Notable releases: Ghost in the Shell, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, Angel's Egg, Patlabor 2
Distinctive Style: "Oshii is best known for creating sci-fi thrillers that challenge orthodoxy with their philosophical musings and provocative imagery."
Kenji Kamiyama
Notable releases: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit, Eden of the East
Distinctive Style: "Protégé of Mamoru Oshii, viewers come away with the feeling that Kamiyama is something of an anime renaissance man—he can do it all and do it well."
Ryuutarou Nakamura
Notable releases: Kino's Journey, Serial Experiments Lain, Ghost Hound
Distinctive Style: "Nakamura is an avant-garde anime director often praised for his use of sound."
Noboru Ishiguro
Notable releases: Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Macross, Space Battleship Yamato
Distinctive Style: "Pioneer of the anime space opera subgenre and talented musician, Ishiguro's is noted for his lovingly choreographed sequences to classical music."
Yoshiyuki Tomino
Notable releases: Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam, Turn A Gundam
Distinctive Style: "With his realistic approach to giant robots, Tomino changed the face of mecha anime and single-handedly invented the Real Robot subgenre."
Hideaki Anno
Notable releases: Neon Genesis Evangelion, The End of Evangelion, Gunbuster
Distinctive Style: "Anno has become defined by his incorporation of postmodernism and the extensive portrayal of characters' thoughts and emotions, often through unconventional scenes presenting the mental deconstruction of those characters."
Isao Takahata
Notable releases: Grave of the Fireflies, Anne of Green Gables, Gauche the Cellist, Only Yesterday
Distinctive Style: "Known for his bold works that stuck to no single genre, Takahata was fascinated by the nuances and fleeting moments of everyday life."
Kazuhiro Furuhashi
Notable releases: Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal, Gundam Unicorn, Zipang, Hunter x Hunter
Distinctive Style: "Furuhashi is particularly well known for realistic portrayals and first person views shown in his directorial and storyboard works."
Katsuhiro Otomo
Notable releases: Akira, Memories, Neo Tokyo -The Order to Stop Construction-
Distinctive Style: "Otomo’s signature style – precise, detailed, destructive, often grotesque – became a benchmark in the industry, advancing the state of adult animation to unprecedented heights."
Hiroshi Nagahama
Notable releases: Mushishi, Detroit Metal City, Flowers of Evil
Distinctive Style: "Nagahama is noted for his artistic flexibility and experimental style which tends to dwell on the hidden side of people or the world."
Discussion corner for other directors.
Masayuki Kojima - Excels as a drama director, of which there are very few of talent in this medium. Next closest to making it on the list. Director of Monster, Master Keaton, and Made in Abyss.
Yoshiaki Kawajiri - Love the nightmarish worlds he creates. Favorites include Ninja Scoll, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust , Highlander: The Search for Vengeance, and Wicked City. Also one of the better directors when it comes to animated shorts.
Hiroshi Hamasaki - Frequent collaborator of Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Has done incredible work on Steins;Gate, Texhnolyze, and Shigurui: Death Frenzy. Since then, however, he has somewhat fallen from grace. Waiting for his return to form.
Mamoru Hosoda - Skilled movie director, but I often find Hosoda's subject matter unappealing. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is my favorite of his releases.
Takahiro Oomori - Works on many creative projects, Baccano! stands tall among them. Overall solid director.
Morio Asaka - Usually works in genres outside my comfort zone, but I was very impressed with his take on No Longer Human in the Blue Literature series. Nana and Gunslinger Girl are also among the better anime drama series I have seen.
Junichi Satou - Magical girl and shoujo specialist. Often provides a unique touch to each project, Aria is my favorite of the bunch.
Akiyuki Shinbou - Known for his direction on the Monogatari series, Shinbou's presentation feels very one-note to me. The main disconnect for me is a failure to properly capture the mood of a scene.
Kunihiko Ikuhara - A creative mind, but has a limited scope of work. Better suited in the role of creator/writer than director. Utena was enjoyable, but the rest feel like the same formula recycled.
Tetsurou Araki - When it comes to excitement in direction, Araki delivers. The success of Death Note and Attack on Titan can be largely attributed to his distinct visual flair. Has made a few stinkers too though.
Kenji Nakamura - His earlier works have a strong visual presence that leave a lasting impression, those being Mononoke and Trapeze. But after moving on from Toei, we haven't seen direction of the same caliber.
Takeshi Koike - Does great work as a visual director, but the story takes a backseat. Love the visual style of Redline and his shorts.
Makoto Shinkai - Have to respect the hard work he puts in, but thematically I am put off. Yoshiyuki Tomino described his storytelling best, describing them as "stories about a boy and a girl who are always stretching out their hands towards each other, and yet the boy's hand never reaches the girl's crotch."
S Tier Directors
Shinichiro Watanabe
Notable releases: Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Macross Plus, Kids on the Slope
Distinctive Style: "Watanabe is noted for blending together multiple genres in his anime. He has a distinct vision regarding the importance of the score of his works and believes that music is the universal language."
Masaaki Yuasa
Notable releases: Kaiba, Mind Game, The Tatami Galaxy, Ping Pong the Animation, Kemonozume
Distinctive Style: "Known for his wild, freeform style, Yuasa is one of the most visually distinct forces in animation."
Hayao Miyazaki
Notable releases: Princess Mononoke, Nausicaa, Future Boy Conan, Porco Rosso, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro
Distinctive Style: "Miyazaki's works are characterized by the recurrence of themes such as humanity's relationship with nature and technology, the wholesomeness of natural and traditional patterns of living, the importance of art and craftsmanship, and the difficulty of maintaining a pacifist ethic in a violent world."
Osamu Dezaki
Notable releases: The Rose of Versailles, Treasure Island, Space Adventure Cobra, Tomorrow's Joe
Distinctive Style: "Dezaki was known for his distinct visual style, which makes use of split screen, stark lighting, extensive use of dutch angle, and pastel freeze frames that he called "postcard memories", which may be his most famous trademark."
Satoshi Kon
Notable releases: Paranoia Agent, Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers, Paprika
Distinctive Style: "Kon used the hand-drawn medium to explore social stigmas and the human psyche, casting a light on our complexities in ways that might have failed in live action."
A Tier Directors
Mamoru Oshii
Notable releases: Ghost in the Shell, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, Angel's Egg, Patlabor 2
Distinctive Style: "Oshii is best known for creating sci-fi thrillers that challenge orthodoxy with their philosophical musings and provocative imagery."
Kenji Kamiyama
Notable releases: Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit, Eden of the East
Distinctive Style: "Protégé of Mamoru Oshii, viewers come away with the feeling that Kamiyama is something of an anime renaissance man—he can do it all and do it well."
Ryuutarou Nakamura
Notable releases: Kino's Journey, Serial Experiments Lain, Ghost Hound
Distinctive Style: "Nakamura is an avant-garde anime director often praised for his use of sound."
Noboru Ishiguro
Notable releases: Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Macross, Space Battleship Yamato
Distinctive Style: "Pioneer of the anime space opera subgenre and talented musician, Ishiguro's is noted for his lovingly choreographed sequences to classical music."
Yoshiyuki Tomino
Notable releases: Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam, Turn A Gundam
Distinctive Style: "With his realistic approach to giant robots, Tomino changed the face of mecha anime and single-handedly invented the Real Robot subgenre."
Hideaki Anno
Notable releases: Neon Genesis Evangelion, The End of Evangelion, Gunbuster
Distinctive Style: "Anno has become defined by his incorporation of postmodernism and the extensive portrayal of characters' thoughts and emotions, often through unconventional scenes presenting the mental deconstruction of those characters."
Isao Takahata
Notable releases: Grave of the Fireflies, Anne of Green Gables, Gauche the Cellist, Only Yesterday
Distinctive Style: "Known for his bold works that stuck to no single genre, Takahata was fascinated by the nuances and fleeting moments of everyday life."
Kazuhiro Furuhashi
Notable releases: Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal, Gundam Unicorn, Zipang, Hunter x Hunter
Distinctive Style: "Furuhashi is particularly well known for realistic portrayals and first person views shown in his directorial and storyboard works."
Katsuhiro Otomo
Notable releases: Akira, Memories, Neo Tokyo -The Order to Stop Construction-
Distinctive Style: "Otomo’s signature style – precise, detailed, destructive, often grotesque – became a benchmark in the industry, advancing the state of adult animation to unprecedented heights."
Hiroshi Nagahama
Notable releases: Mushishi, Detroit Metal City, Flowers of Evil
Distinctive Style: "Nagahama is noted for his artistic flexibility and experimental style which tends to dwell on the hidden side of people or the world."
Discussion corner for other directors.
Masayuki Kojima - Excels as a drama director, of which there are very few of talent in this medium. Next closest to making it on the list. Director of Monster, Master Keaton, and Made in Abyss.
Yoshiaki Kawajiri - Love the nightmarish worlds he creates. Favorites include Ninja Scoll, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust , Highlander: The Search for Vengeance, and Wicked City. Also one of the better directors when it comes to animated shorts.
Hiroshi Hamasaki - Frequent collaborator of Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Has done incredible work on Steins;Gate, Texhnolyze, and Shigurui: Death Frenzy. Since then, however, he has somewhat fallen from grace. Waiting for his return to form.
Mamoru Hosoda - Skilled movie director, but I often find Hosoda's subject matter unappealing. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is my favorite of his releases.
Takahiro Oomori - Works on many creative projects, Baccano! stands tall among them. Overall solid director.
Morio Asaka - Usually works in genres outside my comfort zone, but I was very impressed with his take on No Longer Human in the Blue Literature series. Nana and Gunslinger Girl are also among the better anime drama series I have seen.
Junichi Satou - Magical girl and shoujo specialist. Often provides a unique touch to each project, Aria is my favorite of the bunch.
Akiyuki Shinbou - Known for his direction on the Monogatari series, Shinbou's presentation feels very one-note to me. The main disconnect for me is a failure to properly capture the mood of a scene.
Kunihiko Ikuhara - A creative mind, but has a limited scope of work. Better suited in the role of creator/writer than director. Utena was enjoyable, but the rest feel like the same formula recycled.
Tetsurou Araki - When it comes to excitement in direction, Araki delivers. The success of Death Note and Attack on Titan can be largely attributed to his distinct visual flair. Has made a few stinkers too though.
Kenji Nakamura - His earlier works have a strong visual presence that leave a lasting impression, those being Mononoke and Trapeze. But after moving on from Toei, we haven't seen direction of the same caliber.
Takeshi Koike - Does great work as a visual director, but the story takes a backseat. Love the visual style of Redline and his shorts.
Makoto Shinkai - Have to respect the hard work he puts in, but thematically I am put off. Yoshiyuki Tomino described his storytelling best, describing them as "stories about a boy and a girl who are always stretching out their hands towards each other, and yet the boy's hand never reaches the girl's crotch."
Posted by
Dunky
| Oct 17, 2020 6:54 AM |
1 comments
 |
Dunky | Jan 19, 2021 8:23 PM
@eyerok Thanks for dropping a comment. Surprised to learn you never took a liking to Satoshi Kon. It's difficult to explain my love for Kon, short reason is that I've always felt his style was perfectly suited for the medium. That plus I love his collaborations with Susumu Hirasawa, the marriage of those two is what really brought about some magical moments. Takahata has certainly grown on me over time. I'm currently watching Anne of Green Gables and loving it. One of these days I'm going to do a Takahata movie marathon re-watching session. |
 |
eyerok | Jan 19, 2021 10:09 AM
personally, Takahata should be S-Tier in my book. And I never liked Satoshi Kon (Except Tokyo Godfathers)
|