Famous Animators from Japan

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Updated June 15, 2019 26.7K views65 items

List of notable or famous animators from Japan, with bios and photos, including the top animators born in Japan and even some popular animators who immigrated to Japan. If you're trying to find out the names of famous Japanese animators then this list is the perfect resource for you. These animators are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known animator from Japan is included when available.

The list you're viewing is made up of different people like Hayao Miyazaki and Hideaki Anno.

This historic animators from Japan list can help answer the questions "Who are some Japanese animators of note?" and "Who are the most famous animators from Japan?" These prominent animators of Japan may or may not be currently alive, but what they all have in common is that they're all respected Japanese animators.

Use this list of renowned Japanese animators to discover some new animators that you aren't familiar with. Don't forget to share this list by clicking one of the social media icons at the top or bottom of the page. {#nodes}
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  • Akemi Ôta
    Akemi Ôta is an animator, and the wife of Hayao Miyazaki.
  • Akio Watanabe
    Akio Watanabe (渡辺明夫, Watanabe Akio, born July 13, 1969) is a Japanese animator, character designer and animation director currently living in Tokyo, Japan. He often goes by the pseudonym Poyoyon Rock. He is also a member of the dōjinshi circle Pokopii.
  • Akira Yasuda
    • Birthplace: Kushiro, Japan
    Akira Yasuda (安田 朗, Yasuda Akira) (born July 21, 1964) is a Japanese animator, character designer, game designer and mecha designer, who works under the pen name "Akiman". Yasuda is a former employee of the video game company Capcom (joining in 1985) and has worked on many Capcom games, taking on various design roles for works such as the Final Fight series and Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (including their updates) under the pen name Akiman. He has also been involved in anime production, most notably ∀ Gundam, Overman King Gainer and Code Geass. He went to the United States to work on Red Dead Revolver for Angel Studios. When the studio was bought by Rockstar he went back to Japan, where he officially left Capcom in 2003 and started working as a freelance artist.
  • Atsuko Ishizuka
    • Birthplace: Okazaki, Japan
    Atsuko Ishizuka (いしづか あつこ, Ishizuka Atsuko, born September 3, 1981) is a Japanese animator and director. She began her animation career after joining Madhouse in 2004.
  • Atsuko Nakajima

    Atsuko Nakajima

    Age: 62
    • Birthplace: Japan
    Atsuko Nakajima (中嶋敦子, Nakajima Atsuko, born December 21, 1961 in Kanagawa, Japan) is a Japanese animator, character designer, and illustrator. She is married to anime director and animator Tomohiro Hirata, with whom she also collaborated in the Trinity Blood anime (in which Nakajima was character designer and Hirata was director). Ms. Nakajima is strongly associated with the animated adaptations of the works of Rumiko Takahashi produced by Kitty Films, having worked as an animation director on Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2 and Maison Ikkoku and as a character designer on Ranma 1/2.
  • Atsushi Wada
    • Birthplace: Japan, Hyōgo Prefecture
    Atsushi Wada is an animator, a film director and a screenwriter.