Hideaki Anno
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is a Japanese animator, filmmaker and actor. He is best known for creating the
anime is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
series ''
Neon Genesis Evangelion , also known simply as ''Evangelion'' or ''Eva'', is a Japanese mecha anime television series produced by Gainax and animated by Tatsunoko, directed by Hideaki Anno and broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 1995 to March 1996. ''Evangelion' ...
'' (1995)''.'' His style is defined by his
postmodernist Postmodernism is an intellectual stance or mode of discourseNuyen, A.T., 1992. The Role of Rhetorical Devices in Postmodernist Discourse. Philosophy & Rhetoric, pp.183–194. characterized by skepticism toward the " grand narratives" of modern ...
approach and the extensive portrayal of characters' thoughts and emotions, often through unconventional scenes presenting the mental deconstruction of those characters. The ''Evangelion'' franchise has had a significant influence on the anime television industry and
Japanese popular culture Japanese popular culture includes Japanese cinema, cuisine, television programs, anime, manga, video games, music, and doujinshi, all of which retain older artistic and literary traditions; many of their themes and styles of presentation can be ...
, with many deeming Anno as one of the medium's first
auteur An auteur (; , 'author') is an artist with a distinctive approach, usually a film director whose filmmaking control is so unbounded but personal that the director is likened to the "author" of the film, which thus manifests the director's unique ...
s. Anno's other directorial works include ''
Daicon Film's Return of Ultraman is a 1983 Japanese Superhero film, superhero Kaiju, ''kaiju'' Parody film, parody fan film directed by Hideaki Anno in his directorial debut. Cast * Hideaki Anno as Ultraman Jack (character), Ultraman (here, the character is referencing Ul ...
'' (1983), ''
Gunbuster ''Gunbuster'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese OVA anime series produced by Bandai, Victor, and Gainax and released from 1988 to 1989. It was the directorial debut of Hideaki Anno, best known as the creator and director of ''Neon Genes ...
'' (1988), '' Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water'' (1990), ''
Kare Kano is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masami Tsuda. It was serialized in ''LaLa'' from 1996 to 2005 and collected in 21 ''tankōbon'' volumes by Hakusensha. It depicts the romance between "perfect" student Yukino Miyazawa an ...
'' (1998), '' Love & Pop'' (1998), '' Shiki-Jitsu'' (2000), ''
Cutie Honey is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. First appearing in ''Weekly Shōnen Champions 41st issue of 1973, the series ran until April 1974. It follows an android girl named Honey Kisaragi, who trans ...
'' (2004), '' Re: Cutie Honey'' (2004), ''
Rebuild of Evangelion ''Rebuild of Evangelion'', known in Japan and on Amazon Prime Video as , is a Japanese animated film series and a retelling of the original ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' anime television series, produced by Studio Khara. Hideaki Anno served as t ...
'' (2007–2021), and ''
Shin Godzilla is a 2016 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, with a screenplay by Anno and visual effects by Higuchi. Produced by Toho Pictures and Cine Bazar and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the 31st film in the '' ...
'' (2016), the latter film marking the beginning of the ''Shin'' trilogy of ''
tokusatsu is a Japanese term for live action film or television drama that makes heavy use of practical special effects. ''Tokusatsu'' entertainment mainly refers to science fiction, War film, war, fantasy, or Horror film, horror media featuring such te ...
'' franchise reboots with
Shinji Higuchi is a Japanese filmmaker and storyboard artist. He is one of the most successful Japanese filmmakers and the top ''tokusatsu'' film director. Higuchi became known for his work on '' Gamera: Guardian of the Universe'', for which he won the Specia ...
, followed by ''
Shin Ultraman is a 2022 Japanese superhero ''kaiju'' film directed by Shinji Higuchi and written, co-produced, and co-edited by Hideaki Anno. A reimagining of ''Ultraman'', the film is a co-production between Toho Studios and Cine Bazar, and presented b ...
'' (2022) and '' Shin Kamen Rider'' (2023). Several of Anno's anime have won the '' Animage'' Anime Grand Prix award, including ''Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water'' in 1990, ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' in 1995 and 1996, and ''
The End of Evangelion is a 1997 Japanese anime science fiction film written by Hideaki Anno, directed by Anno and Kazuya Tsurumaki, and animated by Gainax and Production I.G. It serves as an alternate ending to the television series ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', wh ...
'' in 1997.


Biography


Childhood and personal life

The son of Fumiko and Takuya Anno, Anno was born in
Ube, Yamaguchi is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan on the Seto Inland Sea. As of October 2016, the city has an estimated population of 168,398 and a population density of 590 persons per km2. The total area is . History as a modern municipal ...
; he attended Wakō Kindergarten, Unoshima Municipal Elementary School, Fujiyama Municipal Junior High School, and Yamaguchi Prefectural Ube High School where he was noted for his interest in artwork and making short films for
Japanese Cultural Festival in Japan are annual open day events held by most schools, from nursery schools to universities at which their students display their artistic achievements. People who want to enter the school themselves or who are interested in the school may ...
s. Anno is an agnostic and has stated that he has found Japanese spiritualism to be closest to his personal beliefs. Anno is also a
vegetarian Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter. Vegetarianism m ...
.


Early work

Anno began his career while attending
Osaka University of Arts is a private arts university located in Kanan, Minamikawachi District, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The university was founded in 1945 as , changing its name to in 1957, and then to in 1964. The university adopted the current name in 1966. Notab ...
as an
animator An animator is an artist who creates multiple images, known as frames, which give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, and video gam ...
for the anime series ''
The Super Dimension Fortress Macross is an anime television series from 1982. According to story creator Shoji Kawamori, it depicts "a love triangle against the backdrop of great battles" during the first Human-alien war. It is the first part of two franchises: The ''Super D ...
'' (1982–1983). Wrapped up in producing the
DAICON III and IV Opening Animations The ''Daicon III'' and ''IV Opening Animations'' are two 8mm film anime short films that were produced for the 1981 Daicon III and 1983 Daicon IV Nihon SF Taikai conventions. They were produced by a group of amateur animators known as Daicon ...
with his fellow students, and also busy making self-financed films, Anno stopped paying his tuition, eventually getting expelled from Osaka University of Arts. He did not gain recognition until the release of his work on
Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator, director, producer, screenwriter, author, and manga artist. A co-founder of Studio Ghibli, he has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and creator of Japanese animated feature films, and is widel ...
's 1984 film ''
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind may refer to * Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (manga), ''Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind'' (manga), a manga series by Hayao Miyazaki * Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (film), ''Nausicaä of the Valle ...
''. Running short on animators, the film's production studio posted an ad in the famous Japanese animation magazine Animage, announcing that they were in desperate need of more animators. Anno, in his early twenties at the time, read the ad and headed down to the film's studio, where he met with Miyazaki and showed him some of his drawings. Impressed with his ability, Miyazaki hired him to draw some of the most complicated scenes near the end of the movie,Studio Ghibli, ''The Birth of Studio Ghibli'' video, c. 2003 (included on UK Nausicaä DVD) and valued his work highly. Anno went on to become one of the co-founders of Gainax in December 1984. He worked as an
animation director An animation director is either the director in charge of all aspects of the animation process during the production of an animated film or television, and animated segment for a live action film or television show, or the animator in charge of co ...
for their first feature-length film, '' Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise'' (1987), and ultimately became Gainax's premiere anime director, leading the majority of the studio's projects such as ''
Gunbuster ''Gunbuster'', known in Japan as , is a Japanese OVA anime series produced by Bandai, Victor, and Gainax and released from 1988 to 1989. It was the directorial debut of Hideaki Anno, best known as the creator and director of ''Neon Genes ...
'' (1988) and '' Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water'' (1990–1991). However, Anno fell into a four-year depression following ''Nadia'' — the series was handed down to him from
NHK , also known as NHK, is a Japanese public broadcaster. NHK, which has always been known by this romanized initialism in Japanese, is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee. NHK operates two terrestr ...
from an original concept by Hayao Miyazaki (of which '' Castle in the Sky'' is also partly based upon) and he was given little creative control. In 1994, the minor planet 9081 Hideakianno was named after him by his old friend
Akimasa Nakamura (born 1961) is a Japanese astronomer. He is a prolific observer of asteroids and comets, as well as a discoverer of minor planets. He has worked extensively at the Kuma Kogen Astronomical Observatory near Kuma, Ehime Prefecture, where he remai ...
.


''Neon Genesis Evangelion''

Anno's next project was the anime television series ''
Neon Genesis Evangelion , also known simply as ''Evangelion'' or ''Eva'', is a Japanese mecha anime television series produced by Gainax and animated by Tatsunoko, directed by Hideaki Anno and broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 1995 to March 1996. ''Evangelion' ...
'' (1995–1996). The series is set in a post-apocalyptic futurist version of Tokyo and follows humanity's struggle to survive against an onslaught of giant monsters known as Angels. Anno's history of
clinical depression Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a mental disorder characterized by at least two weeks of pervasive low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Intro ...
was the main source for many of the psychological elements of the series and its characters, as he wrote down on paper several of the trials and tribulations of his condition. During the show's production, Anno became disenchanted with the Japanese "
otaku is a Japanese word that describes people with consuming interests, particularly in anime, manga, video games, or computers. Its contemporary use originated with a 1983 essay by Akio Nakamori in '' Manga Burikko''. may be used as a pejorat ...
" lifestyle. For this and other reasons (although perhaps by design as well), ''Evangelion''s plot became increasingly dark and psychological as the series progressed, despite being broadcast in a children's television timeslot. Anno felt that people should be exposed to the realities of life at as young an age as possible, and by the end of the series all attempts at traditional
narrative A narrative, story, or tale is any account of a series of related events or experiences, whether nonfictional (memoir, biography, news report, documentary, travel literature, travelogue, etc.) or fictional (fairy tale, fable, legend, thriller (ge ...
logic were abandoned, as the final two episodes take place within the main character's mind. The show did not garner high ratings in Japan at its initial time slot, but after being moved to a later, more adult-oriented venue, it gained considerable popularity. Timing constraints at Gainax also forced Anno to replace the planned ending of ''Evangelion'' with two episodes set in the main characters' minds. In 1997, Gainax launched a project to re-adapt ''Evangelion''s scrapped ending into a feature-length film. Budgeting issues left the film unfinished, and the completed 27 minutes of animation were included as the second act of '' Evangelion: Death and Rebirth''. In response, Anno received several letters both of encouragement and criticism. Eventually, the project culminated in ''
The End of Evangelion is a 1997 Japanese anime science fiction film written by Hideaki Anno, directed by Anno and Kazuya Tsurumaki, and animated by Gainax and Production I.G. It serves as an alternate ending to the television series ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', wh ...
'', a three-act film that served as a finale to ''Neon Genesis Evangelion''. In September 1999, Anno appeared on the NHK TV-documentary "Welcome Back for an Extracurricular Lesson, Senpai!", answering some ''Evangelion''-related questions, including the origin of the name ''Evangelion'', and teaching children about animation production. Anno wrote and directed '' Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time'' (2021), launched in March 2021, after being rescheduled twice due to
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
. He stated that Shinji's story was completed, but mentioned that he had more ideas set in ''Evangelion'''s world.


Subsequent work

After ''Evangelion'', Anno directed the 1998 anime series '' Kareshi Kanojo no Jijō'' (''Kare Kano'' for short, also known in English as ''His and Her Circumstances''), the first Gainax television series to be directly adapted from previously written material. During the production of ''Kare Kano'', Anno became frustrated with the restrictions placed on the show by
TV Tokyo JOTX-DTV (channel 7), branded as and known colloquially as , is a television station headquartered in the Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, owned and operated by the subsidiary of listed certifie ...
after the Pokémon seizure incident and has not directed television anime since then. The director has also made forays into live-action films, beginning with '' Love & Pop'' (1998), a
cinéma vérité Cinéma vérité (, , ; "truthful cinema") is a style of documentary filmmaking developed by Edgar Morin and Jean Rouch, inspired by Dziga Vertov's theory about Kino-Pravda. It combines improvisation with use of the camera to unveil truth or ...
-style film about enjo kosai ("compensated dating", a form of teenage
prostitution Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in Sex work, sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, n ...
) in
Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
, of which a major portion was shot on miniature digital cameras with constantly shifting aspect ratios. He won Best New Director Award at 1998 Yokohama Film Festival for the film. Asumi Miwa who played the lead role won Best New Talent award respectively. He and his friend Masayuki also directed the documentary "GAMERA1999" which documented the production of '' Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris''. His second live-action film, '' Shiki-Jitsu'' (2000) (''"Ritual Day"'' or ''"Ceremonial Day"''), is the story of a burnt-out former animation director (played by popular
indie Indie is a short form of "independence" or "independent"; it may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Gaming *Independent video game development, video games created without financial backing from large companies *Indie game, any game (board ...
director
Shunji Iwai is a Japanese film director, video artist, writer and documentary maker. Life and career Iwai was born in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. He attended Yokohama National University, graduating in 1987. In 1988 he started out in the Japanese entertainment ...
) who falls in love with a woman disconnected from reality. Though an experimental work like ''Love & Pop'', this film was shot using the more traditional 2.35:1 aspect ratio and has a generally more polished presentation, eschewing the
cinéma vérité Cinéma vérité (, , ; "truthful cinema") is a style of documentary filmmaking developed by Edgar Morin and Jean Rouch, inspired by Dziga Vertov's theory about Kino-Pravda. It combines improvisation with use of the camera to unveil truth or ...
grittiness of Anno's first live-action film. This movie earned him Best Artistic Contribution Award at
Tokyo International Film Festival The is a film festival established in 1985. The event was held biennially from 1985 to 1991 and annually thereafter. Along with the Shanghai International Film Festival, it is one of Asia's competitive film festivals, and is considered to be the ...
and very positive reviews. Anno's third
live-action film Live action (or live-action) is a form of cinematography or videography that uses photography instead of animation. Some works combine live-action with animation to create a live-action animated film. Live-action is used to define film, video ga ...
was ''
Cutie Honey is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. First appearing in ''Weekly Shōnen Champions 41st issue of 1973, the series ran until April 1974. It follows an android girl named Honey Kisaragi, who trans ...
'', based on
Go Nagai , better known by the pen name , is a Japanese manga artist and a prolific author of science fiction, fantasy, horror and erotica. He made his professional debut in 1967 with ''Meakashi Polikichi'', but is best known for creating popular 1970s ...
's 1973 manga and anime series. Released in the summer of 2004, this lighthearted fantasy/superhero film was a stark contrast to his earlier, more realist live-action works. Later in 2004, Anno supervised but did not direct the three-part OVA, '' Re: Cutie Honey'', which was respectively directed by
Hiroyuki Imaishi is a Japanese key animator and animation director and one of the co-founders of Studio Trigger. His style is marked by fast and frantic animation combined with elaborate storyboarding and punchy direction. Prior to founding Trigger, he was an a ...
(part 1), Takamichi Itō (part 2), and Masayuki (part 3). Also released in 2004 was the movie , in which Anno makes several acting cameos: as the student in the front row of the "Home Room!" skit sitting next to Hataru, in "Who's the Director?" as an animator who feels he is being overworked, and finally in "Singles Picnic" he is among the men awaiting females who never come. On August 1, 2006, Hideaki Anno's official website was updated with job listings for key animators and production staff at a company he founded, Studio Khara. In September 2006, Anno's departure from Gainax was reported in the October edition of the Japanese animation magazine ''
Newtype is a monthly magazine publication originating from Japan, covering anime (and to a lesser extent, tokusatsu, manga, Japanese science fiction, seiyuu, and video games). It was launched by publishing company Kadokawa Shoten on March 8, 1985, with i ...
''. On September 9, 2006, GAINAX's official website confirmed that ''
Rebuild of Evangelion ''Rebuild of Evangelion'', known in Japan and on Amazon Prime Video as , is a Japanese animated film series and a retelling of the original ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' anime television series, produced by Studio Khara. Hideaki Anno served as t ...
'' was in the works. The first three movies would be an alternate retelling of the TV series (including many new scenes, settings, backgrounds, characters), and the fourth movie would be a completely new conclusion to the story. Kazuya Tsurumaki and Masayuki would direct the movies while Yoshiyuki Sadamoto would provide character designs and Ikuto Yamashita would provide mechanical designs. Shinji Higuchi would provide storyboards for the first movie. The first was launched in Summer 2007, and the second and third were planned to be launched in 2008, however, the second installment was released by itself on June 27, 2009. The third movie was to be released simultaneously with the fourth, instead, the third movie was released on November 17, 2012, and the release date for the fourth movie in Japan was announced to be June 27, 2020. On February 17, 2007, Anno published an official statement on the Japanese Yahoo Portal for the films regarding his personal involvement and goals in their production. In October 2007, Hideaki Anno resigned from Gainax. In 2011 Anno co-produced the Koinobori Pictures movie ''Kantoku Shikkaku'' ("Failed Director"), directed by Katsuyuki Hirano featuring
Yumika Hayashi was a Japanese AV idol and ''pink film'' actress. She earned the title of "Japan's Original Adult Video Queen" during a 16-year career in which she starred in nearly 200 AVs and appeared in over 180 films. Hayashi was also a prominent ''pink film ...
. In 2012, Anno was the curator of an exhibit entitled ''Tokusatsu- Special Effects Museum-Craftsmanship of Showa and Heisei Eras Seen Through Miniatures'', held at the
Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo The is a contemporary art museum in Koto, Tokyo, Japan. The museum is located in Kiba Park. It was opened in 1995. Collections *''Marilyn Monroe'' by Andy Warhol (1967) *'' Girl with Hair Ribbon'' by Roy Lichtenstein (1965) *''Honey-pop'' by ...
, featuring actual props and suits from many of Japan's
tokusatsu is a Japanese term for live action film or television drama that makes heavy use of practical special effects. ''Tokusatsu'' entertainment mainly refers to science fiction, War film, war, fantasy, or Horror film, horror media featuring such te ...
films and TV shows. Anno also produced a short live-action film for the exhibit, entitled ''A Giant Warrior Descends on Tokyo'', featuring the Giant Warrior-God from Studio Ghibli's animated film
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind may refer to * Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (manga), ''Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind'' (manga), a manga series by Hayao Miyazaki * Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (film), ''Nausicaä of the Valle ...
. He has gone on to work with
Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator, director, producer, screenwriter, author, and manga artist. A co-founder of Studio Ghibli, he has attained international acclaim as a masterful storyteller and creator of Japanese animated feature films, and is widel ...
and
Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio headquartered in Koganei, Tokyo."Studio Ghibli Collection - Madman Entertainment". ''Studio Ghibli Collection - Madman Entertainment''. Retrieved 2020-12-14. It is best known for its animated feature films, and ha ...
on several short films which have been shown at the
Ghibli Museum The is a museum showcasing the work of the Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli. It is located in Inokashira Park in Mitaka, a western city of Tokyo, Japan. The museum combines features of a children's museum, technology museum, and a fine a ...
. He also voiced the main character
Jiro Horikoshi was the chief engineer of many Japanese fighter designs of World War II, including the Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter. Early life Jiro Horikoshi was born near the city of Fujioka, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, in 1903. Horikoshi graduated from the new ...
in Miyazaki's 2013 feature film ''
The Wind Rises is a 2013 Japanese animated historical drama film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, animated by Studio Ghibli for the Nippon Television Network, Dentsu, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Walt Disney Japan, Mitsubishi, Toho and KDDI. It was rele ...
''. He also designed the ''
Space Battleship Yamato 2199 ''Star Blazers 2199'', known in Japan as , is a 2012–2013 Japanese military science fiction anime television series that is a remake of the first ''Space Battleship Yamato'' television series created by Yoshinobu Nishizaki and Leiji Mats ...
'' sci-fi anime television series opening sequence. In 2014, Anno and Studio Khara launched ''
Japan Animator Expo is a weekly series of original net animations released as part of a collaboration between Hideaki Anno's Studio Khara and Dwango, consisting of various anime shorts produced by many directors. The project began release from 7 November 2014 ...
'', a series of
original net animation An original net animation (ONA), known in Japan as , is an anime that is directly released onto the Internet. ONAs may also have been aired on television if they were first directly released on the Internet. The name mirrors original video animati ...
s made by various directors. In March 2015, it was announced that Anno would team up with close friend and Gainax cofounder
Shinji Higuchi is a Japanese filmmaker and storyboard artist. He is one of the most successful Japanese filmmakers and the top ''tokusatsu'' film director. Higuchi became known for his work on '' Gamera: Guardian of the Universe'', for which he won the Specia ...
to write and codirect ''
Shin Godzilla is a 2016 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, with a screenplay by Anno and visual effects by Higuchi. Produced by Toho Pictures and Cine Bazar and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the 31st film in the '' ...
'', the 2016 reboot of
Toho is a Japanese film, theatre production and distribution company. It has its headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Osaka-based Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group. Outside of Japan, it is best known as the producer ...
's ''Godzilla'' franchise.


Depictions

Anno has appeared in
manga Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
twice, both created by personal acquaintances. His wife,
Moyoko Anno is a Japanese mangaka, manga artist and fashion writer, with numerous books published in both categories. Her work ''Sugar Sugar Rune'' won the Kodansha manga award for children in 2005. Anno is married to director Hideaki Anno of ''Neon Genesi ...
, wrote ''Insufficient Direction'', a chronicle of their courtship and marriage and depicting Anno's "true face" as "the founder of the
otaku is a Japanese word that describes people with consuming interests, particularly in anime, manga, video games, or computers. Its contemporary use originated with a 1983 essay by Akio Nakamori in '' Manga Burikko''. may be used as a pejorat ...
cult". In 2007, a college-age version of him appeared alongside other Gainax founders
Hiroyuki Yamaga is a Japanese anime director and producer, and a founding member of the animation studio Gainax. He is best known for directing the film '' Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise'' (1987) at age 24, directing '' Mahoromatic'' (2001), '' Magi ...
,
Takami Akai is an illustrator, game creator, character designer and animator born on November 21, 1961 in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, Japan. Career history Akai attended Osaka University of Arts majoring in fine art . While studying there, Akai created t ...
, and
Toshio Okada is an anime producer, author, and lecturer. He is a co-founder and former president of the production company Gainax. He is portrayed by actor Gaku Hamada in the 2014 TV Drama ''Aoi Honō'' based on the autobiographical manga by his fellow Kazuh ...
in the
Kazuhiko Shimamoto is a Japanese manga artist. He attended college at the Osaka University of Arts in the fine arts department. While in college in February 1982, he debuted in the spring special issue of Shōnen Sunday with Hissatsu no Tenkōsei. At this point h ...
manga ''
Aoi Honō is a Japanese coming-of-age manga series written and illustrated by Kazuhiko Shimamoto. It was serialized in Shogakukan's ''seinen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Young Sunday'' from March 2007 to July 2008, when the magazine ceased its publicati ...
''. Anno attended
Osaka University of Arts is a private arts university located in Kanan, Minamikawachi District, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The university was founded in 1945 as , changing its name to in 1957, and then to in 1964. The university adopted the current name in 1966. Notab ...
with Shimamoto. ''Aoi Honō'' was adapted into a live-action television drama in 2014, where Anno was played by actor Ken Yasuda. The 2014 animated series ''
Shirobako ''Shirobako'' is a 24-episode anime television series produced by P.A. Works and directed by Tsutomu Mizushima. It aired in Japan between October 9, 2014 and March 26, 2015. A manga adaptation began serialization in ASCII Media Works's '' ...
'' has a walk-on appearance by a character named "Mitsuaki Kanno", a caricature of Anno.


Filmography


Film


Short Film


Producer only


Television


Animation / art work


Storyboards

* '' Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden'' (2001) * ''
Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is a Japanese anime television series created by Gainax, with animation produced by Gainax and Madhouse, and directed by Hiroyuki Yamaga. It was broadcast for thirteen episodes on Kids Station from April to June 2002. The series was licensed ...
'' (2002) * '' Aim for the Top 2! Diebuster'' (2004–2006) * ''
Sugar Sugar Rune or Sugar² Rune is a Japanese magical girl manga series written and illustrated by Moyoco Anno and serialized in the ''shōjo'' manga magazine ''Nakayoshi'' from September 2003 to May 2007. The series was collected into eight volumes publi ...
'' (2005–2006) * ''
Rebuild of Evangelion ''Rebuild of Evangelion'', known in Japan and on Amazon Prime Video as , is a Japanese animated film series and a retelling of the original ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' anime television series, produced by Studio Khara. Hideaki Anno served as t ...
'' (2007–2021) * ''
Space Battleship Yamato 2199 ''Star Blazers 2199'', known in Japan as , is a 2012–2013 Japanese military science fiction anime television series that is a remake of the first ''Space Battleship Yamato'' television series created by Yoshinobu Nishizaki and Leiji Mats ...
'' (2012–2013)


Animator

* ''Daicon III'' and ''IV Opening Animations'' (1981, 1983) * ''
The Super Dimension Fortress Macross is an anime television series from 1982. According to story creator Shoji Kawamori, it depicts "a love triangle against the backdrop of great battles" during the first Human-alien war. It is the first part of two franchises: The ''Super D ...
'' (1982–1983) * ''
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind may refer to * Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (manga), ''Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind'' (manga), a manga series by Hayao Miyazaki * Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (film), ''Nausicaä of the Valle ...
'' (1984) * '' The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?'' (1984) * ''
Birth Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring, also referred to in technical contexts as parturition. In mammals, the process is initiated by hormones which cause the muscular walls of the uterus to contract, expelling the f ...
'' (1984) * ''
Cream Lemon is an early hentai series. The first ''Cream Lemon'' OVA was released in August 1984, though ''Cream Lemon'' was not the first hentai OVA. The first was ''Lolita Anime'', released earlier in February 1984. Related to ''Cream Lemon'' ...
'' (Episode 4) (1985–1987) * ''
Urusei Yatsura is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi. It was serialized in Shogakukan's ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' from September 1978 to February 1987. Its 366 individual chapters were published in 34 ''tankōbon'' volume ...
'' (Episode 133) (1984–1986) * '' Urusei Yatsura 3: Remember My Love'' (1985) * '' Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise'' (1987) * '' Crystal Triangle'' (1987) * ''
Dangaioh is a Japanese anime OVA series produced and animated by AIC and Artmic and released in Japan in 1987. Dangaioh featured character designs by creator Toshiki Hirano, mechanical designs by Shoji Kawamori, and animation direction by Masami ...
'' (1987–1989) * ''
Battle Royal High School , originally known as is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Shinichi Kuruma. It was serialized in the Tokuma Shoten magazine ''Monthly Shōnen Captain'' infrequently between the May 1986 and August 1989 issues. Originally released i ...
'' (1987) * ''
Madox-01 is a 1987 original video animation produced by Anime International Company, AIC, Soeishinsha and Pony Canyon and directed and conceptualized by Shinji Aramaki. It has been licensed in the United States by AnimEigo. The plot centers on a mechan ...
'' (1987) * ''
Grave of the Fireflies is a 1988 Japanese animated war tragedy film based on a 1967 short story by Akiyuki Nosaka. It was written and directed by Isao Takahata, and animated by Studio Ghibli for Shinchosha Publishing. The film stars , , and . Set in the city ...
'' (1988) * '' Baoh the Visitor'' (1989) * '' Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water'' (1990–1991) * ''
Crimson Wolf is an anime written and illustrated by Shoichi Masuo. Plot Three warriors battle the forces of darkness when an archaeological expedition unleashes an ancient prophecy. English Cast *Barbara Goodson as Mizuo Mashio *Bob Bergen as Kai *Da ...
'' (1993) * ''
Macross Plus is a four-episode anime OVA and theatrical movie in the ''Macross'' series. It was the first sequel to the original ''Macross'' television series that took place in the official timeline ('' Macross II'' was quickly retconned by series creato ...
'' (1994–1995) * '' Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still'' (1994–1998) * '' Macross Plus Movie Edition'' (1995) * ''
FLCL is an original video animation (OVA) anime series created and directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki, written by Yōji Enokido, and produced by the FLCL Production Committee, which consisted of Gainax, Production I.G, and King Records. ''F ...
'' (2000–2001) * ''
Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is a Japanese anime television series created by Gainax, with animation produced by Gainax and Madhouse, and directed by Hiroyuki Yamaga. It was broadcast for thirteen episodes on Kids Station from April to June 2002. The series was licensed ...
'' (2002) * '' Aim for the Top 2! Diebuster'' (2004–2006)


Mechanical designer

* ''Daicon III'' and ''IV Opening Animations'' (1981, 1983) (Mecha designer and mechanical animator) * '' Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack'' (1988) (Mecha designer) * ''
Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is a Japanese anime television series created by Gainax, with animation produced by Gainax and Madhouse, and directed by Hiroyuki Yamaga. It was broadcast for thirteen episodes on Kids Station from April to June 2002. The series was licensed ...
'' (2002) (Mechanical animator)


Acting credits

* ''Return of Ultraman: MAT Arrow 1 Takeoff Order'' (1983) as
Ultraman ''Ultraman'', also known as the , is the collective name for all media produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad monsters. Debuting with ''Ultra Q'' and then ''Ultraman'' in 1966, the series is one ...
* '' Yamata no Orochi no Gyakushū'' (1985) as TV reporter * ''
Otaku no Video is a 1991 anime OVA spoofing the life and culture of otaku, individuals with obsessive interests in media, particularly anime and manga, as well as the history of Gainax, its creators. It is noted for its mix of conventional documentary film s ...
'' (1991) (''A Portrait of an Otaku'' interview, uncredited) * ''Abunai deka forever the movie'' (1998) * ''
FLCL is an original video animation (OVA) anime series created and directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki, written by Yōji Enokido, and produced by the FLCL Production Committee, which consisted of Gainax, Production I.G, and King Records. ''F ...
'' (2000–2001) (Voice of Miyu-Miyu, uncredited) * ''Frog River'' (2002) as Bar owner * ''
Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is a Japanese anime television series created by Gainax, with animation produced by Gainax and Madhouse, and directed by Hiroyuki Yamaga. It was broadcast for thirteen episodes on Kids Station from April to June 2002. The series was licensed ...
'' (2002) (Cameo role in Episode 12, uncredited) * ''
Cutie Honey is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Go Nagai. First appearing in ''Weekly Shōnen Champions 41st issue of 1973, the series ran until April 1974. It follows an android girl named Honey Kisaragi, who trans ...
'' (2004) as Office worker * ''
The Taste of Tea is the third film by Japanese writer and director Katsuhito Ishii. It has been referred to as a " surreal" version of Ingmar Bergman's '' Fanny and Alexander'' (1982). It was a selection of the Cannes Film Festival. Synopsis The film follows the ...
'' (2004) (Cameo, anime director) * ''Koi no Mon (Otakus in Love)'' (2004) (Cameo) * ''
Funky Forest , also known as ''Funky Forest: The First Encounter'' or simply ''Funky Forest'', is a 2005 Japanese surrealist anthology comedy film co-written and co-directed by Katsuhito Ishii, Hajime Ishimine and Shunichiro Miki. It is composed of several sto ...
'' (2004) (Actor) * '' Nihon Chinbotsu'' (2006) (Yamashiro's Son in law) * ''The Catch Man'' (2006), (Actor) * ''
Welcome to the Quiet Room is a Japanese comedy-drama released in 2007 in Japan, directed by Suzuki Matsuo. It stars Yuki Uchida in the main role, and features two famous movie and anime directors in secondary roles: Hideaki Anno and Shinya Tsukamoto. Plot A patient wak ...
(Quiet room ni yôkoso)'' (2007) (Doctor) * ''
Death Kappa is a 2010 ''kaiju'' film directed by Tomoo Haraguchi. An international co-production of Japan and the United States, it stars Misato Hirata, Mika Sakuraba, and Ryuki Kitaoka. In the film, a series of military experiments result in the appeara ...
'' (2010) (Actor) * ''
The Wind Rises is a 2013 Japanese animated historical drama film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, animated by Studio Ghibli for the Nippon Television Network, Dentsu, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Walt Disney Japan, Mitsubishi, Toho and KDDI. It was rele ...
'' (2013) (Voice, Jiro Horikoshi, main character) * '' The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness'' (Documentary film) (2013) (Self) * ''
Shin Godzilla is a 2016 Japanese ''kaiju'' film directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, with a screenplay by Anno and visual effects by Higuchi. Produced by Toho Pictures and Cine Bazar and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd., it is the 31st film in the '' ...
'' (2016) as Passerby (uncredited) * '' Last Letter'' (2020) * ''
Shin Ultraman is a 2022 Japanese superhero ''kaiju'' film directed by Shinji Higuchi and written, co-produced, and co-edited by Hideaki Anno. A reimagining of ''Ultraman'', the film is a co-production between Toho Studios and Cine Bazar, and presented b ...
'' (2022) as Ultraman (
motion capture Motion capture (sometimes referred as mo-cap or mocap, for short) is the process of recording the movement of objects or people. It is used in military, entertainment, sports, medical applications, and for validation of computer vision and robo ...
; with Bin Furuya)


Other credits

* '' Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise'' (1987) (Special effects & production designer) * ''
The Dragon Dentist is an 8-minute-long original net animation written and directed by Ōtarō Maijō that was released as the first part of Hideaki Anno's Animator Expo. The story follows a girl who is tasked with becoming a dentist for a dragon. A two-part ...
'' (2017) (Executive producer and sound director) * ''Virtual-san Looking'' (2019) (Creative supervisor)


Awards and honours


References


External links


English profile page
Khara (studio) is a Japanese animation studio, located in Suginami, Tokyo, best known for its work on the ''Rebuild of Evangelion'' film tetralogy. is the primary animation production studio. It was founded by Hideaki Anno in May 2006, and was shown publicly ...
*
Hideaki Anno Official site
* *

*
1996 ''NewType'' interview1997 ''Animeland'' interview"Special Talk: Yutaka Izubuchi x Hideaki Anno"
-(2003) {{DEFAULTSORT:Anno, Hideaki Hideaki Anno Japanese film directors Japanese animated film directors Anime directors Gainax Japanese agnostics Japanese animators 1960 births Living people Mythopoeic writers People from Yamaguchi Prefecture Osaka University of Arts alumni Japanese television directors Japanese male actors People with mood disorders Japanese storyboard artists 20th-century Japanese people 21st-century Japanese people Recipients of the Medal with Purple Ribbon Mechanical designers (mecha)