Hiroyuki Imaishi

Hiroyuki Imaishi(今石　洋之) was born in 1971, in Tokyo. He joined studio Gainax after graduating from Tama University of Arts. Later left the studio to establish Trigger, where he still works to this day.

Made a name for himself on Hideaki Anno’s Kare Kano. He storyboarded episodes 1, 3, 8, 19, 24 and did key animation on episodes 3, 10, and 19. His presence helped inject some stylized levity into Anno’s shoujo drama. His episode 19, entirely directed and produced by Imaishi, is noted for its unorthodox paper cutout animation¹.

Started as an animator heavily influenced by Masahito Yamashita and Yoshinori Kanada. He draws with a similar warping of perspective and with characters snapping into discrete poses, but mixes in cartoony devices reminiscent of A Pro’s work on Dokonjo Gaeru (of which Imaishi is a professed fan). He also tends to draw his characters enveloped in speedlines, with strongly defined eyes/eyebrows, rectangular jawlines, and gummy, gritted teeth. His cuts are willfully limited, eliminating transitions between poses and using fast looping for comedic effect¹.

After Kare Kano, became one of Gainax’s premier directors. His directorial aesthetic is heavily informed by his animation. Elisions of graphic space become elisions of cinematic space and time. He composes shots to crunch in as much of his characters into the frame as possible. The interplay of moving and still planes, forceful use of text, and extreme variations in size are other major components of his direction. His compositions are visually busy and he has no problem reducing action scenes to pure visual abstraction (like rendering clashing figures as a few pencil lines). He’s known to employ Dezakian tricks like triple takes and postcard shots here and there. His storyboards are rough, improvised, and lacking in detail. Fan of Robert Rodriguez and John Woo, the latter’s iconic white doves referenced in his FLCL episode. In general he loves to include references to classic anime and film in his works¹.

His first solo directorial effort was the Production I.G OVA Dead Leaves (2004). Dead Leaves would set the stage for Imaishi’s later works: crude, anarchic, and heterogeneous characters positioned against a homogenizing totalitarian force. Dead Leaves uses letter/pillarboxing and text in a manner recalling stylized comic books. Imaishi served as character designer and animation director on the OVA so the animation is steeped in his neo-Kanada idiom more than any of his other directorial works¹.

Left Gainax and formed Studio Trigger with Masahiko Otsuka in 2011, bringing over several major animators to the new studio. His debut work with Trigger was Kill la Kill (2013). As with Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill freely referenced anime history: Osamu Dezaki, magical girl shows, battle shounens, Sukeban Deka, Sailor Moon and Revolutionary Girl Utena, among others. Despite being broadly popular overseas, Kill la Kill is Imaishi’s most controversial work to date, not only because of its extreme levels of fanservice but also because it was the first Imaishi show to suffer from damaging production problems: rewrites of the script, cost cutting animation shortcuts, and a restrictive schedule¹.

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Works

• Neon Genesis Evangelion(1995~1996/TV)

1. Key Animation: #23(Disc Version).
2. In-betweens: #11, #14, #15, #16, #17, #19, #20, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26.

• Slayers Next(1996/TV)

1. Key Animation: #22, #26.

• Mach GoGoGo(1997/TV)

1. Key Animation: OP1, OP2, #4, #34.

• VS Knight Lamune & 40 Fire(1996/TV)

1. Key Animation: #23.

• Yuusha-Ou GaoGaiGar(1997~1998/TV)

1. Key Animation: #28, #30.

• Slayers Try(1997/TV)

1. Key Animation: #1, #6, #14.

• Battle Athletess Daiundoukai(1997~1998/TV)

1. Key Animation: #8, #23.

• Virus(1997/TV)

1. Key Animation: #1, #4, #11.

• Kodomo no Omocha(1996~1998/TV)

1. Key Animation: #54, #75.

• Lupin III: Walther P-38(1997/TVSP)

1. Key Animation.

• Neon Genesis Evangelion Death & Rebirth(1997/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou(1998~1999/TV)

1. Screenplay: #19.
2. Geki Meter(劇メーター): #19.
3. Animation Direction: #3, #11, #19.
4. Storyboard: #1, #3, #10, #19.
5. Key Animation: #3, #10, #19, #24, #25, #26.
6. Color Setting: #19.
7. Coloring: #19.
8. Extracting(切り出し): #19.

• Weiß Kreuz(1998/TV)

1. Key Animation: OP2.

• Generator Gawl(1998/TV)

1. Key Animation: #1, #2.

• Lupin III: Honoo no Kioku Tokyo Crisis(1998/TVSP)

1. Key Animation.

• Vampire Hunter D the Animated Series(1997~1998/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #4.

• Change!! Getter Robo: Sekai Saigo no Hi(1998~1999/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #2.

• Chiisana Kyojin Microman(1999/TV)

1. Animation Direction: #26.
2. Key Animation: #39, #52.

• Medarot(1999~2000/TV)

1. Storyboard: #14.
2. Episode Direction: #14.
3. Animation Direction: #14.
4. Key Animation: #1.

• Chikyuu Bouei Kigyou Dai-Guard(1999~2000/TV)

1. Storyboard: #3.
2. Key Animation: OP.

• Twilight Venom(1999~2000/TV)

1. Key Animation: OP, #3.

• FLCL(2000~2001/OVA)

1. Storyboard: #1, #5, #6.
2. Animation Direction: #2, #5.
3. Animation Direction Assistance: #1, #3.
4. Key Animation: #1, #3~#6.
5. Setting: #2, #5.

• Ojamajo Doremi(2000~2001/TV)

1. Key Animation: OP.

• Gensō Suikogaiden Volume 1: Swordsman of Harmonia(2000/PS)

1. Key Animation: OP.

• Motto! Ojamajo Doremi(2001~2002/TV)

1. Key Animation: OP1, OP2.

• Parappa the Rapper(2001~2002/TV)

1. Storyboard: ED, #5, #11, #18.
2. Episode Direction: ED.
3. Key Animation: ED.
   1. ED: Solo Key Animated.

• Lupin the 3rd Alcatraz Connection(2001/TVSP)

1. Key Animation.

• Shaman King(2001~2002/TV)

1. Key Animation: OP1, OP2.

• Mahoromatic(2001/TV)

1. Key Animation: OP, #4.

• Hellsing(2001~2002/TV)

1. Key Animation: OP.

• Sabaku no Kaizoku! Captain Kuppa(2001~2002/TV)

1. Key Animation: #4.

• Wild Arms Advanced 3rd(2002/PS2)

1. Key Animation: OP.
   1. OP: The duel.

• Abenobashi Mahou☆Shoutengai(2002/TV)

1. Key Animation: Storyboard: #3, #12.
2. Episode Direction: #3.
3. Animation Direction: #3, #12.

• Trava: Fist Planet(2002/OVA)

1. Storyboard: #2.
2. Key Animation: #2, #3.

• Anime Tenchou(2002)

1. Storyboard.
2. Episode Direction.
3. Animation Direction.

• Puchi Pri*Yucie(2002~2003/TV)

1. Key Animation: #7.
2. Storyboard: #7.

• Gad Guard(2003/TV)

1. Storyboard: #5.
2. Key Animation: #24.

• Tales of Symphonia(2003/Game)

1. Key Animation: OP.

• Lupin III: Otakara Henkyaku Daisakusen!!(2003/TVSP)

1. Key Animation.

• Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou(2003~2004/TV)

1. Storyboard: OP.
2. Key Animation: OP.

• Fullmetal Alchemist(2003~2004/TV)

1. Key Animation: #4, #22.

• PoPoLoCrois(2003~2004/TV)

1. Key Animation: #6.

• Dead Leaves(2004/Movie)

1. Director.
2. Character Design.
3. Storyboard.
4. Animation Direction.
5. Key Animation.

• Juubee-chan 2(2004/TV)

1. Key Animation: #7.

• Cutie Honey(2004/Live Action)

1. Honeymation Storyboard.
2. Honeymation Direction.

• Kono Minikuku mo Utsukushii Sekai(2004/TV)

1. Key Animation: OP, ED, #7.

• Samurai Champloo(2004~2005/TV)

1. Storyboard: #8.

• Re:Cutie Honey(2004/OVA)

1. Director: #1.
2. Episode Direction: #1, OP.
3. Key Animation: #1, #3, OP.

• Koi no Mon(2004)

1. Key Animation.

• Diebuster(2004~2006/OVA)

1. Mechanical Animation Direction: #4.
2. Key Animation: #1, #2, #5.
3. 2nd Key Animation: #4.

• One Piece: Omatsuri Danshaku to Himitsu no Shima(2005/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• Over × Over

1. Director.

• Kore ga Watashi no Goshujinsama(2005/TV)

1. Storyboard: #4.

• Zettai Shounen(2005/TV)

1. Key Animation: #23.

• Paradise Kiss(2005/TV)

1. Animation: ED.

• Black Cat(2005~2006/TV)

1. Storyboard: #18.
2. Key Animation: #18, OP1, OP2.

• Namco × Capcom(2005/PS2)

1. Director for Animation.
2. Storyboard.
3. Episode Direction.
4. Animation Character Design.
5. Animation Direction.
6. Key Animation.

• Musashi: Samurai Legend(2005/Game)

1. Key Animation: OP.
   1. OP: All.

• Gaiking: Legend of Daiku-Maryu(2005~2006/TV)

1. Key Animation: #1, #13.

• Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann(2007/TV)

1. Director.
2. Storyboard: OP, ED, #1, #8, #27.
3. Key Animation: #1, #8, #15, #25, #26, #27.
4. Mechanical Animation Direction: #27.

• Hayate no Gotoku!(2007/TV)

1. Key Animation: #39.

• Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei(2008/TV)

1. Storyboard: #9 Zetsubou Fight Part.

• Rosario to Vampire(2008/TV)

1. Key Animation: #10.

• Mobile Suit Gundam 00(2007~2008/TV)

1. Key Animation: #25.

• Yatterman(2008/TV)

1. Key Animation: #12, #54.

• Gurren Lagann Parallel Works "Omaera Zenin Moeteshimae!!!"(2008)

1. Key Animation.

• Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Gurren-hen(2008/TV)

1. Director.
2. Storyboard.
3. Eye-catch.
4. Mechanical Animation Direction.
5. Key Animation.

• Shikabane Hime: Aka(2008/TV)

1. Key Animation: OP, #5.

• Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Kirameki Yuuko Box(2009/PV)

1. Key Animation.

• Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance(2009/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• Mahoromatic: I'm Home!(2009/SP)

1. Key Animation: #1.

• Layton Kyouju to Eien no Utahime(2009/Movie)

1. Storyboard(Joint).

• Shoka(2010/SP)

1. Key Animation.

• Heroman(2010/TV)

1. Key Animation: #26.

• Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt(2010/TV)

1. Director.
2. Plot: #6, #8A, #10A.
3. Scenario: #1A, #5A(Joint).
4. Storyboard: OP, ED, #1AB, #6, #12A, #13B.
5. Episode Direction: OP, ED, #1A, #13AB.
6. Key Animation: #1AB, #13B.
7. 2nd Key Animation: #6.

• Redline(2010/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• Star Driver(2010~2011/TV)

1. Key Animation: #25.

• Dantalian no Shoka(2011/TV)

1. Storyboard: #5.

• Danball Senki(2011~2012/TV)

1. Key Animation: OP2.

• Kamisama Dolls(2011/TV)

1. Key Animation:#13.

• The Idolm@ster(2011/TV)

1. Storyboard: #15 Play Within a Play.

• Black Rock Shooter(2012/TV)

1. CG Special Director(CG特技監督).
2. Storyboard: OP, #1(Joint), #2(Joint), #3(Joint), #7(Joint), #8(Joint).
3. Episode Direction: OP, #1(Joint), #2(Joint), #3(Joint), #4(Joint), #7(Joint), #8(Joint).
4. Key Animation Layout: #1, #2.

• Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine(2012)

1. Key Animation: #12.

• Project X Zone(2012/3DS)

1. Key Animation.

• Wooser no Sono Higurashi(2012/TV)

1. Ending Illustration: #8.

• Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo(2012/Movie)

1. Key Animation.

• Inferno Cop(2012/WEB)

1. Supervisor.

• Little Witch Academia(2013/Movie)

1. Story Cooperation.

• Kill la Kill(2013/TV)

1. Director.
2. Storyboard: OP1(Joint), OP2, ED1, ED2, ED3(Joint), #1, #4, #13, #21(Joint), #24(Joint).
3. Episode Direction: ED1, #24(Joint).
4. Animation Direction: #25(Joint).
5. Key Animation: #1, #3(NC), #24, #25.
6. 2nd Key Animaiton: #25.

• Space Dandy(2014/TV)

1. Guest Mecha Design Draft: #7.

• Black Dynamite Season 2(2014/TV)

1. Opening Director.

• Nihon Animator Expo Opening Animation Studio Khara Version(2014/WEB)

1. Animation.

• Nihon Animator Expo SEX and VIOLENCE with MACHSPEED(2015/WEB)

1. Director.
2. Design(Joint).
3. Story Draft(Joint).
4. Storyboard.
5. Key Animation.

• Ninja Slayer From Animation(2015/WEB)

1. Character Design(Joint).
2. Animation Direction: OP(Joint), #25(Joint).
3. Animation Direction Assistance: #1, #2, #6, #17, #18.
4. Key Animation: OP, #26.

• Little Witch Academia the Magical Parade(2015/Movie)

1. Story Cooperation(Joint).
2. Key Animation.

• Battle Saurs Opening Animation(2015/OVA)

1. OP Animation Character Design.
2. Animation Direction.
3. Key Animation.

• Aikatsu(2012~2016/TV)

1. Key Animation: #159.

• Bubuki Buranki(2016/TV)

1. Storyboard: OP.

• Uchuu Patrol Luluco(2016/TV)

1. Original Work.
2. Director.
3. Series Composition.
4. Plot: #5, #6, #7, #9.
5. Screenplay: #1, #9, #13.
6. Storyboard: #1, #9, #13.
7. Episode Direction: #13.
8. Key Animation: OP, #9, #13.

• Kizunaiver(2016/TV)

1. Key Animation: OP.

• Little Witch Academia(2017/TV)

1. Storyboard: #8, #25(Joint).
2. Key Animation: #3, #18, #25.

• Ok K.O.! Let's Be Heroes(2017/TV)

1. Storyboard: OP.

• Darling in the Franxx(2018/TV)

1. Action Supervision.
2. Design Works(Joint).
3. Action Part Storyboard: #1, #3, #6.
4. Storyboard Cooperation: #15.

• Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2202: Ai no Senshi-tachi(2017~/OVA)

1. Key Animation: #12.

• PROMARE(2019/Movie)

1. Director.
2. Storyboard.