Yasuhiro Aoki

Yasuhiro Aoki (青木康浩) was born in 1968.

Animator/director originally from subcontractor Studio Live and now closely associated with Koji Morimoto and Studio 4C. Has been a featured animator on all of Morimoto’s projects, especially Dimension Bomb, and helped define the aesthetic of Morimoto’s later works. He seems fond of using gradients and simple color contrasts in his art. His Kimugure Robot episodes (6, 7, 9) are good examples of his solo animation¹.

One of the more inventive and playful of Studio 4C’s directors. Though he could be dismissed as ‘gimmicky’, there are several aesthetic constants across his storyboards. Deep camera movements like snap zooms, dolly zooms, and axial cuts appear in nearly all of his works (one of his Tweeny Witches episodes uses snap zooms exclusively for transitions). He often utilizes slow motion, superimposition, and raking focus as well. His short films are all dialogue driven¹.

Came to prominence from his directorial work in Studio 4C’s Tweeny Witches in which he storyboarded over a fourth of the episodes and the third episode of the OVA. Above all, he was the director whose imagination defined the show’s unique charm. He also storyboarded the “About Me” and “Kremlin Dusk” music videos for Fluximation¹.

His biggest outing thus far is Kung-Fu Love from 4C’s Amazing Nuts! (2006). A ten minute long pilot for a scrapped film Aoki had planned to direct (he even drew up storyboards and had a script prepared), the short was an encapsulation of all the techniques Aoki had developed in Tweeny Witches. Vibrantly and imaginatively rendered, Kung-Fu Love has become something of a cult classic¹.

SakugaBooru - Japanese Wiki Page

Works

• Idol Densetsu Eriko(1989~1990/TV)

1. In-betweens: #8, #12, #26, #34.

• Dragon Ball Z(1989~1996/TV)

1. In-betweens: #6, #20, #27, #33, #39, #46, #51, #61, #66, #71.

• Madou King Granzort(1989~1990/TV)

1. In-betweens: #14, #25, #35.

• Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru 2(1990~1991/TV)

1. Key Animator: #41, #46.
2. In-betweens Check: #46.
3. In-betweens: #1, #10, #15, #21, #28, #32, #37.

• Pink Mizu Dorobou Ame Dorobou(1990/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Magical Taruruuto-kun(1990~1992/TV)

1. Key Animator: #1, #6, #12, #18, #24, #30, #36, #37, OP(#32~#37).

• Kingyo Chuuihou!(1991~1992/TV)

1. In-betweens: #14.

• Mahou no Princess Minky Momo(1991~1992/TV)

1. Key Animator: #5, #21.

• Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon(1992~1993/TV)

1. Key Animator: #1, #6, #12, #17, #21, #28, #34, #39, #46.

• Tengai Makyō II: Manji Maru(1992/Game)

1. Key Animator.

• Future GPX Cyber Formula 11(1992~1993/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #1, #3, #5, #6.
2. Ending Key Animator: #6.

• Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon R(1993/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S(1994~1995/TV)

1. Key Animator: #7, #12, #18, #23, #42.

• Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S(1994/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Kuusou Kagaku Sekai Gulliver Boy(1995/TV)

1. Character Designs (Joint)(NC).

• Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Super S(1995~1996/TV)

1. Key Animator: #2, #6, #13, #18, #24, #36.

• Kuusou Kagaku Sekai Gulliver Boy(1995/Game)

1. Character & Monster Designs.

• Shin Megami Tensei: Tokyo Mokushiroku(1995/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #2.

• 3x3 Eyes: Seima Densetsu(1995~1996/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #1, #2.

• Slayers(1995/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Neon Genesis Evangelion(1995~1996/TV)

1. Key Animator: #3, #10.

• Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS: Sailor 9 Senshi Shuuketsu! Black Dream Hole no Kiseki(1995/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Kuma no Puutarou(1995~1996/TV)

1. Animation Director: #20B.

• Rurouni Kenshin(1996~1997/TV)

1. Animation Director: #9, #14, #22.
2. Key Animator: #9, #14, #22.

• Gegege no Kitarou(1996~1998/TV)

1. Key Animator: #37, #43, #49.

• Taiho Shichau zo(1996~1997/TV)

1. Animation Director: #11, #19.
2. Key Animator: #6, #11, #14, #19, #36, #42, #45, #51.

• Tonari no Princess Rolife(1997/Game)

1. Animation.
2. Key Animator.

• Chousehin Heiki Zeroigar(1997/Game)

1. Key Animator.

• Rekka no Honoo(1997~1998/TV)

1. Key Animator: #6.

• Trigun(1998/TV)

1. Key Animator: #12.

• Yume de Aetara(1998/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #2.

• Chiisana Kyojin Microman(1999/TV)

1. Key Animator: #14.

• Taiho Shichau zo The Movie(1999/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• SURVIVAL 2.7D PV(1999)

1. Key Animator.

• Little Lovers SHE SO GAME(1999/Game)

1. Animation Production.
2. Key Animator.

• Psychic Force 2(1999/Game)

1. Key Animator: OP.

• Wild Arms: Twilight Venom(1999~2000/TV)

1. Animation: OP.

• Amon: Devilman Mokushiroku(2000/OVA)

1. Key Animator.

• Digimon Adventure 02(2000/Movie)

1. Animation Director(Joint).

• Aa! Megami-sama!(2000/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Jinzou Ningen Kikaider The Animation(2000~2001/TV)

1. Key Animator: #4, #12.

• InuYasha(2000~2004/TV)

1. Key Animator: #57.

• Di Gi Charat Christmas Special(2000/TVSP)

1. Key Animator.

• Chikyuu Shoujo Arjuna(2001/TV)

1. Key Animator: #11.

• Gakuen Senki Muryou(2001/TV)

1. Key Animator: #19.

• Arete Hime(2001/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Digital Juice(2002/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #4.

• R.O.D-READ OR DIE-(2001~2002/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #3.

• Ou Dorobou Jing(2002/TV)

1. Key Animator: #1.

• Guilty Gear XX(2002/Game)

1. Key Animator.

• Cyborg 009 The Cyborg Soldier(2001~2002/TV)

1. Key Animator: #32.

• THE ANIMATRIX(2003/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #2, #3, #7.

• Mahou Shoujo-tai Arusu(2004~2005/TV)

1. Storyboard: #1(Joint), #2, #6, #8, #14, #18, #20, #26, #32, #37, #38.
2. Episode Director: #2, #8, #14, #20, #26, #32, #37, #38.
3. Animation Director: #2, #8, #14, #20, #26, #32.

• Steamboy(2004/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Mind Game(2004/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Tactics(2004~2005/TV)

1. Key Animator: OP.

• LEBRON JAMES IN CHAMBER OF FEAR CM(2004)

1. Key Animator.

• Kamichu!(2005/TV)

1. Key Animator: #12.

• Fluximation(2005/OVA)

1. Director: "Kremlin Dusk", "About Me".

• Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori(2006~2007/TV)

1. Key Animator: OP.

• Black Blood Brothers(2006/TV)

1. Key Animator: #6.

• Amazing Nuts!(2006/OVA)

1. Director: "Tatoe Kimi ga Sekaijuu no Teki ni Natte mo".
2. Character Designs: "Tatoe Kimi ga Sekaijuu no Teki ni Natte mo".
3. Animation Director: "Tatoe Kimi ga Sekaijuu no Teki ni Natte mo".

• Mahou Shoujo-tai Arusu the Adventure(2007/OVA)

1. Episode Director: #1.
2. Animation Director: #1
3. Storyboard: #1.

• Batman Gotham Knight(2008/OVA)

1. Character Designs: #4.
2. Animation Director: #4.
3. Key Animator: #1, #4, #5.

• Genius Part Beyond(2008/Movie)

1. Key Animator: "Toujin Kit", "Dimension Bomb".

• Jigoku Shoujo Mitsuganae(2008~2009/TV)

1. Stuffed Toy Design: #14.
2. Key Animator: OP.

• AIKa ZERO(2009/OVA)

1. Key Animator: #3.

• Honey Tokyo(2010/WEB)

1. Director.
2. Character Designs.
3. Storyboard(Joint).
4. Animation Director(Joint).

• Rainbow: Nisha Rokubou no Shichinin(2010/TV)

1. Key Animator: OP.

• Norageki!(2011/OVA)

1. Animation Director Assistant(Joint).

• Onigamiden(2011/Movie)

1. Animation Supervision Cooperation(Joint).
2. Key Animator.

• Sengoku Basara The Last Part(2011/Movie)

1. Storyboard: OP.
2. Animation Director: OP.
3. Episode Director: OP.
4. Animation Director Assistant(Joint).
5. Key Animator.

• Gintama'(2011~2013/TV)

1. Key Animator: #211.

• Blade(2011/TV)

1. Key Animator: #9.

• Hunter×Hunter(2011~2014/TV)

1. Key Animator: #OP1, OP2, OP4, #126.

• Hiiro no Kakera(2012/TV)

1. Key Animator: OP.

• Shirokuma Cafe(2012/TV)

1. Key Animator: #1, #50.

• Livetune "Transfer" Music Video(2012)

1. Key Animator (Cel Animation).

• BTOOM!(2012/TV)

1. Key Animator: OP.

• Haitai Nanafa(2012/TV)

1. Key Animator: ED.

• 009 Re:Cyborg(2012/Movie)

1. Storyboard(Joint).

• Magi The Labyrinth of Magic(2012/TV)

1. Key Animator: #10.

• Psycho Pass(2012/TV)

1. Key Animator: #15.

• Lexus Short Films "A Better Tomorrow"(2013)

1. Key Animator.

• Aikatsu! 2(2013/TV)

1. Key Animator: OP.

• Ghost in the Shell Arise(2013~2014/Movies)

1. Key Animator: #2.

• Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil(2014/TV)

1. Key Animator: OP.

• Inazuma Eleven Go: Galaxy(2013~2014/TV)

1. Key Animator: #41.

• Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii(2014/TV)

1. Key Animator: #5.

• The Last Naruto the Movie(2014/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Garo: Honoo no Kokuin(2014/TV)

1. Storyboard: #13.
2. Key Animator: #12, #17.

• Psycho Pass(2015/Movie)

1. Character Designs(Joint).
2. Storyboard(Joint).
3. Animation Director(Joint).
4. Key Animator.

• Nihon Animator Expo "Three Witnesses"(2015/WEB)

1. Key Animator.

• Shingeki! Kyojin Chuugakkou(2015/TV)

1. Key Animator: OP, #1, #2, #4.

• Lupin III (2015): Italian Game(2016/TVSP)

1. Key Animator: OP.

• Terra Formars Revenge(2016/TV)

1. Key Animator: #1.

• Phantom of the Kill: Zero kara no Hangyaku(2016/Event Movie)

1. Character Designs(Joint).
2. Storyboard(Joint).
3. Animation Director Assistant(Joint).
4. Key Animator.

• Rilu Rilu Fairilu: Yousei no Door(2016~2017/TV)

1. Key Animator: OP2.

• Sousei no Onmyouji(2016/TV)

1. Opening Animation: OP1.

• Joker Game(2016/TV)

1. Key Animator: #12, Home Video Release #1 Bonus.

• Samurai Noodles: The Originator(2016/CM)

1. Key Animator.
2. Episode Director.
3. Animation Director.

• ClassicaLoid(2016~2017/TV)

1. Key Animator: #12.

• Dragon Quest X: Boukensha-tachi no Kiseki(2017/WEB)

1. Key Animator.

• 18if(2017/TV)

1. Key Animator: #10.

• Boruto Naruto Next Generations(2017~/TV)

1. Key Animator: #31.

• Pochitto Hatsumei: Pikachin-Kit(2018/TV)

1. Key Animator: OP.

• MUTAFUKAZ(2018/Movie)

1. Key Animator.

• Ingress the Animation(2018/TV)

1. Key Animator: #1, #2, #3, #7.

• Final Fantasy XIV Choose Your Life CM(2019)

1. Main Animator(Joint).
2. Key Animator.