(born January 26, 1968) is a Japanese animator, illustrator and film director. Something of a protégée of Yoshiaki Kawajiri, he was also influenced by Yoshinori Kanada, Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, and Katsuhito Ishii. He went straight from a high school education to beginning his career at Madhouse as an in-betweener on works directed by Kawajiri after being interviewed by him. His first professional work as director is the title sequence of the 2000 film Party 7; while his first feature film is Redline, which premiered in 2009 and was released in 2010. He served as character designer and animation director for 2012's Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, and directs film continuations of it starting with Lupin the IIIrd: Daisuke Jigen's Gravestone in 2014. Work outside of animation includes the artwork for the 2004 Dreams Come True single "Yasashii Kiss o Shite". Filmography Director Other work The Foxes of Chironup Island (1987) In-Between Animation Wicked City (1987) - In-Between Animation Legend of Galactic Heroes: My Conquest is the Sea of Stars (1988) - Animation Check Bride of Deimos (1988) Animation Check Demon City Shinjuku (1988) - Animation Check Legend of the Galactic Heroes 1st season (1988) - Key Animation (Ep 19) Goku: Midnight Eye (1989) - Animation Check, Key Animation Goku II: Midnight Eye (1989) - Key Animation Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl (1989) Key Animation (Ep 1, 18) Cyber City Oedo 808 (1990) - Mechanical Animation Director, Key Animation (Ep 1, 2, 3) Teki wa Kaizoku: Neko no Kyoen (1990) Key Animation (Ep 1, 2) Nineteen 19 (1990) Key Animation A Wind Named Amnesia (1990) - Key Animation Urusei Yatsura: Always My Darling (1991) - Key Animation Doomed Megalopolis (1991) - Assistant Animation Director (Ep 1, 2), Key Animation (Ep 1, 2, 3) Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1992) - Key Animation (Ep 1, 6) Ninja Scroll (1993) - Key Animation The Cockpit (1994) (segment Slipstream) - Key Animation True Peakock King (1994) - Character Design, Key Animation Clamp in Wonderland (1994) - Key Animation Darkside Blues (1994) - Key Animation Mighty Space Miners (1994) - Opening Animation, Ending Animation DNA² (1996) - Mechanic Design, Opening Animation Bio Hunter (1995) - Key Animation Memories (1995) (segment Stink Bomb) - Key Animation X (1996) - Key Animation Birdy the Mighty (1996) - Key Animation (Ep 1-4) Cardcaptor Sakura (1998) - Key Animation (Ep1, 57) Jubei-chan