Names to Know in Anime: Difference between revisions

{{tropeUseful Notes}}

* Osamu Dezaki -- FirstDezaki—First to use the [[Pastel-Chalked Freeze-Frame]]. Directed ''[[Rose of Versailles]]'', ''[[Ashita no Joe]]'', the ''[[AIR]]'' and ''[[Clannad (visual novel)|Clannad]]'' movies, the 90's anime version of ''[[Black Jack]]'', ''[[Oniisama e...]]'' and ''[[Mighty Orbots]]''.

* [[Leiji Matsumoto]] -- Known—Known for his distinctive art style, the single continuity where most of his works are set, and the unique [[Anachronism Stew]] which features, among others, literal trains in SPACE.

* [[Yoshiyuki Tomino|Yoshiyuki]] "[[Kill'Em All|Kill]] [[Fan Nickname|'Em]] [[Memetic Mutation|All]]" [[Yoshiyuki Tomino|Tomino]] -- Worked—Worked from the beginning on storyboards for ''[[Astro Boy|Tetsuwan Atom]]''. Highly influential in creating the [[Real Robot]] genre with his series ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]'', and its many sequels and [[Spin-Off|Spin Offs]]. One of the foremost popularizers of [[Kill'Em All]] in anime; so much so, many online communities have made it his official nickname.

* [[Hideaki Anno]] -- Co—Co-founder for [[Studio Gainax]]; directed ''[[Gunbuster]]'', ''[[Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water]]'', ''[[Kare Kano]]'', and, perhaps most famously, ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]''; friend and protege of [[Hayao Miyazaki]].

* [[Shinichi Watanabe]] -- aka—aka "Nabeshin", director of ''[[Excel Saga (anime)|Excel Saga]]'' and ''[[Puni Puni Poemi]]'', among others; known for taking the [[Gag Series]] anime in a gonzo direction.

* [[Shinichiro Watanabe]] -- Co—Co-director of ''[[Macross Plus]]''. Directed influential series ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'' and ''[[Samurai Champloo]]''. Skilled at mixing multiple genres. Often confused for the above.

* A special case is "[[Hajime Yatate]]" -- actually—actually a pseudonym for the [[Sunrise (company)|Sunrise]] animation staff, often credited as an "original creator" in series like ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]'', ''[[Outlaw Star]]'', or ''[[Keroro Gunsou]]''. "Izumi Todo" (''[[Futari wa Pretty Cure]]'') or "Saburo Yatsude" (''[[Super Sentai]]'', ''[[Metal Heroes]]'', many [[Super Robot]] series) serves the same purpose for Toei.

* [[Akiyuki Shinbo]] -- Director—Director of ''[[Tsukuyomi Moon Phase|Moon Phase]]'', ''[[Pani Poni Dash!]]'', ''[[Hidamari Sketch]]'', the second ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' anime, and the smash hit ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]].'' Tends to include innumerable [[Shout-Out|Shout Outs]] to just about everything, as well as some non-standard direction. Whether this guy is a genius of anime or a pedophile who found a safer way out in it is the subject of many [[Butt Monkey|jokes]] and [[Internet Backdraft|arguments]].

* [[Toshio Maeda]] -- Writer—Writer of [[Urotsukidouji]] and as such one of the founders of the [[Naughty Tentacles|tentacle rape]] subgenre of [[Hentai]].

* [[Junichi Sato]] -- A—A director who mainly works in fairytale-influenced [[Shoujo]] series, and director of some of the best [[Magical Girl]] series out there. His credits include the first two seasons of ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' (which he continued to write for and direct episodes of afterwards), ''[[Prétear]]'', ''[[Princess Tutu]]'', ''[[Aria]]'', and ''[[Kaleido Star]]''.

* [[Chiaki Konaka]] -- Writer—Writer of series that range between supernatural horror (''[[Devilman Lady]]'', ''[[Hellsing]]'', ''[[Narutaru]]'', ''[[Ghost Hound]]'') and sci-fi thriller (''[[The Big O]]'', ''[[Serial Experiments Lain]]'', ''[[Texhnolyze]]''). Best known, however, for his major role on ''[[Digimon Tamers]]''.

* [[Masaaki Yuasa]] -- Animation—Animation Director on [[Noiseman Sound Insect]] and some of the best episodes of ''[[ShinCrayon ChanShin-chan]]'', and the director of ''[[Mind Game]]'', ''[[Kemonozume]]'', ''[[Kaiba]]'' and a short in ''[[Genius Party]]''. All of his work is known for having excellent, inventive animation, and having very unusual subject matter.

* [[Mitsuteru Yokoyama]] -- Manga—Manga/anime writer best known for ''Tetsujin 28''/''[[Gigantor]]'' and ''[[Giant Robo]]''. Also wrote ''[[Kamen no Ninja Akakage]]'' and ''[[Sally the Witch]]''.

* [[Kunihiko Ikuhara]] -- Anime—Anime director best known for ''[[Revolutionary Girl Utena]]'' and his work on ''[[Sailor Moon]]''.

* [[Koichi Mashimo]] -- Anime—Anime director best known for ''[[Noir]]'', ''[[.hack|.hack//SIGN]]'', and ''[[Madlax]]''. Founder of studio [[Bee Train]].

* [[Kazuya Tsurumaki]] -- Anime—Anime director best known for ''[[FLCL]]''; protege of [[Hideaki Anno]]

* [[Hiroyuki Yamaga]] -- Co—Co-founder of [[Studio Gainax]] and director of ''[[WingsRoyal ofSpace HonneamiseForce: RoyalThe SpaceWings of ForceHonnêamise]]'' and ''[[Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai|Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi]]''.

* [[Toshio Okada]] -- Co—Co-founder of [[Studio Gainax]] and director of ''[[Otaku no Video]]''

* [[Hiroyuki Imaishi]] -- Animator—Animator and director whose work includes ''[[Dead Leaves]]'', ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'', and ''[[Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt|Panty and Stocking With Garterbelt]]''. Known for his colorful, surreal, ultra-stylized visuals, hyper-kinetic animation style, and wacky sense of humor.

* [[Yoshinori Kanada]] -- Considered—Considered by many to have been the best Japanese key animator outside of [[Telecom Animation Film]], and was highly influential on many animators, especially the aforementioned Hiroyuki Imaishi. He worked on many, many shows in his time, including Akira and Various Ghibli projects, certain stand-out episodes of various 70s mecha series (including ''Daitarn3'', ''Gaiking'' and ''Zambot3'', the wonderfully animated climax in the otherwise not particularly visually noteworthy ''Harmagedon'', an outstanding sequence in the ''[[Galaxy Express 999]]'' movie and the virtually plotless yet visually exciting and criminally underrated 80s OVA ''Birth'', for which he was the animation director.

* [[Shoji Kawamori]] -- The—The director of the whole canonical ''Macross'' series as well as the mechanical designer for ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]''.

* [[Gen Urobuchi]] -- Scenarist—Scenarist and screenwriter, very famous for his [[Darker and Edgier]] works, formerly working with [[Nitroplus]] on such [[Visual Novel]] projects as ''[[Saya no Uta]]''. His favorite tropes include [[Break the Cutie]], [[Crapsack World]], [[Through the Eyes of Madness]], and [[Downer Ending]] (or if you feel lucky, [[Bittersweet Ending]]). Made famous after his work on ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]''. Also infamous as a [[Trolling Creator]].

* [[Monkey Punch]] -- Creator—Creator of widely acclaimed and adapted manga series ''[[Lupin III]]''.

* [[Moto Hagio]] -- The—The creator of the work ''[[The Heart of Thomas]]'' and ''[[They Were Eleven]]''. She is also a member of the Year 24 Group and along with Keiko Takemiya, is a pioneer of the [[Boys Love Genre]].

* [[Naoki Urasawa]] -- Creator—Creator of ''[[Monster (manga)|Monster]]'', ''[[Pluto]]'', and ''[[Twentieth20th Century Boys]]''. His work is known for its suspense and critical acclaim. He also released a rock album.

* [[Naoko Takeuchi]] -- Creator—Creator of ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' as well as ex-girlfriend to Kosuke Fujishima and wife to [[Yoshihiro Togashi]].

* [[Nobuhiro Watsuki]] -- The—The mangaka behind the hit series ''[[Rurouni Kenshin]]'' and ''[[Busou Renkin]]'', and a failed (but still pretty cool) attempt at a western, ''Gun Blaze West''. Is currently hard at work on [[Embalming]]. Known for his love of late nineteenth/early twentieth century fashion and architectural styles.

* [[Riyoko Ikeda]] -- Creator—Creator of ''[[Rose of Versailles]]'' and ''[[Oniisama e...]]''. She is also one of the members of the Year 24 Group.

* [[Rumiko Takahashi]] -- Creator—Creator of ''[[Urusei Yatsura]]'', ''[[Maison Ikkoku]]'', ''[[Ranma ½]]'', and ''[[Inuyasha]]'', among others. One of the most published authors on the entire planet (literally hundreds of million of volumes sold) and one of the richest women in Japan because of it. Sometimes referred to by American otaku as "The Goddess".

* [[Satoko Kiyuduki]] -- Increasingly—Increasingly popular illustrator and character designer who works entirely by herself, without the help of any assistants. Creator of ''[[GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class]]'' and ''[[Shoulder a Coffin Kuro]]'', but best known for her work on the [[Dept. Heaven]] game series. All of her manga are [[Yonkoma]].

* [[Shirow Masamune]] -- Creator—Creator of ''[[Ghost in the Shell (manga)|Ghost in The Shell]]'', ''[[Dominion Tank Police]]'', ''[[Appleseed]]'', and ''Black Magic M-66''.

* [[Shotaro Ishinomori]] -- Protege—Protege of [[Osamu Tezuka]], and an instrumental figure in the ''henshin'' (transforming) superhero genre. Created ''[[Cyborg 009]]'', the first superhero team in Japan, as well as ''[[Kamen Rider]]''. He also kickstarted the [[Super Sentai]] genre by writing ''[[Himitsu Sentai Goranger]]'' for TV (which later got a manga sequel).

* [[Tatsuo Yoshida]] -- Anime—Anime pioneer who created ''Mach Go Go Go'', better known as ''[[Speed Racer]]'' in the English-speaking world. Later, with his brothers, he founded the anime studio [[Tatsunoko Productions]].

* [[Yoshihiro Togashi]] -- Author—Author of ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' and ''[[Hunter X Hunter]]''. Married to [[Naoko Takeuchi]] and a [[Real Life]] case of the [[Incurable Cough of Death]], which tends to cause [[Schedule Slip]] for him.

* Yoshitoshi ABe -- CreatorABe—Creator of ''[[Haibane Renmei]]'', but mostly known for his artwork and character design for ''[[Serial Experiments Lain]]''.

* [[Yuu Watase]] -- Creator—Creator of ''[[Fushigi Yuugi]]'' and ''[[Ayashi no Ceres]]'', among others.

* [[Mamoru Nagano]] -- Best—Best known for his work in the field of [[Humongous Mecha]]. Worked with [[Real Robot]] king [[Yoshiyuki Tomino]] as a mechanical designer on three occasions, first on his debut work ''[[Heavy Metal L-Gaim]]'' & then later on ''[[Zeta Gundam]]'', where he was responsible for some of the most visually distinctive mobile suits in the show & perhaps in all of Gundam. The two also teamed up once more over a decade later when Nagano provided mecha designs for ''[[Brain Powerd]]''. Creator the long-running manga series ''[[The Five Star Stories]]'', a [[Spiritual Successor]] to ''L-Gaim'', the first story-arc of which was made into an anime film. Married to seiyuu [[Maria Kawamura]], who has worked both ''L-Gaim'' & ''Z Gundam'' and is probably best known as the voice of [[Neon Genesis Evangelion|Asuka's crazy mom]].

* [[Yoko Kanno]]: Composer for many highly rated series including the heavily music-inspired ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'', ''[[Escaflowne]]'', ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]'', ''[[Wolf's Rain]]'', and ''[[Darker Thanthan Black]]''.

* [[Toshihiko Sahashi]]: Very prolific composer with a long list of contributions to anime-series, games and drama CDs.

* [[Koorogi 73]] usually were backing singers on things such as [[Denshi Sentai Denjiman]] or [[Voltes V]]'s theme songs, but sometimes took lead on things like Akuma-kun's OP. Also did a number of [[Villain Song|Villain Songs]]s.

** Masatake Ookura, leading member of Koorogi '73 who also did some things on his own such as a cover of Ai wo Torimodose from Fist Of the North Star, the ending of [[Daimos]], and several insert songs in [[Kinnikuman]].

* [[Columbia Yurikago Kai]] (Columbia Cradle Club), a children's choir who sang backups to [[Science Ninja Team Gatchaman|Gatchaman]] and 70's [[Super Robot]] anime theme songs such as [[Great Mazinger]], [[Raideen]] as well as several [[Toku]] shows like [[Kamen Rider]] and live-action children's shows.

* [[Shiro Sagisu]], composer for several [[Studio Gainax]] projects including ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'', ''[[His and Her Circumstances]]'' and ''[[Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai|Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi]]'', as well as ''[[Bleach]]'', ''[[Kimagure Orange Road]]'' and a couple of non-Pillows background tunes in ''[[FLCL]]''.

* [[Kenji Kawai]], a composer whose body of work includes ''[[Ranma ½|Ranma 1/2]]'', ''[[Vampire Princess Miyu]]'', ''[[Fate/stay night]]'', ''[[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni]]'', ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam 00]]'' and every [[Mamoru Oshii]] film.

<span id="Recent Seiyuu"></span>'''Several seiyuu that are beginning to rise in popularity in recent years (though this is subjective):'''

* [[Megumi Takamoto]]

* [[Nao TouyamaTōyama]]

* [[YukoYūko GotoGotō]]

* [[Nachi Nozawa]]

* [[Sayuri Yamauchi]]

=== DubLos Voice ActorsAngeles ===

* [[MelaXanthe LeeHuynh]]

* [[VicLex Mignogna]]Lang (workedseems into Texasmostly untildo aroundunion 2008work, andbut still worksdoes withsome [[FUNimation]]non-union fromwork time toon timeoccasion)

* [[LiamWendee O'BrienLee]] (workedworks in Newboth Yorkunion untiland aroundnon-union 2004dubs)

* [[SamTara RiegelPlatt]] (Workedworks in Newboth Yorkunion untiland aroundnon-union 2009dubs)

* [[Skip Stellrecht]]

* [[TerrenceDoug Stone]]

* [[Karen Strassman]] (has performed in both union and non-union dubs; has done some work in Dallas)

* [[TravisKirk WillinghamThornton]] (workedhas performed in Texasboth until 2008union and occasionallynon-union works with [[FUNimation]]dubs)

=== Canada ([[The Ocean Group]], [[Nelvana]]) ===

* [[ChristineBryn AutenApprill]]

* [[JessicaTia BooneBallard]] (largelyhas leftdone voicework acting after moving fromin Houston in 2008, but slowly makingand aLos returnAngeles)

* [[MonicaWhitney RialRodgers]]

* [[ChristopherMichelle SabatRojas]]

<span id="Dub-RIP"></span>'''Much like their Japanese counterparts, English voice actors are only human. Some have died. Here be a list of the dearly departed.'''

<span id="Dub-Retired"></span>'''Others, while still very much alive, have either retired or changed careers, such as: '''

* [[Dameon Clarke]]: Started out at [[FUNimation]] as the voice of [[Dragonball Z|Cell]] and [[Fullmetal Alchemist (anime)|Scar]], moved to Los Angeles and now only does live-action TV and a few video games. Although he recently returned to reprise his role as Cell for [[Dragonball Z Kai]].

* [[Lia Sargent]]: English dub voice of [[Street Fighter|Chun-Li]], [[The Big O|R. Dorothy Wayneright]] and [[Trigun|Milly Thompson]] (and ADR director for the show'slatter ADRtwo directorshoes), as well as providing voices and/or ADR scripts for ''[[Rurouni Kenshin]]'', ''[[Wolf's Rain]]'', and ''[[Planetes]]''. Mostly retired from voice acting in 2006, but has done a few video game roles since then, such as Natsume from ''[[.hack GU]]'' and Shion in ''[[Xenosaga]]'', as well as a couple minor anime roles, such as the redub of ''[[Ghost in the Shell]] 2.0'' and the ''[[Dante's Inferno (video game)|Dantes Inferno]]'' animated movie.

* [[Jason Gray Stanford]]: Had a good history in doing voicework in Canada during the 90's in roles such as [[Dragon Ball|Raditz]], [[Fatal Fury|Joe Higashi]], and [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|Donatello]]. In the early 2000's he moved to California and in 2002 he became Lt. Randall Disher in the TV Series ''[[Monk]]'' and that's what he is mainly known for today. (though it's uncertain if he would ever make a comeback since Monk has now ended, he probably wouldn't)

<span id="Dub-Other"></span>'''And others occasionally get involved in Anime voice acting even though they aren't really regulars in the industry, such as:'''

* [[Alessandro Juliani]], a Canadian actor known for portraying Felix Gaeta on ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined]](2004 TV series)|the 2004 ''Battlestar Galactica'']], also worked on ''[[Death Note]]'' as the voice of the world's greatest detective, L. (He did do voice work before such as Pit in ''[[Captain N]]'', Prince Toma in one of the ''[[Ranma ½|Ranma One Half]]'' movies and Gambit from ''[[X-Men: Evolution|X-Men Evolution]]'' and the like, but his voice work was never considered all that memorable until L came along)

<span id="Dub-RIP"></span>'''Much like their Japanese and English counterparts, voice actors are only human. Some have died. Here be a list of the dearly departed.'''

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