Hiroyuki Imaishi

Background

Imaishi Hiroyuki was born October 4, 1971 in Tokyo. After graduating from Tama Art University in 1994, he joined Gainax, where he made his debut as key animator on Neon Genesis Evangelion, which immediately brought him attention for his style. His style is marked by fast and frantic animation combined with elaborate storyboarding and punchy direction. Some of his works include animation direction, storyboarding, and key animation in FLCL episode 5, direction of Dead Leaves, Re: Cutey Honey episode 1, Diebuster, Oval X Over, and the ending animation of Paradise Kiss. Imaishi is also is known for his "manga" scenes in His and Her Circumstances and FLCL. His series director debut was in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. The anime received an Excellence Prize at the 2007 Japan Media Arts Festival, and Imaishi himself received an individual award at the twelfth Animation Kobe Festival. Imaishi left Gainax in 2011, forming a new studio Trigger with Ootsuka Masahiko and others. Twitter: @shiimai