Kitao Sakurai

is a Japanese-born American filmmaker and actor. He is best known for his collaborations with comedian Eric André, as the principal director of The Eric Andre Show (2012–23) and the writer-director of the film Bad Trip.

Originally a child actor, he made his debut aged 12 with a supporting role in the martial arts action film Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back (1995). He also appeared in the made-for-television film The Best Bad Thing (1997) and Kevin Smith's Dogma (1999).

Career

Film Sakurai trained as a cinematographer and shot independent and short films throughout the early 2000s.

In 2021, he directed the hidden camera comedy film Bad Trip, starring regular collaborator Eric André. Sakurai directed The Passage, a short film co-written by and starring American comedian Phil Burgers ("Dr Brown"). It premiered at Sundance in 2018, and won Best Short Fiction prize at the LA Film Festival, Best Comedy at Aspen Shortsfest, and the Grand Jury Prize at the Nashville Film Festival.

In February 2025, Sakurai was announced as the director of the live-action film adaptation of the Street Fighter video game franchise. The film scheduled to be released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on October 16, 2026.

Sakurai co-founded the New York-based production company Naked Faces, with Andrew Barchilon.

Television Beginning in 2012, Sakurai was the regular director for The Eric Andre Show, directing 62 of 68 total episodes between 2012 and 2023. He directed 5 episodes of the FXX sitcom Dave.

In 2023, Sakurai directed the pilot episode of Twisted Metal. He subsequently directed three episodes in the first season.

He directed the pilot episode and was an executive producer of the Amazon Prime Video series Butterfly.

He has also directed numerous television commercials.

Filmography +Key Denotes titles that have not yet been released

Feature film Year Title Director Writer Ref. 2010 Aardvark 2021 Bad Trip 2026 Street Fighter

Director of photography Transformations (2006) You Wont Miss Me'' (2009)

Acting roles Year Title Role 1995 Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back Justin Banning 1997 The Best Bad Thing Zenny Hata 1999 Dogma Stygian Triplet 2010 Aardvark Darius Szopa2011 Treatment Tennis Instructor We Are the Hartmans Music Video Director

Television Year TitleDirectorExecutiveProducerWriter Notes 2012–23 The Eric Andre Show 62 episodes (Director);25 episodes (Writer) 2012 The Eric Andre New Year's Eve Spooktacular TV special 2021 The Premise Episode "Social Justice Sex Tape" 2021-23 Dave 5 episodes 2023 Twisted Metal Directed 4 episodes 2025 Butterfly Directed episodes "Pilot" and "Daegu" 2026 Beef Directed episodes "I Am Killing My Flesh Without It" and"Those Blue Remembered Hills"