About Naohisa Inoue
Born 1948. Naohisa Inoue is a Japanese painter, illustrator and animator.
Upward Draft, one of Inoue's paintings which inspired scenes in the film Whisper of the Heart. is a fantasy artist influenced by both the Surrealism and Impressionism movements. Most of his paintings are set in the fantastical land of . He created reference and background art for the Studio Ghibli film Whisper of the Heart and also provided a cameo appearance as the voice of Minami. More recently, his works were given a more direct adaptation in the short film which is shown exclusively at the Ghibli Museum. He directed the 2007 OVA Iblard Jikan, produced by Studio Ghibli.
Inoue is currently a professor at Seian University of Art and Design.
He attended the Kanazawa College of Art from 1971 to 1973.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who is Naohisa Inoue?
Japanese painter, 1948
When was Naohisa Inoue born?
Naohisa Inoue was born in 1948 in Osaka.
What is Naohisa Inoue's occupation?
Naohisa Inoue is a painter, illustrator and animator.
What nationality is Naohisa Inoue?
Naohisa Inoue is Japanese.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Naohisa Inoue. https://biography.guide/naohisa-inoue/
MLA: "Naohisa Inoue." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/naohisa-inoue/.
Chicago: "Naohisa Inoue." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/naohisa-inoue/.
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