Naoko Yamada

is a Japanese animator and director. Working at Kyoto Animation until 2020, she has directed the anime series K-On! (2009–2010) and Tamako Market, and the anime films A Silent Voice (2016), Liz and the Blue Bird (2018) and The Colors Within (2024). In 2021, she directed the original net animation (ONA) The Heike Story under Science Saru. The series premiered on Japanese television in January 2022.

Yamada has won multiple awards for her work, and has received widespread renown for her stylistic choices in anime. She was also one of the youngest directors at Kyoto Animation, getting her first directing opportunity around 4 years after finishing university and starting work for the studio.

Early life and education Yamada was born in Kyoto Prefecture. she studied oil painting and was a member of the special effects club. She was eventually promoted as a key animator for a TV adaptation of Air (2005).

Her first directorial work was for the 17th episode of the anime series Clannad (2008), She storyboarded the entire film herself, and also wrote the lyrics for the opening theme song, Everybody Loves Somebody.

Yamada's next project was the feature film A Silent Voice (2016), an adaptation of the manga of the same name. Although it reflected on elements of bullying and physical impairment in Japan, Yamada did state that she did not want those to be the central focal point, but rather wanted the audience to focus on the more positive aspects of the film and use bullying as a means of showing Shoya's personality as a teen. The film opened at #2 in the Japanese Box Office and grossed a total of ¥2.3 billion, the 19th highest-grossing film in Japan in 2016. The film also received multiple award nominations, including Best Animation Film in the Mainichi Film Awards and the Excellent Animation of the Year in the Japan Academy Prize. A Silent Voice was re-released in North American theaters on October 12, 2022, for the film's fifth anniversary.

On July 18, 2019, a man started a fire at the main studio of Kyoto Animation, killing 36 of Yamada's colleagues and wounding 33 others. Yamada was reported not to have been hurt in the fire.

In 2020, Yamada departed from Kyoto Animation, and debuted with her first work outside of her home studio. Yamada started her work on the original net animation The Heike Story, at the anime studio Science Saru, which released its first episode in September 2021. For example, she also stated that although she doesn't desire to either avoid LGBTQ+ themes or give them special treatment, she portrays them as a "natural course". Specifically, her use of low angle shots, shallow depth of field, and varying camera movement, allows Yamada's to pull in the audience stylistically just as any live action film would.

Yamada has been known to encourage her co-workers to have an enjoyable work environment, stating that "when I direct a title, I’m determined to do anything to make it great—so that everyone walks out of it thinking it was worthwhile, glad to have been involved." Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia (2026, chief director; with Abel Góngora)

Film K-On! The Movie (2011) Tamako Love Story (2014) Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – Welcome to the Kitauji High School Concert Band (2016, series unit director; with Tatsuya Ishihara) A Silent Voice (2016) Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – May the Melody Reach You! (2017, series unit director; with Tatsuya Ishihara (chief director) and Taichi Ogawa) Liz and the Blue Bird (2018) Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – Our Promise: A Brand New Day (2019, chief unit director; with Tatsuya Ishihara) The Colors Within (2024)

Original net animation The Heike Story (2021)

Awards and nominations YearOrganizationCategoryWorkResult 2010 Tokyo Anime Awards Notable Entry (TV Category) K-On! Winner 2011 Tokyo Anime Awards Notable Entry (TV Category) K-On!! Winner2014 The 18th Japan Media Arts Festival Animation Award Tamako Love Story Winner, New Face Award 2016 Mainichi Film Awards Best Animation Film Liz and the Blue Bird Nomination 2018 Sitges Film Festival Animat's Award for Best Feature-Length Film Liz and the Blue Bird Nomination 2024 Shanghai International Film Festival Best Animation Film The Colors Within Winner