Yō Yoshinari

is a Japanese anime director, key animator, and storyboard artist.

Biography

Early life Yoshinari was born in Tokyo on May 6, 1971. He graduated from Tokyo Designer Gakuin College.

Career Yoshinari entered the anime industry through the influence of his older brother, Kou Yoshinari. Several of his early works were uncredited second key animation and in-betweens for his brother during high school. After leaving professional school, he applied to Gainax and Madhouse. Not receiving a response from Gainax, he joined Madhouse. Due to a misunderstanding, Gainax failed to process his application until three months later. Not wanting to explain, Yoshinari told Madhouse "being an animator is too hard for me", and switched to Gainax. The brief turn around after Nadia put Yoshinari on the fast track to becoming a key animator.

Animation style and influences He is recognized by the way he represents volume and perspective using spheres, as well as his character action in general. He remarks Nijitte Monogatari is one of his most important influences, and Little Witch Academia. His favorite American creators are Genndy Tartakovsky, Craig McCracken and Lauren Faust.

Notable works Neon Genesis Evangelion (key animator, mechanical animation director) The End of Evangelion (key animator, assistant animation director) Dead Leaves (key animator) Mahoromatic (key animator) Medabots (key animator) One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island (key animator) Valkyrie Profile (video game) (concept art, character designer) Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria (concept art, character designer) FLCL (storyboard artist, key animator) Diebuster (key animator) This Ugly Yet Beautiful World (key animator, creature design) Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (key animator) Gurren Lagann (mechanical design) Little Witch Academia (concept creator, director, character designer, animation director) Promare (storyboard artist, key animator) BNA: Brand New Animal (director) Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (character designer)