Hiroyuki Imaishi

Hiroyuki Imaishi (今石 洋之) was born on October 4, 1971 in Tokyo, Japan and quickly became one of the most kinetic and flamboyant voices in contemporary anime. After graduating from high school he entered the industry in 1995 as an in‑between animator on the seminal series Neon Genesis Evangelion, where his knack for exaggerated motion and bold staging began to surface. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s he honed his craft at Gainax, contributing storyboards, key animation, and animation direction on titles such as Kare Kano, FLCL, Diebuster and the ending animation of Paradise Kiss. His early work already displayed a love for hyper‑active compositions, rapid cuts, and a playful disregard for conventional pacing, traits that would later define his signature style. Imaishi also experimented with original projects, directing the wildly surreal feature Dead Leaves (2004) and the first episode of Re: Cutie Honey, both of which cemented his reputation for visual audacity and kinetic storytelling.

In 2007 Imaishi made his breakthrough as series director with Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, a series that earned an Excellence Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival and multiple awards at the Tokyo International Anime Fair. The series’ relentless energy and over‑the‑top heroics exemplified Imaishi’s devotion to the legacy of Yoshinori Kanada, a mentor whose influence he openly celebrates. Following Gurren Lagann, he helmed the irreverent Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (2010) and the stylistically daring Kill la Kill (2013), both of which reinforced his reputation for marrying frenetic animation with cheeky humour. In 2011 he co‑founded Studio Trigger, where he continued to push boundaries with original works such as Promare (2019) and the critically acclaimed Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022). Across his career Imaishi has amassed a devoted fanbase for his unapologetically wild visual language, his commitment to pushing the limits of animation, and his willingness to mix satire, action, and vibrant art in ways that keep audiences both shocked and delighted.