Hiroyuki Imaishi
Biography
Hiroyuki Imaishi is a Japanese anime director, animator, and co-founder of Studio Trigger. Born on October 4, 1971, he is known for his work in directing, with fifty-nine known credits. Prior to founding Trigger, he was an animator and director at Gainax. His style is characterized by fast and frantic animation combined with elaborate storyboarding and punchy direction. His series director debut was Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann in 2007, an anime that received an Excellence Prize at the 2007 Japan Media Arts Festival. Imaishi himself received an individual award at the twelfth Animation Kobe Festival, and in 2008 the anime received both best television production and best character design awards from the Tokyo International Anime Fair. He is also known for his work on films including Gekidžóban Tengen toppa Gurren Lagann: Lagann-hen, Re: Cutie Honey, and Promare: Puromea.
Career overview
Hiroyuki Imaishi is a Japanese key animator and anime director who was born on October 4, 1971. He is known as one of the co-founders of Studio Trigger. His distinctive visual and directing style is marked by fast and frantic animation combined with elaborate storyboarding and punchy direction. Prior to founding Trigger, he worked as an animator and director at Gainax.
His series director debut was Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann in the year 2007. The anime received an Excellence Prize at the 2007 Japan Media Arts Festival, and Imaishi himself received an individual award at the twelfth Animation Kobe Festival. In 2008, the anime received both best television production and best character design from the Tokyo International Anime Fair. Throughout his career, he has also been recognized for his work on other projects. Among the notable titles he became famous for directing are Gekidžóban Tengen toppa Gurren Lagann: Lagann-hen, Re: Cutie Honey, and Promare: Puromea. With a substantial body of work spanning television and film, his known credits include fifty-nine listings on his professional profile.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Hiroyuki Imaishi.
Career timeline
Full Filmography
124 titles- New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT (2025) Series Composition
- New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT (2025) Series Director
- New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT (2025) Storyboard
- New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT (2025) Storyboard Artist
- Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022) Opening/Ending Animation
- Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022) Series Director
- Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022) Storyboard Artist
- Star Wars: Visions (2021) Storyboard Artist
- Star Wars: Visions (2021) Director
- Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) Key Animation
- THE ANIME STUDIO (2021) as Self - Director
- BNA (2020) Action Director
- BNA (2020) Key Animation
- BNA (2020) Storyboard Artist
- Promare (2019) Key Animation
- Promare (2019) Art Designer
- Promare (2019) Storyboard Artist
- Promare (2019) Director
- Promare (2019) Art Direction
- Promare / Side: Galo (2019) Art Direction
- Promare / Side: Galo (2019) Director
- Promare / Side: Galo (2019) Key Animation
- Promare / Side: Lio (2019) Art Direction
- DARLING in the FRANXX (2018) Action Director
- Little Witch Academia (2017) Storyboard Artist
- Little Witch Academia (2017) Key Animation
- Space Patrol Luluco (2016) Series Composition
- Space Patrol Luluco (2016) Original Concept
- Space Patrol Luluco (2016) Series Director
- Space Patrol Luluco (2016) Writer
- Space Patrol Luluco (2016) Key Animation
- Space Patrol Luluco (2016) Storyboard Artist
- Space Patrol Luluco (2016) Director
- Space Patrol Luluco (2016) Original Story
- Ninja Slayer From Animation (2015) Character Designer
- Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade (2015) Key Animation
- Sex & Violence with Machspeed (2015) Director
- Sex & Violence with Machspeed (2015) Key Animation
- Japan Animator Expo (2014) Director
- Japan Animator Expo (2014) Storyboard Artist
- Japan Animator Expo (2014) Key Animation
- The Making of Kill la Kill: 500 Days of Total Coverage (2014) as (Self)
- Kill la Kill (2013) Series Director
- Kill la Kill (2013) Storyboard Artist
- Kill la Kill (2013) Key Animation
- Kill la Kill (2013) Director
- Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine (2012) Key Animation
- Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012) Key Animation
- Inferno Cop (2012) Series Director
- THE iDOLM@STER (2011) Storyboard Artist
- Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (2010) Director
- Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (2010) Scenario Writer
- Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (2010) Storyboard Artist
- Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (2010) Writer
- Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (2010) Key Animation
- Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (2010) Original Story
- Star Driver (2010) Key Animation
- Shoka (2010) Key Animation
- Redline (2009) Key Animation
- Gurren Lagann the Movie: The Lights in the Sky Are Stars (2009) Director
- Gurren Lagann the Movie: The Lights in the Sky Are Stars (2009) Storyboard Artist
- Gurren Lagann the Movie: The Lights in the Sky Are Stars (2009) Animation Director
- Gurren Lagann the Movie: The Lights in the Sky Are Stars (2009) Key Animation
- Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva (2009) Storyboard Artist
- Rosario + Vampire (2008) Key Animation
- Gurren Lagann The Movie: Childhood's End (2008) Storyboard Artist
- Gurren Lagann The Movie: Childhood's End (2008) Animation Director
- Gurren Lagann The Movie: Childhood's End (2008) Key Animation
- Gurren Lagann The Movie: Childhood's End (2008) Director
- Gurren Lagann (2007) Director
- Gurren Lagann (2007) Series Director
- Gurren Lagann (2007) Key Animation
- Gurren Lagann (2007) Storyboard Artist
- Gurren Lagann (2007) Animation Director
- Gunbuster vs Diebuster: Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie (2006) Key Animation
- Gaiking: Legend of Daiku-Maryu (2005) Key Animation
- One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island (2005) Key Animation
- Oval x Over (2005) Storyboard Artist
- Oval x Over (2005) Director
- Oval x Over (2005) Animation Director
- This Ugly Yet Beautiful World (2004) Key Animation
- Re: Cutie Honey (2004) Director
- Re: Cutie Honey (2004) Opening Title Sequence
- Re: Cutie Honey (2004) Key Animation
- Dead Leaves (2004) Director
- Dead Leaves (2004) Storyboard Artist
- Dead Leaves (2004) Character Designer
- Dead Leaves (2004) Animation Director
- Dead Leaves (2004) Key Animation
- Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) Key Animation
- Lupin the Third: Operation: Return the Treasure (2003) Key Animation
- Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi (2002) Director
- Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi (2002) Storyboard Artist
- Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi (2002) Animation Director
- Trava: Fist Planet (2002) Key Animation
- Animation Store Manager (2002) Director
- Animation Store Manager (2002) Character Designer
- Animation Store Manager (2002) Art Direction
- Animation Store Manager (2002) Screenplay
- Mahoromatic (2001) Key Animation
- PaRappa the Rapper (2001) Director
- Lupin the Third: Alcatraz Connection (2001) Key Animation
- FLCL (2000) Art Designer
- FLCL (2000) Animation Director
- FLCL (2000) Storyboard Artist
- FLCL (2000) Key Animation
- Medabots (1999) Key Animation
- Medabots (1999) Storyboard
- Medabots (1999) Director
- Medabots (1999) Animation Director
- Microman (1999) Key Animation
- Popolocrois Monogatari (1998) Key Animation
- His and Her Circumstances (1998) Writer
- His and Her Circumstances (1998) Storyboard Artist
- His and Her Circumstances (1998) Animation Director
- His and Her Circumstances (1998) Key Animation
- Lupin the Third: Tokyo Crisis (1998) Key Animation
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997) Key Animation
- Virus Buster Serge (1997) Key Animation
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth (1997) Key Animation
- Lupin the Third: Island of Assassins (1997) Key Animation
- Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) Key Animation
- Gunbuster (1988) Key Animation
- Untitled Hiroyuki Imaishi/Kazuki Nakashima Project Director
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Hiroyuki Imaishi best known for?
Hiroyuki Imaishi is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT (2025), New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT (2025), New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT (2025), New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT (2025).
When and where was Hiroyuki Imaishi born?
Hiroyuki Imaishi was born on October 4, 1971.
How many credits does Hiroyuki Imaishi have?
Hiroyuki Imaishi has accumulated over 124 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1988 to 2025.
What is Hiroyuki Imaishi's background in cinema and television?
Hiroyuki Imaishi is a Japanese anime director, animator, and co-founder of Studio Trigger. Born on October 4, 1971, he is known for his work in directing, with fifty-nine known credits. Prior to founding Trigger, he was an animator and director at Gainax. His style is characterized by fast and frantic animation combine...