Makoto Shinkai
Directing Born Feb 9, 1973 Koumi, Japan 129 credits
Biography
Makoto Niitsu, known professionally as Makoto Shinkai, is a Japanese animation director, author, and manga artist. Born on February 9, 1973, in Koumi, Japan, he is male and has thirty known credits primarily recognized for directing. Shinkai began his career as a video game animator with Nihon Falcom in 1996. He gained recognition as a filmmaker with the release of the original video animation She and Her Cat in 1999. Beginning his association with CoMix Wave Films, he released the science fiction original video animation Voices of a Distant Star in 2002 and followed it with his debut feature film, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, in 2004. His second feature film was the romantic drama anthology 5 Centimeters per Second in 2007.
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Career overview
Makoto Shinkai is a Japanese animation director, author, and manga artist whose stage name is Makoto Shinkai and whose birth name is Makoto Niitsu. Born in Koumi, Japan, on February 9, 1973, he is recognized for his work in directing, with thirty known credits listed in his biographical profile.
Shinkai began his professional career as a video game animator with Nihon Falcom in 1996. He later gained recognition as a filmmaker with the release of the original video animation She and Her Cat in 1999. Following this, he began a longstanding association with CoMix Wave Films.
Continuing his career in animation, Shinkai released the science fiction original video animation Voices of a Distant Star in 2002. He subsequently directed his debut feature film, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, in 2004. His second feature film, the romantic drama anthology 5 Centimeters per Second, was released in 2007 and gained critical acclaim.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Memories of a Spring
5 Centimeters per Second · Original Story
Making Documentary of "Suzume"
Voices
Suzume · DirectorSuzume · EditorSuzume · Storyboard ArtistSuzume · ScreenplaySuzume · Original Story
The Making of Weathering with You
Weathering with You · DirectorWeathering with You · Storyboard ArtistWeathering with You · EditorWeathering with You · WriterWeathering with You · Original Story
Anime Supernova
Your Name. · DirectorYour Name. · Compositing ArtistYour Name. · Director of PhotographyYour Name. · EditorYour Name. · Storyboard Artist
Cross Road · Art DirectionCross Road · DirectorCross Road · Director of PhotographyCross Road · Background DesignerCross Road · Writer
The Garden of Words · Storyboard ArtistThe Garden of Words · DirectorThe Garden of Words · Background DesignerThe Garden of Words · Director of PhotographyThe Garden of Words · Color Designer
Children Who Chase Lost Voices · ProducerChildren Who Chase Lost Voices · EditorChildren Who Chase Lost Voices · DirectorChildren Who Chase Lost Voices · Storyboard ArtistChildren Who Chase Lost Voices · Color Designer
Ani*Kuri15 · DirectorAni*Kuri15 · WriterAni*Kuri15 · Background DesignerAni*Kuri15 · Color DesignerAni*Kuri15 · Storyboard Artist
5 Centimeters per Second · Director5 Centimeters per Second · Background Designer5 Centimeters per Second · Color Designer5 Centimeters per Second · Character Designer5 Centimeters per Second · Storyboard Artist
The Place Promised in Our Early Days · DirectorThe Place Promised in Our Early Days · EditorThe Place Promised in Our Early Days · Director of PhotographyThe Place Promised in Our Early Days · ProducerThe Place Promised in Our Early Days · Color Designer
Smile · Director
Voices of a Distant StarVoices of a Distant Star · DirectorVoices of a Distant Star · EditorVoices of a Distant Star · ProducerVoices of a Distant Star · Art Direction
She and Her CatShe and Her Cat · DirectorShe and Her Cat · EditorShe and Her Cat · Art DirectionShe and Her Cat · Storyboard Artist
Enclosed World · EditorEnclosed World · Director of PhotographyEnclosed World · DirectorEnclosed World · ScreenplayEnclosed World · Writer
Full filmography
- Memories of a Spring (2026) as Himself
- 5 Centimeters per Second (2025) Original Story
- Making Documentary of "Suzume" (2024) as Self
- Voices (2023) as Self
- Suzume (2022) Director
- Suzume (2022) Editor
- Suzume (2022) Storyboard Artist
- Suzume (2022) Screenplay
- Suzume (2022) Original Story
- The Making of Weathering with You (2020) as Self
- Weathering with You (2019) Director
- Weathering with You (2019) Storyboard Artist
- Weathering with You (2019) Editor
- Weathering with You (2019) Writer
- Weathering with You (2019) Original Story
- Anime Supernova (2017) as Self
- Your Name. (2016) Director
- Your Name. (2016) Compositing Artist
- Your Name. (2016) Director of Photography
- Your Name. (2016) Editor
- Your Name. (2016) Storyboard Artist
- Your Name. (2016) Original Story
- Your Name. (2016) Screenplay
- She and Her Cat: Everything Flows (2016) as Chobi (voice)
- She and Her Cat: Everything Flows (2016) Original Story
- She and Her Cat: Everything Flows (2016) as Chobi (voice)
- She and Her Cat: Everything Flows (2016) Original Story
- Cross Road (2014) Art Direction
- Cross Road (2014) Director
- Cross Road (2014) Director of Photography
- Cross Road (2014) Background Designer
- Cross Road (2014) Writer
- Cross Road (2014) Editor
- The Garden of Words (2013) Storyboard Artist
- The Garden of Words (2013) Director
- The Garden of Words (2013) Background Designer
- The Garden of Words (2013) Director of Photography
- The Garden of Words (2013) Color Designer
- The Garden of Words (2013) Editor
- The Garden of Words (2013) Original Story
- The Garden of Words (2013) Screenplay
- Right Places: Where I Was Meant to Be at That Time (2013) Thanks
- Someone's Gaze (2013) Editor
- Someone's Gaze (2013) Writer
- Someone's Gaze (2013) Director
- Someone's Gaze (2013) Director of Photography
- Someone's Gaze (2013) Storyboard Artist
- Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011) Producer
- Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011) Editor
- Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011) Director
- Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011) Storyboard Artist
- Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011) Color Designer
- Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011) Background Designer
- Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011) Director of Photography
- Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011) Screenplay
- Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011) Original Story
- Ani*Kuri15 (2008) Director
- Ani*Kuri15 (2008) Writer
- Ani*Kuri15 (2008) Background Designer
- Ani*Kuri15 (2008) Color Designer
- Ani*Kuri15 (2008) Storyboard Artist
- Ani*Kuri15 (2008) Art Direction
- Ani*Kuri15 (2008) Director of Photography
- 5 Centimeters per Second (2007) Director
- 5 Centimeters per Second (2007) Background Designer
- 5 Centimeters per Second (2007) Color Designer
- 5 Centimeters per Second (2007) Character Designer
- 5 Centimeters per Second (2007) Storyboard Artist
- 5 Centimeters per Second (2007) Producer
- 5 Centimeters per Second (2007) Art Direction
- 5 Centimeters per Second (2007) Editor
- 5 Centimeters per Second (2007) Sound Director
- 5 Centimeters per Second (2007) Director of Photography
- 5 Centimeters per Second (2007) Screenplay
- 5 Centimeters per Second (2007) Original Story
- Ani*Kuri15 (2007) Director
- Ani*Kuri15 (2007) Director of Photography
- Ani*Kuri15 (2007) Storyboard Artist
- Ani*Kuri15 (2007) Color Designer
- Ani*Kuri15 (2007) Background Designer
- Ani*Kuri15 (2007) Art Direction
- A Gathering of Cats (2007) Director
- The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004) Director
- The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004) Editor
- The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004) Director of Photography
- The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004) Producer
- The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004) Color Designer
- The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004) Art Designer
- The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004) Background Designer
- The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004) Sound Director
- The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004) Screenplay
- The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004) Original Story
- Wind: A Breath of Heart (2004) CG Artist
- Smile (2003) Director
- Voices of a Distant Star (2002) as Noboru Terao (voice)
- Voices of a Distant Star (2002) Director
- Voices of a Distant Star (2002) Editor
- Voices of a Distant Star (2002) Producer
- Voices of a Distant Star (2002) Art Direction
- Voices of a Distant Star (2002) Director of Photography
- Voices of a Distant Star (2002) Storyboard Artist
- Voices of a Distant Star (2002) Animation
- Voices of a Distant Star (2002) Character Designer
- Voices of a Distant Star (2002) Animation Director
- Voices of a Distant Star (2002) Writer
- Voices of a Distant Star (2002) Original Concept
- Wind: A Breath of Heart - Christmas Special (2002) Opening/Ending Animation
- She and Her Cat (1999) as Her Cat (voice)
- She and Her Cat (1999) Director
- She and Her Cat (1999) Editor
- She and Her Cat (1999) Art Direction
- She and Her Cat (1999) Storyboard Artist
- She and Her Cat (1999) Director of Photography
- She and Her Cat (1999) Producer
- She and Her Cat (1999) Animation
- She and Her Cat (1999) Screenplay
- Other Worlds (1999) Director
- Other Worlds (1999) Editor
- Other Worlds (1999) Director of Photography
- Other Worlds (1999) Animation
- Other Worlds (1999) Writer
- Enclosed World (1998) Editor
- Enclosed World (1998) Director of Photography
- Enclosed World (1998) Director
- Enclosed World (1998) Screenplay
- Enclosed World (1998) Writer
- Your Name Original Film Writer
- Untitled Makoto Shinkai Animated Film Director
- Untitled Makoto Shinkai Animated Film Writer