Masaaki Yuasa

Masaaki Yuasa
湯浅 政明
Yuasa at the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival (2018)
Born (1965-03-16) March 16, 1965 (age 59)
Fukuoka, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Alma materKyushu Sangyo University
Occupations
Years active1987–present
Employers
  • Freelance affiliated with Ajia-do (1987–1994)
  • Freelance (1994–2013)
  • CEO of Science SARU (2013–2020)[1]
  • Freelance (2020–present)

Masaaki Yuasa (湯浅 政明, Yuasa Masaaki, born March 16, 1965) is a Japanese director, screenwriter, and animator affiliated with Science SARU, a Japanese animation studio which he co-founded with producer Eunyoung Choi in 2013. Yuasa previously served as president of Science SARU, but stepped down from this role in 2020.[1][2] Recognized for his idiosyncratic art style and directorial voice, Yuasa began his career as an animator on the landmark television series Chibi Maruko-chan (1990–1992) and Crayon Shin-chan (1992–present),[3] before moving into directing with the feature film Mind Game (2004) and developing a cult appeal following.[4]

Yuasa spent much of the 2000s and early 2010s working in television directing, helming a trio of series, Kemonozume (2006), Kaiba (2008), and The Tatami Galaxy (2010), before releasing the crowdfunded short film Kick-Heart (2013).[5] During the production of Kick-Heart, Choi proposed the establishment of Science SARU,[6] and the resultant works created at the studio, combined with increased international distribution, led to mainstream breakout successes in the 2010s and saw Yuasa rise to prominence as one of Japan's foremost independent creators.[7][8] At Science SARU, Yuasa focused on directing both television and feature film productions, starting with an episode of the American animated series Adventure Time (2014),[9] and continuing with Ping Pong the Animation (2014),[10] Night Is Short, Walk On Girl (2017),[11] Lu Over the Wall (2017),[12] Devilman Crybaby (2018),[13] Ride Your Wave (2019),[14] Super Shiro (2019),[15] Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! (2020),[16] Japan Sinks: 2020 (2020),[17] and Inu-Oh (2021).[18]

Yuasa's productions have won international critical acclaim, receiving awards from Annecy,[19][20] the Japan Academy Film Prize,[21] the Mainichi Film Awards,[22][23] and the Japan Media Arts Festival.[24][25][26][27] In recognition of his collective career accomplishments, he has been recognized by the Japanese government and received the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon, as well as the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Cabinet Minister Award for Media Fine Arts.[28][29]

Yuasa's latest project is the musical drama feature film Inu-Oh, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2021 and was released worldwide in August 2022.[30][31]

  1. ^ a b "About the Change of Representative Director". Science Saru (in Japanese). April 3, 2020. Archived from the original on September 3, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  2. ^ Harding, Daryl (April 1, 2020). "Masaaki Yuasa Retires as President of Anime Studio Science SARU". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  3. ^ Yoshida, Emily (March 2, 2018). "An Introduction to Japan's Most Idiosyncratic and Exciting Animation Director, Masaaki Yuasa". Vulture. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  4. ^ Robinson, Chris (December 5, 2017). "Masaaki Yuasa Speaks in Many Colors". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  5. ^ "Interview with Japanese film director and animator Masaaki Yuasa". International Animation Film Festival of Catalonia. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  6. ^ Hanson, Kwok-Wai (December 10, 2019). "INTERVIEW: Science SARU Co-Founder Eunyoung Choi & Eizouken!". Anime Trending. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  7. ^ Baron, Reuben (December 3, 2019). "From Tatami Galaxy to Devilman Crybaby: Masaaki Yuasa's Breakout Decade". CBR. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  8. ^ Harvey, Christophe (February 23, 2020). "Masaaki Yuasa: Director that Made the Decade". Animation for Adults. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  9. ^ Loo, Egan (April 21, 2014). "Ping Pong/Kick-Heart's Yuasa Directs Adventure Time Episode". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  10. ^ "Science SARU - Works". Science SARU. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  11. ^ Ressler, Karen (December 14, 2016). "Tatami Galaxy Staff Return for Yoru wa Mijikashi Arukeyo Otome Anime Film". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  12. ^ Ressler, Karen (January 18, 2017). "Director Masaaki Yuasa Reveals Yoake Tsugeru Lu no Uta Anime Film". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  13. ^ Ressler, Karen (March 15, 2017). "Masaaki Yuasa Directs New Devilman Anime for Netflix". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  14. ^ Loo, Egan (October 27, 2018). "Devilman Crybaby Director Masaaki Yuasa Unveils New Anime Film Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  15. ^ Aguilar, Carlos (February 11, 2019). "Masaaki Yuasa To Direct New Crayon Shin-Chan Spin-off Series". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  16. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (May 7, 2019). "Devilman Crybaby Director Masaaki Yuasa Directs Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! TV Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  17. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (October 8, 2019). "DEVILMAN crybaby's Masaaki Yuasa Helms Japan Sinks Novel's 1st Anime for Netflix". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  18. ^ Loo, Egan (June 12, 2019). "Devilman Crybaby Director Masaaki Yuasa Unveils Inu-Oh Anime Film for 2021". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  19. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (June 18, 2017). "Lu Over the Wall, In This Corner of the World anime films win awards at Annecy". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  20. ^ "2021 Winning Selection, Television | Japan Sinks: 2020: "The Beginning of the End"". Annecy International Animated Film Festival (in French). Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  21. ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (March 2, 2018). "Masaaki Yuasa's The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl Wins Japan Academy Prize's "Animation of the Year"". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  22. ^ Macdonald, Christopher (January 24, 2005). "2004 Mainichi Film Awards". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  23. ^ Inoa, Christopher (May 18, 2018). "Devilman Crybaby's Masaaki Yuasa might be the most important voice in anime right now". SYFY WIRE. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  24. ^ "Grand Prize - Mind Game | Animation Division | 2004 [8th]". Japan Media Arts Festival. Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  25. ^ "Grand Prize - The Tatami Galaxy | Animation Division | 2010 [14th]". Japan Media Arts Festival. Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  26. ^ "Grand Prize - Lu Over the Wall | Animation Division | 2018 [21st]". Japan Media Arts Festival. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  27. ^ "Grand Prize - Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! | Animation Division | 2021 [24th]". Japan Media Arts Festival. Archived from the original on March 16, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  28. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 4, 2021). "Director Masaaki Yuasa, Demon Slayer's Gotouge Win Agency for Cultural Affairs' Media Arts Awards". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  29. ^ "「秋の褒章」俳優の内野聖陽さんなどが受章へ". NHK (in Japanese). November 2, 2021. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  30. ^ Mateo, Alex (July 26, 2021). "Masaaki Yuasa's Inu-Oh Anime Film Reveals Trailer, Cast, Staff, Early Summer 2022 Opening". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
  31. ^ Mateo, Alex (May 26, 2022). "Inu-Oh Anime Film Opens in U.S. Theaters on August 12". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.