Naoko Yamada

Naoko Yamada
山田 尚子
BornNovember 28
Alma materKyoto University of the Arts
Occupations
  • Animator
  • director
  • storyboard artist
Years active2004–present
EmployerKyoto Animation (2004–2020)
Signature

Naoko Yamada (山田 尚子, Yamada Naoko) is a Japanese animator and director. Working at Kyoto Animation, she directed the anime series K-On! (2009–2010) and Tamako Market (2013), and the anime films A Silent Voice (2016) and Liz and the Blue Bird (2018).

In 2021, she directed the original net animation (ONA) The Heike Story under Science Saru. The series premiered on Japanese television in January 2022.[2][3] She has won multiple awards for her work, as well as become world renowned for her stylistic choices in anime. She was also one of the youngest people to be made a director with Kyoto Animation, getting her first directing opportunity around 4 years after finishing college and starting work for the studio.[4]

  1. ^ 歴代受賞作品, 文化庁メディア芸術祭. "山田 尚子 | プロフィール一覧". 文化庁メディア芸術祭 歴代受賞作品 (in Japanese). Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  2. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 2, 2021). "Science SARU Reveals The Heike Story TV Anime by Naoko Yamada". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  3. ^ Mateo, Alex (September 15, 2021). "The Heike Story TV Anime Posts Short Video, Visual Before Premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  4. ^ Stevens, Josh A. (November 4, 2022). "Interview: Anime Director Naoko Yamada on Science SARU and LGBTQ+ Inclusion". Anime UK News. Retrieved November 4, 2022.