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Masaaki Yuasa
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<p>Masaaki Yuasa (湯浅 政明, <i>Yuasa Masaaki</i>, born March 16, 1965) is a Japanese director, screenwriter, and animator affiliated with <a href="/facts/Science_SARU/dqXwA81L">Science SARU</a>, a Japanese animation studio which he co-founded with producer <a href="/facts/Eunyoung_Choi/epQF1RkJ">Eunyoung Choi</a> in 2013. Yuasa previously served as president of Science SARU, but stepped down from this role in 2020. Recognized for his idiosyncratic art style and directorial voice, Yuasa began his career as an animator on the landmark television series <i><a href="/facts/Chibi_Maruko-chan/uSP4aBNt">Chibi Maruko-chan</a></i> (1990–1992) and <i><a href="/facts/Crayon_Shin-chan/ezoEIhSJ">Crayon Shin-chan</a></i> (1992–present), before moving into directing with the feature film <i><a href="/facts/Mind_Game_(film)/sljoUQof">Mind Game</a></i> (2004) and developing a <a href="/facts/Cult_film/bFplqvzW">cult appeal</a> following. </p><p>Yuasa spent much of the 2000s and early 2010s working in television directing, helming a trio of series, <i><a href="/facts/Kemonozume/qd4IWHIL">Kemonozume</a></i> (2006), <i><a href="/facts/Kaiba/qbIAzlu3">Kaiba</a></i> (2008), and <i><a href="/facts/The_Tatami_Galaxy/hqJI3HoQ">The Tatami Galaxy</a></i> (2010), before releasing the <a href="/facts/Crowdfunding/u9gwrlYI">crowdfunded</a> short film <i><a href="/facts/Kick-Heart/K0lhVGyP">Kick-Heart</a></i> (2013). During the production of <i>Kick-Heart</i>, Choi proposed the establishment of Science SARU, 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. At Science SARU, Yuasa focused on directing both television and feature film productions, starting with an episode of the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">American</a> animated series <i><a href="/facts/Adventure_Time/chpvPSSj">Adventure Time</a></i> (2014), and continuing with <i><a href="/facts/Ping_Pong_(manga)/j6HjJsBM">Ping Pong the Animation</a></i> (2014), <i><a href="/facts/Night_Is_Short%2c_Walk_On_Girl/awySzK9I">Night Is Short, Walk On Girl</a></i> (2017), <i><a href="/facts/Lu_over_the_Wall/rhNygf6w">Lu Over the Wall</a></i> (2017), <i><a href="/facts/Devilman_Crybaby/atEfJTSq">Devilman Crybaby</a></i> (2018), <i><a href="/facts/Ride_Your_Wave/A1rUD6Tt">Ride Your Wave</a></i> (2019), <i><a href="/facts/Super_Shiro/YmMT1JxN">Super Shiro</a></i> (2019), <i><a href="/facts/Keep_Your_Hands_Off_Eizouken!/EcpWpLTo">Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!</a></i> (2020), <i><a href="/facts/Japan_Sinks/UIVWmhjC">Japan Sinks: 2020</a></i> (2020), and <i><a href="/facts/Inu-Oh/tGeQjT9W">Inu-Oh</a></i> (2021). </p><p>Yuasa's productions have won international critical acclaim, receiving awards from <a href="/facts/Annecy_International_Animated_Film_Festival/1GKlcWgf">Annecy</a>, the <a href="/facts/Japan_Academy_Film_Prize_for_Animation_of_the_Year/rUuL5Fne">Japan Academy Film Prize</a>, the <a href="/facts/%25C5%258Cfuji_Nobur%25C5%258D_Award/rbJHecPs">Mainichi Film Awards</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Japan_Media_Arts_Festival/ECHvcel7">Japan Media Arts Festival</a>. In recognition of his collective career accomplishments, he has been recognized by the Japanese government and received the <a href="/facts/Medals_of_Honor_(Japan)/0UXeCv3w">Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon</a>, as well as the <a href="/facts/Agency_for_Cultural_Affairs/V8I5g7TV">Agency for Cultural Affairs</a>' Cabinet Minister Award for Media Fine Arts. </p><p>Yuasa's latest project is the musical drama feature film <i>Inu-Oh</i>, which premiered at the <a href="/facts/Venice_Film_Festival/ItsBLlQQ">Venice International Film Festival</a> in September 2021 and was released worldwide in August 2022. It was his first film nominated for a <a href="/facts/Golden_Globe/1v50C2Tb">Golden Globe</a>. </p>