76’
Yoshimi Itazu
Born in Japan in 1980, Itazu began his professional career at the young age of 18 joining Studio Gallop, where he apprenticed under veteran animator Tsukasa Tannai (Castle in the Sky). As an animator, he has worked with directors such as Satoshi Kon (Paranoia Agent, Paprika), Hayao Miyazaki (The Wind Rises, The Boy and the Heron) and Mitsuo Iso (Denno Coil). He made his debut as character designer and lead animator in a feature film in Keiichi Hara’s Annecy-winning Miss Hokusai (2015). His first directorial effort was the Fukushima disaster-themed short Pigtails (2015), which garnered 24 awards. In 2017, he directed his first TV series, Welcome to the Ballroom, and in 2023 he helmed his first feature film, The Concierge, that was awarded at 18th Fantasia Film Festival and the 25th Bucheon International Animation Film Festival.
Pigtails, reż. Yoshimi Itazu, Japonia 2015, 28’10”
Welcome to the Ballroom, episode 1, reż. Yoshimi Itazu, Japonia 2017, 24’
Paranoia Agent, episode 9, reż. Satoshi Kon, animation director: Yoshimi Itazu, Japonia 2004, 24’