Japanese Literary Awards

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Masaaki Yuasa

ゆあさ まさあき

Yuasa Masaaki

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1965-03-16 （Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Animator, Animation director, Director, Screenwriter, Designer
Active Years
1987-
Affiliations
ame pippin (CEO), Science SARU (co-founder, CEO until 2020)
Influenced By
Hayao Miyazaki, Osamu Dezaki, Rintaro, Brian De Palma
Influenced
Contemporary anime creators
Nominations
Annie Awards — TV Directing nomination ("Food Chain"), Annie Awards — Best Animated Feature (independent) nomination (Ride Your Wave)

Education

Kyushu Sangyo University
Faculty of Arts / Department of Fine Arts
Country: Japan
Studied oil painting

Awards

Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year
2018
Work: Night is Short, Walk on Girl
Category: 最優秀アニメーション作品賞
Organization: Japan Academy Prize Association
Result: 受賞
Annecy International Animated Film Festival — Cristal for a Feature Film
2017
Work: Lu Over the Wall
Category: 長編部門 最高賞
Organization: Annecy International Animated Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Shanghai International Film Festival — Golden Goblet (Best Animation)
2019
Work: Ride Your Wave
Category: 最優秀アニメーション作品賞
Organization: Shanghai International Film Festival
Result: 受賞
Japan Movie Critics Awards — Animation Director
2023
Work: Inu-Oh
Category: アニメーション監督賞
Organization: Japan Movie Critics Association
Result: 受賞
Japan Media Arts Festival — Animation Division Grand Prize
2004
Work: Mind Game
Category: 大賞
Organization: Japan Media Arts Festival (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
Result: 受賞
Japan Media Arts Festival — Animation Division Grand Prize
2010
Work: The Tatami Galaxy
Category: 大賞
Organization: Japan Media Arts Festival (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
Result: 受賞
Medal with Purple Ribbon
2021
Organization: Government of Japan (Medals of Honor)
Result: 選出
Annecy — Jury Award (TV Series)
2021
Work: Japan Sinks: 2020
Category: テレビ部門 審査員賞
Organization: Annecy International Animated Film Festival
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Mind Game

2004 Animated feature film

An avant‑garde animated feature using experimental visual techniques; follows a protagonist's journey of transformation and liberation.

rebirthfreedomself-transformation

Night is Short, Walk on Girl

2017 Animated feature film

Based on a novel by Tomihiko Morimi; a whimsical, surreal night-long story focusing on a cast of eccentric characters.

youthfantasyhumor

Lu Over the Wall

2017 Original animated feature

An original film about the sea and music; a coming-of-age tale centered on the relationship between a boy and a mermaid.

musiccoming-of-agethe sea

Ride Your Wave

2019 Animated feature film

A romantic story interweaving loss, recovery and music.

lovelossrecovery

DEVILMAN crybaby

2018 Web anime (Netflix)

A contemporary, bold reinterpretation of Go Nagai's 'Devilman', released as a streaming series.

violencehuman natureapocalypse

Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!

2020 TV anime

Follows high school students passionate about animation creation; full of inventive visual ideas and stories of friendship.

creationfriendshipimagination

Inu-Oh

2021 Animated feature film

Based on a novel by Hideo Furukawa; a historical fiction feature exploring Noh theatre and music.

musichistoryexpression

Bibliography

  • Masaaki Yuasa Complete Works: Sketchbook for Animation Projects
  • Masaaki Yuasa's Thin Book
  • The Unknown Strange World: Masaaki Yuasa Sketchworks
  • Masaaki Yuasa's Eureka Days

Adaptations

  • Night is Short, Walk on Girl (film adaptation)
  • DEVILMAN crybaby (Netflix)
  • Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! (TV anime)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
storybook-like wobbling linesslanted perspective and tricky compositionscolorful, eclectic paletteuse of collage with photography and live action
Recurring Motifs
multiple perspectivesliberation/freedommusic and rhythmimagination and creation

Legacy

A director acclaimed at domestic and international festivals for experimental expression; a leading figure of innovative styles in Japanese animation, admired by critics and dedicated fans.

Quotes

  • Receiving awards is an honor and recognition for the staff's work, which is appreciated — but honestly, what pleases me most is when many people watch and say 'that was interesting'.
    Source: Interviews (various) (2017)

Trivia

  • Trademark: knit cap.
  • Used Kickstarter crowdfunding to produce the short 'Kick-Heart'.
  • Co-founded Science SARU with Eunyoung Choi; stepped down as CEO in 2020 and founded ame pippin in 2025.
  • Actively adopted production techniques using Adobe Flash/Animate.