Global Anime Challenge: Work in Progress — First Look　
Part 1: Pilot Films
Part 2: Documentary & Talks

Born in Shiga Prefecture and currently working with Wish Co., Ltd.
Credits include Mob Psycho 100 (Season 1, 2016) as an Animation Checker, Kedama no Gonjiro (2019) and The Elusive Samurai (2024) as Animation Director, and Bocchi the Rock! (2022) as a Live Performance Animator. Also participated in numerous TV and theatrical productions as a key animator.

2007: Joined Fuji TV as a producer for its late-night anime block "noitaminA."
2017: Worked as a producer at Twin Engine.
2018: At MAPPA, oversaw anime production and led the company’s rights business, including finance and licensing.
2024: Founded BLUE RIGHTS.

Has been with Kinema Citrus since 2018.
Currently works as a key animator and animation director at Gift Animation, continuously honing her craft.
She is also studying English and aspires to collaborate with animators from around the world in the future.
With the goal of growing into an animator who can work on the international stage, she decided to participate in the Global Anime Challenge.

Joined Kinema Citrus in 2014 and has worked as an animator on titles including Under the Dog, The Rising of the Shield Hero, and Made in Abyss.
Served as assistant director on Revue Starlight (TV series, 2018) and Revue Starlight the Movie (2021).
For Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun (2022), served as opening sequence director and episode director for Episode 10.
His directorial debut, Goodbye, Lara, was broadcast in July 2026.

Began his career as an animator after graduating from university in 2016.
Since then, he has worked across a wide range of roles, including key animation, storyboarding, episode direction, character design, and animation direction on numerous productions.
In 2019, he made his directorial debut as co-director of the OVA ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Department – Regards. In 2022, he directed his first TV anime series, Bocchi the Rock!.
In 2023, he served as director of the TV series Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. His latest works include the 2024 theatrical compilation films Bocchi the Rock! Re: and Bocchi the Rock! Re:Re:.

Specializes in creative production for animated works and has earned recognition both in Japan and internationally for music videos and commercial animation.
Notable producing credits include YOASOBI’s Umi no Manimani music video, Ado’s Kira, the official song for the Japan national football team’s uniform campaign, and Kimi ni Aeta! for Pokémon WCS 2023.
In 2022, he founded the animation production team Kiko, shifting his primary focus toward film. In 2026, he released the original short theatrical film Moshi, Korekara Umareru no Nara (If We Are to Be Born from Now).
He also serves as a mentor supporting directors in Sofu, an acceleration program organized by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

Began his career in animation in 2013 as a production assistant on Yowamushi Pedal. From 2015 onward, he worked on storyboards and episode direction for various productions. He went on to direct BLACKFOX (2019), A3! SEASON SPRING & SUMMER (2020), and My Dress-Up Darling (2022).

Animator.
Majored in calligraphy at university.
Early in his career, he gained experience as an animator on titles including the Duel Masters series.
He later worked on key animation and animation direction, while also drawing on his calligraphy background for brush lettering design on Sengoku Yōko. His work included all episode title lettering, special move typography, and handwritten text incorporated into props.
Most recently, he contributed key animation, animation direction, and brush lettering design for Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku (Season 2).
Looking ahead, he hopes to expand into episode direction and design work.

2013: Worked as production assistant on The Garden of Words directed by Makoto Shinkai, and continued to contribute to his subsequent works.

2016: Worked as production desk on Your Name.

2018: Served as production manager on Mirai directed by Mamoru Hosoda, and continued to work on his later productions.

2021: Contributed to Belle.

Since then, has worked as a freelance production professional, taking on various roles across different projects while exploring new and exciting opportunities.

2023: Worked as production assistant on The Imaginary directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, and as animation producer on Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End directed by Keiichiro Saito.

2025: Served as production manager for the opening sequence of Witch Watch, storyboarded and directed by Megumi Ishitani.

2026: Founded Lichtje Co., Ltd. to develop original projects and business ventures, including projects through GAC.

Entered the animation industry in 2014.
Since joining OLM in 2016, she has primarily worked on the Pokémon TV anime series, gaining experience in in-between animation and key animation before moving into episode direction.
With an increasing number of overseas animators participating in Japanese anime productions, she hopes to deepen her understanding of different cultures and languages. Seeing the Global Anime Challenge as an opportunity to broaden her creative perspective and expand her range of expression, she decided to apply.

From Nara Prefecture, and known online as “Nara.”
2014: Joined Doga Kobo, working in in-between animation, key animation, and animation direction.
2018: Made his debut as an ending sequence director on UzaMaid! (Our Maid Is Way Too Annoying!).
2020: Went freelance and made his episode directing debut on Wonder Egg Priority.
2021: Worked on storyboards and episode direction for My Dress-Up Darling.
2022: Served as assistant director on Bocchi the Rock!.
2023: Opening sequence director for [Oshi no Ko] (Season 1).
2024: Opening sequence director for the theatrical compilation film Bocchi the Rock! Re:.
2025: Served as assistant director on My Dress-Up Darling Season 2.
Currently preparing for his next project.

Born in 1968 in Shizuoka prefecture. Originally a newspaper reporterand weekly magazine editor, Fujitsu started writing about animation in 2000. Fujitsu’s works include books such as "Anime Hyoronka Sengen – Revised Edition" (Chikuma Bunko), "Anime to Senso" (Nihon Hyoronsha), “Tomino Yoshiyuki Ron” (Chikumashobo). He serves as lecturer at Tokyo Polytechnic University.

Photo by Kaede Nakazato

Overseas Project Producer at KINEMA CITRUS. She has a rich background in international coordination and interpreting at major film markets and conventions worldwide. After six years at VIZ Media and co-producing the Netflix Original Anime "EDEN," she joined KINEMA CITRUS, where she handles Kickstarter initiatives, international talent development, English supervision, and overseas affairs. She also works as a freelance interpreter and script translator.

Advanced Senior Economist, Economics Department, The Japan Research Institute, Limited. His research focuses on medium- to long-term structural changes in the Japanese economy, and he is currently studying growth strategies for the anime industry, which has the potential to become one of Japan's leading industries. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Tokyo, a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Economics from the Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Chiba University.