Kenji Itoso

Animation Director, Dean and Professor at Osaka Seikei University, Faculty of Arts.

Kenji Itoso is a force to be reckoned with in the animation industry. A director, entrepreneur, and investor with a boundless creative spirit, he defies traditional boundaries and consistently pushes the envelope with his innovative projects and visionary leadership.

About Kenji Itoso

Online School of Anime Is Supervised and Led by Animation Legend

Miyazaki's Apprentice to Global Trailblazer

Born in Hiroshima, Japan, Itoso-Sensei showed early passion for animation. In university, he worked on commercial projects and as a manga artist. In 1998, he apprenticed under Hayao Miyazaki at Studio Ghibli, shaping his artistic vision.

Itoso then ventured overseas, directing projects like the original anime "Coruboccoro," supported by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and showcasing his work at Cannes.As a professor at Osaka Seikei University, he promoted industry-academia collaboration. His awards include the Grand Prix at the CMT Awards and the Tokyo Anime Award, and he was recognized as a New Artist by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2006.

Achievements

  • Studied under Hayao Miyazaki at Studio Ghibli
  • Contributed to iconic anime franchises like "Yu-Gi-Oh!" , "Attack on Titan", "Fire Force", "Mcross Δ" and so on.
  • Collaborated with Satoshi Kon on "Dreaming Machine"
  • Created, wrote, and directed "Santa Company," retaining 100% copyright ownership
  • The Santa Company project successfully raised 850 million yen (approximately 8.2 million USD in 2014) through crowdfunding, setting a Guinness World Record.

Courses by Kenji Itoso

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