Kenichi Ishikura

Japanese director and storyboard artist

Kenichi Ishikura
石倉 賢一

Born|

Japan

Occupation(s)| Director, storyboard artist, production assistant
Years active| 2000–present
Employer| E&G Films (2000?)
Known for| Hidamari Sketch x Hoshimittsu
Sakura Trick

Kenichi Ishikura (Japanese: 石倉 賢一, Hepburn: Ishikura Ken'ichi) is a Japanese director and storyboard artist best known for his works with Shaft and the anime adaptation of Sakura Trick.

## Career

[edit]

Ishikura began his career in the industry in 2000 as a production assistant for Invincible King Tri-Zenon under E&G Films, and made his debut as an episode director with the 18th episode of Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars.[1] For the next several years, he worked mainly as a freelance director. In 2007, Ishikura had his first job with Shaft as an episode director and storyboard artist for Hidamari Sketch.[2] Ishikura was working with a subcontracting studio when they asked him to choose one of their projects to work on.[3] Ishikura chose Hidamari Sketch as he had seen director Akiyuki Shinbo's previous works including Pani Poni Dash!, which was a type of project he was interested in working on.[3] According to him, Ishikura often got in trouble in his previous works for including too many parodies to other works; but for Hidamari Sketch, director Shinbo and the staff gave him the okay to do such.[4] For the next 5 years, Ishikura worked mainly with Shaft, and made his series directorial debut with Natsu no Arashi! Akinai-chū (under Shinbo's general direction).[5] The following year, he directed the third season to the Hidamari Sketch franchise with Shinbo,[6] but he started to work less with Shaft. Following his mainstay departure from Shaft, Ishikura dirercted Da Capo III (2013) at studio Actas, but mainly based himself out of Studio Deen, where he directed both Sakura Trick (2014) and a short Ongaku Shōjo (2015) film.[7][8] He stopped series directing for the time and focused mainly on episode directing and storyboarding until 2025 with the release of I'm a Noble on the Brink of Ruin, So I Might as Well Try Mastering Magic.[9]

## Works

[edit]

### Television

[edit]

In "Director(s)" column highlights Ishikura's directorial works.

Year  | Title  | Director(s)  | Studio  | SB[a] | ED[b] | Other roles and notes  | Ref(s)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2000  | Invincible King Tri-Zenon | Takashi Watanabe | E&G Films  | No  | No  | Assistant production manager  | [10]
2001  | Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars | Tatsuo Satō | Madhouse | No  | Yes  |  | [1]
2002  | Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Soldier | Jun Kawagoe  | Japan Vistec  | No  | Yes  |  | [11]
Aquarian Age: Sign for Evolution | Yoshimitsu Ōhashi  | Madhouse  | No  | Yes  |  | [12]
Shrine of the Morning Mist | Yuji Moriyama | Chaos Project | No  | Yes  |  | [13]
2003  | L/R: Licensed by Royalty | Itsuro Kawasaki | TNK | No  | Yes  |  | [14]
Shadow Star | Toshiaki Iino  | Planet  | No  | Yes  |  | [15]
Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch | Yoshitaka Fujimoto  | Actas
SynergySP | Yes  | Yes  |  | [16][17]
2004  | Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure | Yoshitaka Fujimoto  | Actas
SynergySP  | No  | Yes  |  | [18]
Tsuki wa Higashi ni Hi wa Nishi ni | Mitsuhiro Tōgō (chief)
Shōsei Jinno  | Radix | No  | Yes  |  | [19]
To Heart: Remember My Memories | Keitarō Motonaga  | OLM, Inc.
AIC ASTA | No  | Yes  |  | [20]
2005  | Gun Sword | Gorō Taniguchi | AIC ASTA  | No  | Yes  |  | [21]
Petopeto-san | Akira Nishimori | Xebec M2 | No  | Yes  |  | [22]
Paradise Kiss | Osamu Kobayashi | Madhouse  | No  | Yes  |  | [23]
2006  | Sugar Sugar Rune | Matsushita Yukihiro  | Pierrot | No  | Yes  |  | [24]
Amaenaide yo!! Katsu!! | Keitarō Motonaga  | Studio Deen | No  | Yes  |  | [25]
Tactical Roar | Yoshitaka Fujimoto  | Actas  | No  | Yes  |  | [26]
Love Get Chu: Miracle Seiyū Hakusho | Mitsuhiro Tōgō  | Radix  | Yes  | Yes  |  | [27][28]
Yume Tsukai | Kazuo Yamazaki  | Madhouse  | No  | No  | Assistant director  | [29]
Night Head Genesis | Yoshio Takeuchi  | Actas
Bee Media  | No  | Yes  |  | [30]
Tokimeki Memorial Only Love | Nobuhiro Takemoto  | AIC ASTA  | No  | Yes  |  | [31]
2007  | Hidamari Sketch | Akiyuki Shinbo (chief)
Ryouki Kamitsubo (chief) | Shaft | Yes  | Yes  |  | [2][32]
Kaze no Stigma | Junichi Sakata  | Gonzo | No  | Yes  |  | [33]
Nagasarete Airantō | Hideki Okamoto  | feel. | No  | Yes  |  | [34]
Ef: A Tale of Memories | Shin Oonuma | Shaft  | Yes  | Yes  |  | [35]
2008  | Hidamari Sketch x 365 | Akiyuki Shinbo  | Shaft  | Yes  | Yes  |  | [36][37]
Ef: A Tale of Melodies | Shin Oonuma  | Shaft  | No  | Yes  |  | [38]
2009  | Hidamari Sketch x 365 Specials | Akiyuki Shinbo  | Shaft  | Yes  | Yes  |  | [39]
Natsu no Arashi! | Akiyuki Shinbo
Shin Oonuma (series) | Shaft  | Yes  | Yes  |  | [40]
Maria Holic | Akiyuki Shinbo
Yukihiro Miyamoto (series) | Shaft  | Yes  | Yes  |  | [41][42]
Natsu no Arashi! Akinai-chū | Akiyuki Shinbo
Shin Oonuma (series, #1–7)
Kenichi Ishikura (series, #8–13) | Shaft  | Yes  | Yes  | Ending director  | [5][43][44][45]
2010  | Hidamari Sketch x Hoshimittsu | Akiyuki Shinbo
Kenichi Ishikura (series) | Shaft  | No  | Yes  |  | [6][46]
Hidamari Sketch x Hoshimittsu Specials | Akiyuki Shinbo
Kenichi Ishikura (series) | Shaft  | Yes  | Yes  |  | [47][48][49]
2011  | Infinite Stratos | Yasuhito Kikuchi  | Eight Bit | Yes  | No  |  | [50]
Shōwa Monogatari | Mitsuhiro Tōgō
Masahiro Murakami (series) | Wao World  | No  | Yes  | Assistant director (four episodes)  | [51][52]
Maria Holic Alive | Akiyuki Shinbo (chief)
Tomokazu Tokoro (series) | Shaft  | Yes  | Yes  | Assistant director
Opening director  | [53][54]
[55][56]
2013  | Da Capo III | Kenichi Ishikura  | Actas[c] | Yes  | No  | Series composition  | [57][58]
2014  | Sakura Trick | Kenichi Ishikura  | Studio Deen | Yes  | No  | Series composition  | [7][59]
2016  | Bakuon!! | Junji Nishimura | TMS Entertainment
8PAN  | Yes  | No  |  | [60]
2017  | Princess Principal | Masaki Tachibana  | 3Hz
Actas  | No  | Yes  |  | [61]
2018  | 100 Sleeping Princes and the Kingdom of Dreams | Yukina Hiiro  | Project No.9 | Yes  | No  |  | [62]
Hozuki's Coolheadedness | Kazuhiro Yoneda  | Studio Deen  | Yes  | No  |  | [63]
2020  | The Seven Deadly Sins: Imperial Wrath of the Gods | Susumu Nishizawa  | Studio Deen  | Yes  | No  |  | [64]
Sorcerous Stabber Orphen | Takayuki Hamana | Studio Deen  | Yes  | No  |  | [65]
Tamayomi | Toshinori Fukushima  | Studio A-Cat | Yes  | No  |  | [66]
2021  | Redo of Healer | Takuya Asaoka  | TNK | No  | Yes  |  | [67]
Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Battle of Kimluck | Takayuki Hamana  | Studio Deen  | Yes  | No  |  | [68]
I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level | Nobukage Kimura  | Revoroot | Yes  | No  |  | [69]
2022  | My Isekai Life | Keisuke Kojima  | Revoroot  | Yes  | No  |  | [70]
2025  | I'm a Noble on the Brink of Ruin, So I Might as Well Try Mastering Magic | Kenichi Ishikura  | Studio Deen
Marvy Jack  | TBA | TBA |  | [9]

### Film

[edit]

Year  | Title  | Director(s)  | Studio  | SB[a] | ED[b] | Other roles and notes  | Ref(s)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2011  | Mahou Sensei Negima! Anime Finale | Akiyuki Shinbo | Shaft
Studio Pastoral  | Yes  | No  | Assistant director  | [71]
2015  | Ongaku Shōjo | Kenichi Ishikura  | Studio Deen |  |  |  | [8]

## Notes

[edit]

### General notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b Storyboard artist.
2. ^ a b Episode director, equivalent to unit director.
3. ^ Credited as Kazami Gakuen Kōshiki Dōga-bu (風見学園公式動画部名義).

### Works cited

[edit]

* Kizawa, Yukito; Nakamoto, Muneo; Yanagi, Yuuichi, eds. (2008). Hidamari Sketch Album. Houbunsha. ISBN 978-4832277403.
* Kizawa, Yukito, ed. (2013). ひだまりスケッチデイズ -TVアニメ公式ガイドブック- [Hidamari Sketch Days: TV Anime Official Guidebook]. Houbunsha. ISBN 978-4832277403.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 18, 23. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
2. ^ a b Hidamari Sketch (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 3, 9. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
3. ^ a b Kizawa 2013, p. 105.
4. ^ Kizawa, Nakamoto & Yanagi 2008, p. 28.
5. ^ a b "夏のあらし! 春夏冬中[あきないちゅう]". Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
6. ^ a b "ひだまり スケッチ × ☆☆☆[ほしみっつ]". Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
7. ^ a b "Crunchyroll to Stream Sakura Trick Yuri Anime". Anime News Network. January 6, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
8. ^ a b "Anime Mirai 2015 Casts, Stories Unveiled". Anime News Network. February 25, 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
9. ^ a b "'I'm a Noble on the Brink of Ruin, So I Might as Well Try Mastering Magic' Anime's Teaser Video Reveals Main Cast, January 2025 Premiere". Anime News Network. June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
10. ^ Invincible King Tri-Zenon (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 13. 制作進行 - 石倉賢一 [Assistant production manager - Kenichi Ishikura]
11. ^ Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Soldier (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 50. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
12. ^ Aquarian Age: Sign for Evolution (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 4. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
13. ^ Shrine of the Morning Mist (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 10–12. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
14. ^ L/R: Licensed by Royalty (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 7. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
15. ^ Shadow Star (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 3. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
16. ^ Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 16, 22, 27, 33, 43, 52. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
17. ^ Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 33, 52. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
18. ^ Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
19. ^ Tsuki wa Higashi ni Hi wa Nishi ni (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 5. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
20. ^ To Heart: Remember My Memories (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 12. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
21. ^ Gun Sword (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 12. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
22. ^ Petopeto-san (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 4. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
23. ^ Paradise Kiss (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 3, 5. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
24. ^ Sugar Sugar Rune (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 47. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
25. ^ Amaenaide yo!! Katsu!! (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 6, 11. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
26. ^ Tactical Roar (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 3. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
27. ^ Love Get Chu: Miracle Seiyū Hakusho (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 8, 25. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
28. ^ Love Get Chu: Miracle Seiyū Hakusho (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 25. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
29. ^ Yume Tsukai (in Japanese). Event occurs at opening credits. 助監督 - 石倉賢一 [Assistant director - Kenichi Ishikura]
30. ^ Night Head Genesis (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 6. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
31. ^ Tokimeki Memorial Only Love (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 2, 9. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
32. ^ Hidamari Sketch (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 9. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
33. ^ Kaze no Stigma (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 13. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
34. ^ Nagasarete Airantō (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 22. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
35. ^ Ef: A Tale of Memories (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 10. 絵コンテ / 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist / Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
36. ^ Hidamari Sketch x 365 (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 6. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
37. ^ Hidamari Sketch x 365 (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 6, 12. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
38. ^ Ef: A Tale of Melodies (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 9. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
39. ^ Hidamari Sketch x 365 Specials (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 2. 絵コンテ / 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist / Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
40. ^ Natsu no Arashi! (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 4, 8. 絵コンテ / 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist / Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
41. ^ Maria Holic (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 5. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
42. ^ Maria Holic (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 5, 9. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
43. ^ Natsu no Arashi! Akinai-chū (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 8. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
44. ^ Natsu no Arashi! Akinai-chū (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 2, 8, 13. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
45. ^ Natsu no Arashi! Akinai-chū (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits list 3. EDディレクター - 石倉賢一 [ED Director - Kenichi Ishikura]
46. ^ Hidamari Sketch x Hoshimittsu (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 12. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
47. ^ Hidamari Sketch x Hoshimittsu Specials (in Japanese). Event occurs at opening credits. 監督 - 石倉賢一 [Director - Kenichi Ishikura]
48. ^ Hidamari Sketch x Hoshimittsu Specials (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura; episodes 1–2]
49. ^ Hidamari Sketch x Hoshimittsu Specials (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 2. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
50. ^ Infinite Stratos (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 6. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
51. ^ Shōwa Monogatari (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 1. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
52. ^ Shōwa Monogatari (in Japanese). Event occurs at opening credits, episodes 1–4. 助監督 - 石倉賢一 [Assistant director - Kenichi Ishikura]
53. ^ "Staff / Cast". Maria Holic Alive (in Japanese). TV Tokyo. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
54. ^ Maria Holic Alive (in Japanese). Event occurs at opening credits. OPディレクター - 石倉賢一 [OP Director - Kenichi Ishikura]
55. ^ Maria Holic Alive (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 1. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
56. ^ Maria Holic Alive (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 4, 10, 12. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
57. ^ "Staff & Cast". Da Capo III Official Site (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
58. ^ Da Capo III (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 13. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
59. ^ Sakura Trick (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 1, 10. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
60. ^ Bakuon!! (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 5. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
61. ^ Princess Principal (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 11. 演出 - 石倉賢一 [Episode director - Kenichi Ishikura]
62. ^ 100 Sleeping Princes and the Kingdom of Dreams (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 11. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
63. ^ Hozuki's Coolheadedness (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 29. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
64. ^ The Seven Deadly Sins: Imperial Wrath of the Gods (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episode 14. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
65. ^ Sorcerous Stabber Orphen (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 6, 11. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
66. ^ Tamayomi (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 5, 10. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
67. ^ STORY - 第十話「回復術士は、可憐な一輪の花になる！」 [STORY - Episode 10 "The Healer Becomes a Single, Lovely Flower!"]. Redo of Healer (in Japanese). Retrieved March 17, 2021.
68. ^ Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Battle of Kimluck (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 3, 7. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
69. ^ I've Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits; episodes 3, 8. 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]
70. ^ "Sutōrī | Terebi Anime Tensei Kenja no Isekai Raifu ~Daini no Shokugyō o Ete, Sekai Saikyō ni Narimashita~ Kōshiki Saito" STORY(ストーリー) | TVアニメ 転生賢者の異世界ライフ～第二の職業を得て、世界最強になりました～ 公式サイト [Story | TV Anime My Isekai Life: I Gained a Second Character Class and Became the Strongest Sage in the World! Official Website]. tenseikenja.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
71. ^ Mahou Sensei Negima! Anime Finale (in Japanese). Event occurs at ending credits. 副監督 / 絵コンテ - 石倉賢一 [Assistant director / Storyboard artist - Kenichi Ishikura]

## External links

[edit]

* Kenichi Ishikura at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
* Kenichi Ishikura at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Works directed by Kenichi Ishikura

Television series|

* Natsu no Arashi! Akinai-chū (2009; #8–13)
* Hidamari Sketch x Hoshimittsu (2010)
* Hidamari Sketch x Hoshimittsu Specials (2010)
* Da Capo III (2013)
* Sakura Trick (2014)
* I'm a Noble on the Brink of Ruin, So I Might as Well Try Mastering Magic (2025)

Films|

* Ongaku Shōjo (2015)

Related|

* Shaft

*[TBA]: To be announced
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template