Kenji Nagasaki

Japanese director

Kenji Nagasaki

長崎健司

Born|  (1972-02-12) February 12, 1972 (age 52)

Hirakata, Osaka

Nationality| Japanese
Other names| Tōji Kisaragi[1]
Occupation| Anime director
Years active| 2001–present
Employer| Madhouse[2]
Known for| My Hero Academia

Kenji Nagasaki (Japanese: 長崎健司, Hepburn: Nagasaki Kenji) is a Japanese anime director employed by Madhouse. He made his full directorial debut in 2011 with No. 6. Starting in 2016, he directed the anime adaptation of My Hero Academia, which has received praise from critics.

## Biography

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Kenji Nagasaki decided to join the anime industry in high school after watching Hayao Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky.[2] He debuted as a series director with the anime adaptation of No. 6.[3] In 2013, he directed Gundam Build Fighters, based on the Gundam franchise.[4] In 2015, he directed the anime original series Classroom Crisis.[5]

Starting in 2016, Nagasaki directed the anime adaptation of My Hero Academia.[6] He also directed the three anime films based on the series.[7][8][9] The series has received praise, with Paste ranking the adaptation among the top 40 anime of all time.[10] Polygon, Crunchyroll, and IGN also named the adaptation as one of the best anime of the 2010s.[11][12][13] At the Crunchyroll Anime Awards, the adaptation was nominated for Anime of the Year in 2016 and the film My Hero Academia: Two Heroes won the award for Best Film in 2018.[14][15] He also won Best International Director at Lusca Fantastic Film Fest in 2018.[16]

## Works

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### Television series

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* Monster (2004–2005) (episode director)[17]
* Akagi: Yami ni Oritatta Tensai (アカギ 〜闇に降り立った天才〜) (2005) (episode 4 director)[18]
* Star Driver (STAR DRIVER 輝きのタクト, Star Driver: Kagayaki no Takuto) (2010–2011) (episode storyboards)[1]
* No. 6 (2011) (director)[3]
* Gundam Build Fighters (ガンダムビルドファイターズ, Gandamu Birudo Faitāzu) (2013–2014) (director)[4]
* Classroom Crisis (2015) (director)[5]
* My Hero Academia (僕のヒーローアカデミア, Boku no Hīrō Akademia) (2016–present) (director)[6]

### Films

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* My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ～２人の英雄（ヒーロー）～, Boku no Hīrō Academia THE MOVIE: Futari no Hīrō) (2018) (director)[7]
* My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ヒーローズ:ライジング, Boku no Hīrō Akademia Za Mūbī: Hīrōzu: Raijingu) (2019) (director)[8]
* My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ワールドヒーローズミッション, Boku no Hīrō Akademia Za Mūbī Wārudo Hīrōzu Misshon) (2021) (director)[9]

### Video games

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* Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies (逆転裁判 5, Gyakuten Saiban 5) (2013) (cutscene director)[19]

## References

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1. ^ a b "ニュータイプ". Newtype (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. February 2011.
2. ^ a b Lehecka, Eddie (October 1, 2020). "Kenji Nagasaki & Masahiro Mukai Interview Pt. 1 [OTAQUEST CONNECT Transcript]". Otaquest. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
3. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 2, 2011). "No. 6 Anime's 4th Trailer Streamed". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
4. ^ a b Loo, Egan (July 2, 2013). "Gundam Build Fighters TV Anime to Premiere in October". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
5. ^ a b Loo, Egan (March 26, 2015). "Classroom Crisis Anime's TV Ad Reveals Staff, Premise, July Premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
6. ^ a b Pineda, Rafael Antonio (November 5, 2015). "My Hero Academia TV Anime's Main Staff Revealed". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
7. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 15, 2017). "My Hero Academia Anime Film Reveals Visual, Main Staff". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
8. ^ a b 「ヒロアカ」劇場版は「ヒーローズ：ライジング」、堀越耕平「最終回とも言えます」. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 7, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
9. ^ a b Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 27, 2021). "My Hero Academia 3rd Anime Film's 1st Teaser Reveals Full Title, August 6 Opening". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
10. ^ "The 50 Best Anime Series of All Time". Paste. October 3, 2018. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
11. ^ "The best anime of the decade". Polygon. November 6, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
12. ^ Wolf, Ian (November 27, 2019). "Crunchyroll Names The Top 100 Anime of the 2010s". Anime UK News. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
13. ^ "The Best Anime of the Decade (2010–2019)". IGN. January 1, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
14. ^ "Crunchyroll Announces Its First Ever Anime Awards" (Press release). San Francisco: Crunchyroll. December 20, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2021 - via Anime News Network.
15. ^ Schley, Matt (February 18, 2019). "Devilman Crybaby Wins Anime of the Year at Crunchyroll Anime Awards". Otaku USA. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
16. ^ "2018 Festival Gallery". Lusca Fantastic Film Fest. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
17. ^ "Disappearance Report". Monster (in Japanese). May 12, 2004. Nippon TV.
18. ^ "A True Outlaw". Akagi: Yami ni Oritatta Tensai (in Japanese). October 26, 2005. Nippon TV.
19. ^ Hsu, Janet (October 24, 2013). "Intro to Japanese Anime Production starring Phoenix Wright". Capcom-Unity. Capcom. Retrieved August 21, 2021.

## External links

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* Kenji Nagasaki at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

* v
* t
* e

Works directed by Kenji Nagasaki

Animated series|

* No. 6 (2011)
* Gundam Build Fighters (2013–2014)
* Classroom Crisis (2015)
* My Hero Academia (2016–present)

Animated films|

* My Hero Academia: Two Heroes (2018)
* My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising (2019)
* My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (2021)

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