Hiroaki Sakurai
桜井 弘明
Born (1958-12-15) December 15, 1958
Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Occupation(s)Animation director, bassist
SpouseSayuri Ōba

Hiroaki Sakurai (桜井 弘明, Sakurai Hiroaki, born December 15, 1958) is a Japanese anime director and bassist who is known for his work in UFO Baby and the Di Gi Charat series.[1][2] He has served as the director for series such as Nanaka 6/17, Cromartie High School, Les Misérables: Shōjo Cosette, GA Geijutsuka Art Design Class, Maid Sama!, Nekogami Yaoyorozu, Jewelpet Happiness, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K., and The Demon Girl Next Door. He is married to Sayuri Ōba, an anime screenwriter.

Career

Sakurai was in college for 5 and a half years and spent his time playing in bands and bassist auditions. One day, he suddenly became interested in animation, and after graduating from the department of literature and science at Nihon University, he worked at Yoyogi Animation Academy and joined Studio World, which was looking for assistant directors, at the age of 25. The first work he was involved in as an assistant director was Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, and the first time his name appeared in the credits was in Yoroshiku Mechadock. When he was in charge of Mechadock, Masayuki Kojima and Ken Baba served as his seniors. In the spring of 1988, Studio World disbanded and Sakurai moved to Film Magic, which was founded by Baba. In the middle of Akazukin Chacha, Film Magic went bankrupt due to reasons mentioned below, and after that he went freelance.

Style

According to Hatsuki Tsuji, Sakurai is described as someone who has good qualities, but who can be conceited. He often uses voice actors such as Mika Kanai and Kaori Nazuka in his directorial projects.

Inspired by the direction of Akitaro Daichi and Tatsuo Sato, who were part of Akazukin Chacha's rotation of directors, Sakurai was too elaborate in his direction and was unable to adhere to the limited number of sheets, resulting in constant deficits and driving Film Magic into bankruptcy. However, Takaaki Wada, who was in charge of key animation in certain episodes, claims that Sakurai, Wada and the other animators ignored the president's advice and got carried away, and that the bankruptcy was their own fault.[3]

Sakurai is known for his love of the ukulele and for carrying one with him at all times, even to the studios. In addition, the soundtrack for Cromartie High School features music by the progressive rock band Bi Kyo Ran, who are from the same town as him and of whom he was a fan for many years, and also worked with the band as a bassist, later becoming a full member. He also played bass in the ending song "Dynamite★I-N-G" for TV Tokyo's Di Gi Charat Nyo! and performed a solo part. He stated that he had nine left-handed basses at the time.

Filmography

Anime

Year Title Crew role Notes Source[4]
1990Hidarin oo kurokku! (ja:左のオクロック!!)Director
1990–91Tanken Goblin Shima (ja:たんけん ゴブリン島)Director, Storyboard
1996–98KodochaAssistant director[1]
1998Sexy Commando Gaiden: Sugoi yo!! Masaru-sanAssistant director
1999Jubei-chan: The Ninja GirlAssistant director[1]
2000–02UFO BabyDirector
1999–presentDi Gi CharatSeries director, episode director and writerAlso specials and OVAs[5][1][2]
2001–02PaRappa the RapperDirector
2002Baboo Factory
バブーファクトリー［第2期］		Director
2003Nanaka 6/17Director
2003Di Gi Charat Nyo!Director[6]
2003–04Cromartie High SchoolDirector[7]
2004Sweet ValerianDirector
2005Majokko Tsukune-chanDirectorOVA series
2006Winter GardenScreenplay, Director
2007Les Misérables: Shōjo CosetteDirector
2007Chopper ManDirectorAlso specials and OVAs
2009GA Geijutsuka Art Design ClassDirectorAlso OVA in 2010[8]
2010Maid Sama!DirectorAlso OVAs[9]
2011Nekogami YaoyorozuDirectorAlso OVA[10]
2013–14Jewelpet HappinessDirector
2016–19The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.DirectorAlso Special & ONA[11]
2019–22The Demon Girl Next DoorDirector
2020–22MewkledreamyDirectorAlso Mix! in 2021
2022Reiwa no Di Gi CharatDirector

Film

Year Title Crew role Notes Source[4]
1999Cyber Team in Akihabara: Summer Vacation of 2011DirectorSolo directorial debut[1]
2012Jewelpet the Movie: Sweets Dance PrincessDirector[12]
Gekijōban Tantei Opera Milky Holmes ~Gyakushū no Milky Holmes~Director[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "New Otakon Guests!". Anime News Network. July 15, 2000. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Digi Charat return to the airwaves". Anime News Network. November 20, 2000. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  3. ↑ "animator interview 和田高明". Anime Style.
  4. 1 2 "アニメ / メディア芸術データベース – 桜井弘明" [Anime / Media Arts Database (search results) – Hiroaki Sakurai]. Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Japan: Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Sentai Filmworks Adds Gatchaman, Di Gi Charat, Godannar Anime". Anime News Network. May 25, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  6. ↑ "More Mahoromatic and Digi Charat". Anime News Network. March 29, 2003. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  7. ↑ Beveridge, Chris (March 6, 2008). "Cromartie High School Complete Collection (Thinpak)". Mania.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  8. ↑ "GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class Anime Reportedly Leaked (Update 2)". Anime News Network. December 3, 2008. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Anime Network to Begin Streaming Maid-Sama on June 15". Anime News Network. June 8, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Nekogami Yaoyorozu Anime's 2nd Promo Video Streamed". Anime News Network. May 1, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Satoshi Hino, Natsuki Hanae Join Cast of Saiki Kusuo no Psi Nan Anime". Anime News Network. May 22, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Jewelpet Sweets Dance Princess Film's Trailer Posted". Anime News Network. July 6, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Milky Holmes Franchise Gets Anime Film in February 2016". Anime News Network. April 22, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.



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