Yoh Yoshinari

Yoh Yoshinari (吉成 曜, Yoshinari Yō) is a Japanese key animator, storyboard artist, and anime director.

Yoh Yoshinari
吉成 曜
Born	(1971-05-06) May 6, 1971 Tokyo, Japan
Occupation	Anime director, animator, character designer, storyboard artist, illustrator
Years active	1992–present

He is recognized by the way he represents volume and perspective using spheres,[1] especially for smoke and explosions,[2] as well as his character action in general. He remarks Nijitte Monogatari is one of his most important influences,[1] with his artistic style particularly visible in his design work for Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann,[3] and Little Witch Academia.[4]

Yoshinari entered the anime industry through the influence of his older brother, Kou Yoshinari. Several of his early works were uncredited second key animation and in-betweens for his brother during high school. After leaving professional school, he applied to Gainax and Madhouse. Not receiving a response from Gainax, he joined Madhouse. Due to a misunderstanding, Gainax failed to process his application until three months later. Not wanting to explain, Yoshinari told Madhouse "being an animator is too hard for me", and switched to Gainax.[2]

At Gainax, Yoshinari had joined just after the closure of Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water.[2] With nothing to do, he was immediately put onto visual development for the film Aoki Uru.[1] The brief turn around after Nadia put Yoshinari on the fast track to becoming a key animator.