Makoto Shinkai (新海 誠), born Makoto Niitsu (新津 誠) ,born February 9, 1973, is a Japanese anime director, animator, and principal voice actor. A native of the Nagano prefecture in Japan, he studied Japanese literature in university. He traces his passion for creation to the manga, anime, and novels he read while in middle school. His favorite anime is Castle in the Sky by Hayao Miyazaki. Shinkai has been called the new Miyazaki in several reviews including Anime Advocates and ActiveAnime, though he disagrees with this comparison, stating that "it is an overestimation".

Works

Director:

1. Byôsoku 5 senchimêtoru (2007)
... aka 5 Centimeters per Second (International: English title: literal title)
... aka A Chain of Short Stories about Their Distance (International: English title)
2. Kumo no mukô, yakusoku no basho (2004)
... aka The Place Promised in Our Early Days (International: English title)
3. Egao (2003) (V)
... aka The Smile (International: English title: literal title)
4. Hoshi no koe (2003)
... aka Voices of a Distant Star (International: English title)

5. Kanojo to kanojo no neko (1999) (V)
... aka She and Her Cat (International: English title: literal title)
... aka Their Standing Points (International: English title)

Writer:

1. Byôsoku 5 senchimêtoru (2007) (writer)
... aka 5 Centimeters per Second (International: English title: literal title)
... aka A Chain of Short Stories about Their Distance (International: English title)
2. Kumo no mukô, yakusoku no basho (2004) (writer)
... aka The Place Promised in Our Early Days (International: English title)
3. Hoshi no koe (2003) (writer)
... aka Voices of a Distant Star (International: English title)

4. Kanojo to kanojo no neko (1999) (V) (writer)
... aka She and Her Cat (International: English title: literal title)
... aka Their Standing Points (International: English title)

Producer:

1. Kumo no mukô, yakusoku no basho (2004) (producer)
... aka The Place Promised in Our Early Days (International: English title)

2. Kanojo to kanojo no neko (1999) (V) (producer)
... aka She and Her Cat (International: English title: literal title)
... aka Their Standing Points (International: English title)

Actor:

1. Hoshi no koe (2003) (voice: Japanese version) .... Noboru Terao (original version)
... aka Voices of a Distant Star (International: English title)

2. Kanojo to kanojo no neko (1999) (V) (voice) .... Her Cat
... aka She and Her Cat (International: English title: literal title)
... aka Their Standing Points (International: English title)

Editor:

1. Kumo no mukô, yakusoku no basho (2004)
... aka The Place Promised in Our Early Days (International: English title)

Sound Department:

1. Kumo no mukô, yakusoku no basho (2004) (sound director)
... aka The Place Promised in Our Early Days (International: English title)

Art Department:

1. Kumo no mukô, yakusoku no basho (2004) (color designer) (storyboard artist)
... aka The Place Promised in Our Early Days (International: English title)

Related Links

Makoto Shinkai Official Website: http://www2.odn.ne.jp/%7Eccs50140/

Byousoku 5cm Official Website: http://5cm.yahoo.co.jp/

Makoto Shinkai Fan Web: http://daike.hp.infoseek.co.jp/