The Japanese anime and manga industry is full of multifaceted, talented women who've been pushing the medium's limitations for decades. Unrestrained by genres or storytelling conventions, the women of the anime industry have been creating wonderful, outstanding narratives beloved by fans and adored by critics.
However, some might still be surprised to find out that a female creator actually made their favorite manga or anime. In the industry dominated by men, it's important to give credit to women who overcame the bounds of Japanese traditionalist work culture and succeeded in making an impact in their field. Their passion for the industry transcends misconceptions and shines through their powerful, unconventional stories.
10 Nakoto Yamada, The Director Behind K-On And A Silent Voice
Despite originally planning to work in the film industry, Nakoto Yamada's professional path shifted when she decided to join Kyoto Animation after graduating from university.
After swiftly climbing the ranks from an inbetweener drawing transitional frames to an episode director for Clannad in just eight years. In 2009, Yamada debuted with her first groundbreaking directorial work, K-On. The show was immensely successful and earned the director the much-deserved recognition for her unique style and character development. Her journey as an anime director continued with many other critically acclaimed features, such as Tamako Market, A Silent Voice, and Liz and the Blue Bird.
9 Michiko Yokote, The Screenwriter Behind Princess Tutu And xxxHolic
Michiko Yokote has been a prominent figure in the anime industry since the early 90s. Her library of work is incredibly multifaceted, as the woman has worked on myriads of diverse shows that seemingly have nothing in common. The ability to masterfully execute a script for any genre is a sign of Yokote's unparalleled professionalism and skill.
Yokote's scripts have gifted the world of anime such series as xxxHolic, Mononoke, Prison School, Genshiken, Love Stage, and many more. Nevertheless, her most notable contribution to the industry is Princess Tutu, a deconstruction of the magical girl genre discussed by fans to this day.
8 Yuki Midorikawa, The Mangaka Behind Natsume's Book Of Friends
Yuki Midorikawa's stories are famous for colliding the human world with the supernatural. However, those encounters are rarely portrayed as disquieting or horrifying. Instead, the manga author creates heartfelt narratives about friendship, coexistence with different species, and the intricate world of Japanese mythology.
Midorikawa's most popular manga, Natsume's Book of Friends, follows the quiet and kindhearted boy Takashi Natsume, who possesses a unique ability to see and interact with yokai, spirits from Japanese folklore. The beloved manga received a critically acclaimed anime adaptation which lasted for six seasons and two feature films in 2018 and 2021.
7 Hiroko Utsumi, The Director Behind Free! And Banana Fish
Hiroko Utsumi had a rather unconventional career journey in the industry. Starting as an animator for Kyoto Animation, she gained international success as the director of the swimming show Free! in 2013. Nevertheless, the young director felt too constricted in the studio and decided to quit the project and her home studio after finishing Free!'s second season.
After leaving Kyoto Animation, Hiroko joined MAPPA and adapted a classic shojo manga about gang activity in New York, Banana Fish. The anime was a massive hit, yet the director had disappeared from the limelight shortly after its release. Her groundbreaking directorial return happened in 2021, with the series SK8 The Infinity which, once again, was received incredibly well.
6 Mari Okada, The Screenwriter Behind AnoHana And Kiznaiver
Mari Okada's path to success was a difficult journey. The woman suffered from social anxiety and was a victim of bullying from a young age. The unfortunate events of her childhood led to Mari's loss of confidence in becoming a screenwriter, despite the woman's unmatched passion for writing. After graduation, she worked as a transcriber and a writer for adult films until a connection with an anime director allowed her to step into the industry.
Since then, Mari has established herself as a sincere and competent dramatic writer, with many of her works, such as AnoHana and Kiznaiver, being very successful. In 2018, she debuted as the director of Maquia, a heartbreaking fantasy drama about familial themes.
5 Rumiko Takahashi, The Mangaka Behind Inuyasha And Ranma 1/2
Any conversation about legendary women in anime would be incomplete without mentioning Rumiko Takahashi, one of Japan's wealthiest and most well-known manga artists. She began her creative career in the late 70s with a comedic science fiction manga Urusei Yatsura.
Over the decades, Rumiko Takahashi has established herself as a clever and prolific manga author. Her next hit, Ranma 1/2, is regarded as one of the first manga to have a large fan following in the United States. The unconventional comedy and consistent quality of Rumiko's work earned the author many dedicated admirers.
4 Shoko Nakamura, The Director Behind Doukyuusei
The directors of the Toei school of animation are less known to the public, and their portfolios have fewer works than other directors. Nevertheless, they spent years perfecting their craft under big-name directors like Junichi Sato and Kunihiko Ikuhara. The latter had the most prominent influence on the style and career progression of Shoko Nakamura.
Her first directorial work was on Ikuhara's Mawaru Penguindrum, and her teacher's visual style and unorthodox storytelling techniques affected Shoko's creative direction. She debuted with Doukyuusei as a feature director in 2016. Her shonen-ai love story had tender and unconventional watercolor visuals that resonated with the audience tremendously.
3 Reiko Yoshida, The Screenwriter Behind Girls Und Panzer And D.Gray-Man
Reiko Yoshida's portfolio of written work astounds with its size and variety. She's been writing for anime since 1994 and worked on the scripts for such notorious works as D.Gray-man, K-On!, Violet Evergarden, Bakuman, and Non Non Biyori.
Her most notable original work is the hit series Girls und Panzer, a whimsical anime about girls' high school competitions in tank warfare. Despite the unusual premise, the series was a massive success both overseas and in Japan, and Reiko has received numerous awards for the show's screenplay.
2 Hiromu Arakawa, The Mangaka Behind Fullmetal Alchemist
Hiromu Arakawa's success is the most notable example of women excelling in writing for shonen magazines, which are notoriously male-dominated. Despite growing up on a dairy farm, Hiromu's lifelong dream was to be a manga artist. She moved to Tokyo in 1999 and became an assistant to a well-known mangaka Hiroyuki Eto.
The first chapter of her debut series Fullmetal Alchemist came out in 2001, bringing Hiromu worldwide fame and astounding success. After finishing her first massive project, Hiromu decided to challenge herself with writing a more grounded series. Her next manga, Silver Spoon, had a fantastic reception.
1 Atsuko Ishizuka, The Director Behind No Game No Life And A Place Further Than The Universe
Unlike many other industry directors, Atsuko Ishizuka didn't grow up as an anime fan and originally wanted to pursue a career in graphic design. In university, she discovered a passion for animation and created numerous animated music videos, which landed her a production assistant job with Madhouse in 2004. There, the staff immediately recognized the young animator's talent, and Atsuko rose through the ranks quickly.
Her directorial works include the hit light novel adaptation No Game No Life, Prince of Stride, and A Place Further than the Universe.