The Japanese anime industry has been inherently led by men ever since it gained traction. Talented and famous male directors like Makoto Shinkai, Satoshi Kon, Mamoru Hosoda, Hideaki Anno, Katsuhiro Otomo, Isao Takahata, Mamoru Oshii, and Shinichirō Watanabe have produced some of the most iconic animes of all time and have a vast fandom. It isn’t that women have not been involved in the production process or that there aren’t many women directors; it’s that women have been significantly misrepresented in this industry. Things have changed now, of course. Many female directors have made their influence and have become synonymous with the name of the industry as well. To celebrate women’s involvement in animes, here are the top 10 animes directed by women!
1. Free!
Free! Is a Japanese anime series that was produced by Kyoto Animation in collaboration with Animation Do. The 2013 light novel High Speed penned by Kouji Ohji, served as the inspiration for the anime. The anime is set in the fictional town of Iwatobi and is inspired by a real-life city in Japan called Iwami. It tells the story of a competitive swimmer, Haruka Nanase, who aims to revitalize his high school’s swim team. Challenges arrive when Nanase encounters his rival, Rin Matsuoka. This sports anime is a coming-of-age story. Director Hiroko Utsumi, best known for her work in SK8 The Infinity, helmed the drama for the first two seasons.
2. A Place Further Than The Universe
Atsuko Ishizuka is a Japanese animator and director. She has been involved with the animation company Madhouse since 2004. The anime series A Place Further Than The Universe is an original anime project by her. The story centers around four high school girls, Mari Tamaki, Shirase Kobuchizawa, Hinata Miyake, and Yuzuki Shiraishi, who travel to Antarctica to find Shirase’s mother. What fans admire most about this drama is the character development and the fact that the anime doesn’t cling to its “cliché” synopsis. Atsuko did an excellent job directing this anime, paying close attention to the animation quality, camera directions, and color grading.
3. Lupin The Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine
Lupin The Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine draws inspiration from the manga series Lupin III by Monkey Punch, which spans over 14 volumes. This is the fourth anime series adapted from the original manga. Fujiko Mine is the only anime series in which Lupin III isn’t the main character, and also the only installment of the franchise, which was directed by a woman. Unlike its predecessors, Fujiko Mine is more sexually-oriented, focusing more on the sensual aspects of the protagonist. The series revolves around the titular character’s missions and challenges as she encounters the OG Lupin III crew. This anime strays away from the earlier Lupin III series regarding its tone and aesthetics.
4. Kyosuou Giga
Kyosuou Giga is a Japanese action fantasy anime series aired on the Niconico streaming service in 2011. It first began as a single web animation but later became a fully-fledged anime series. This anime was the earliest project of director Rie Matsumoto. Kyosuou Giga is characterized by Matsumoto’s signature flair, which is full of high-strung visual style. The series’ plot revolves around the protagonist Koto and two brothers, who are stuck in a parallel city similar to Kyoto. The three must search for a strange rabbit who is the key to their return home. Kyosuou Giga is Rie Matsumoto’s most prominent work and also the project that launched her into fame.
5. The Heike Story
This Japanese original net animation was adapted from the modern Japanese translation of The Tale of the Heike. The Heike Story was director Naoko Yamada’s first project under the Science SARU banner. Yamada is Japan’s one of the most well-known and famous animators and directors. She has won multiple accolades for her work and received critical acclaim for her unique artistic choices. The Heike story was a step away from Naoko’s usual genres of slice-of-life and realistic dramas. This anime is a historical fiction that tells the story of the Genpei War in Japan from the POV of a young girl.
6. Btooom!
Btoom! is an action sensei anime drama. Kotono Watanabe made her directorial debut under the MADHOUSE animation company with this series. Before Btoom! Watanabe was active in the animation industry, working as a storyboard artist and episode director. This anime was her first stint as an anime director, and the drama became an unexpected success. The series’ plot follows an unemployed gamer named Ryouta Sakamoto, who still lives with his parents. While his professional life may be a mess, Ryouta is a top player in the video game Btoom! One day, he finds himself on a backwater island and is forced to compete in the real-life version of his favorite game, where the stakes are high. Fans of Alice in Wonderland and Squid Game must watch this series.
7. The Way Of The Househusband
This anime drama will be guaranteed to have you laughing like a hyena! In The Way Of The Househusband, a revered and feared Yakuza, who goes by the name of Immortal Dragon, quits his crime job and becomes a househusband so that his wife can continue her career. The drama depicts trite and humorous situations as the high-and-mighty crime boss deals with mundane household tasks. Chiaki Kon, the anime’s director, didn’t work much on comedy animes in her earlier days. But after her romantic comedy directorial Golden Time achieved praise, she expanded her artistic genre. The Way Of The Househusband was Kon’s first anime drama with comedy as its primary focus.
8. The Silent Voice
While The Heike Story was Naoko Yamada’s first time as an anime director, it was the 2017 animated film The Silent Voice that put her on the list of famous animators and slash directors. This film was her breakthrough role and made Naoko popular among international audiences. The story centers on a former bully who forced a deaf student to transfer school. Seeking redemption, the bully tries to right his wrongs. A Silent Voice has a touching storyline and features beautiful animation.
9. Yuri On Ice
Produced by the animation company MAPPA, Yuri On Ice is a sports anime series about figure skating. At the center of the plot is competitive figure skater Yuri Katsuki, who loses his spirit for the sport after losing at the Grand Prix Final. Defeated, he returns to his hometown of Hatetsu, where encounters with two other figure skaters give Yuri the courage to push through his sorrows. The anime remains true to the depiction of the real lives of competitive figure skaters and received nods from actual players of the sport. The series was directed by Sayo Yamamoto, known for her work in Michiko Hatchin and Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine.
10. No Game, No Life
Directed by Atsuko Ishizuka, No Game No Life is praised for its representation and having a script rife with fanservice. This isekei sci-fi anime tells the story of stepsiblings Sora and Shiro, who are pretty proficient in the online gaming world. The two get summoned into a parallel world, where they are challenged to a game of chess by the world’s god, Tet. Atsuko is well known for her work as a director in Goodbye, Don Glees! and Tsuki no Waltz.
