Keiji Ishii

**Keiji Ishii** (*Kanji: 石井 恵二*) is a Japanese animation director who worked for Studio XYZ.

In August 2021, he and his wife Sadami Hiyoshi established **Moonbunny**, a production team dedicated not only to animation, but also to illustrating light novels.

## Retirement

In late February 2020, not too long after finishing production for Shin Ponpoko 4-Kyoudai, his last contribution to Studio XYZ, Ishii tested positive for COVID-19, leading to his retirement from Studio XYZ.

While he recovered in September, this didn't mean his return to the studio.

## Anime Staff Positions

### Games

* XYZ-tan no Sugoro-kuni (2004) - Character Design
* Ponpoko Sanpo (2006) - Animation Director

### Movies

* Gekijō-ban Chō-Base (1995) - Character Design/Animation Director
* Katamari Damacy: The Movie (2004) - Animation Director
* Crazy Theater (2005) - Character Design
* Kogitsune Kon to Kodanuki Pon (2008) - Character Design/Animation Director/Key Animation
* Gulzar (2013) - Character Design/Animation Director
* Thomas & Friends: The Great Engine War (2019) - Assistant Animation Director

### Music Videos

* XYZ loves YMO: Nice Age (1988) - Character Design/Animation Director **(Debut)**
* Life wo Sakuga-shite (2010) - Animation
* ROCK (2012) - Character Design/Animation Director

### ONAs

* Kitchen no Ohimesama (2006) - Ending Animation/Logo Design
* Ashita no Hero Nyaagorō (2010) - Character Design/Chief Animation Director
* Ren'ai no Oracle (2019) - Animation Director (ep. 12)

### OVAs

* Madou Monogatari (1991-1993) - Character Design/Animation Director
* Meitantei Shōjo Kaori (2000) - Animation Director
* Sarutobi Sasuke-kun (2004) - Animation Director
* Zayats: Ōkami Gundan no Sekai Seifuku Keikaku (2004) - Animation Director
* Ponpoko 4-Kyoudai World Tour (2006) - Animation Director

### TV

* Joshikousei Aragoto Kabuki Girl (1989) - Character Design/Animation Director
* TonPonCon 90 (1990-1991) - Character Design/Animation Director
* Kousagi Zayats '91 (1991) - Character Design/Animation Director **(as Hatachi K2)**
* Majutsu-shi Tanuki (1992) - Character Design/Chief Animation Director
* Denki Hero Roboman Chuu (1994) - Animation Director (ep. 20)
* Chō-Base (1995) - Series Composition
* Women's Wrestling Federation: Ring Gal (1998) - Character Design
* Futari no Kōkyōkyoku (2001-2002) - Planning/Character Design/Animation Director
* Yōkai Miko (2005) - Character Design/Chief Animation Director/Transformation Sequence/Opening Animation
* Ponpoko 4-Kyoudai (2006-2009) - Chief Animation Director
* Kachi-kachi Yama (2007) - Character Design/Animation Director/Key Animation
* Joshikōsei Wasshoi! (2010) - Character Design/Chief Animation Director
* Kickboxer Hoshi (2010) - Planning/Character Design/Chief Animation Director
* WiTCH (2011) - Ending Animation Director
* Crazy Gakuen (2012) - Character Design/Animation Director
* Majokko Ruby (2012) - Character Design/Animation Director/Key Animation
* The Arcana Complex (2012-2013) - Character Design
* Hyokkori Hyōtanjima: The Animation (2014-2015) - Character Design
* Otona ni Nacchatta! Animal-Machi (2016) - Opening Animation
* Pokedebi the Cocoanimation (2016) - Chief Animation Director
* Shin Denki Hero Roboman (2017-2018) - Animation Director (ep. 21)
* Jewel Marquise 3D (2018) - Character Design
* Shin Ponpoko 4-Kyoudai (2020) - Character Design/Chief Animation Director **(Last work for Studio XYZ)**
* Mahōtsukai Pika (2022) - Chief Animation Director **(with Moonbunny)**

## Trivia

* In 2020, Keiji Ishii revealed himself to be the intern playing the Pac-Man game in the Pac-Man PV.