Yusuke Yoshigaki

**Yusuke Yoshigaki** (芳垣 祐介, *Yoshigaki Yūsuke*) is known for being a key animator on many, many anime productions () and serving in that capacity on *The Enchanted Parade*. He was an Assistant Animation Director and main Main Key Animator for the *Little Witch Academia* initial short film and filled several roles in the *Little Witch Academia* TV series (Assistant Animation Director - eps 3, 23), Assistant Chief Animation Director - ep 16, Design, Key Animation).

Along with recess ~The Art of Little Witch Academia~, Yusuke Yoshigaki also drew two *Little Witch Academia* booklets set after the events of anime TV Series; the first one serves as standalone sequel to The Enchanted Parade movie (events in said short film occurs in anime TV Series' continuity with the booklet picked from where it left off), and another focuses on the visit of Akko's middle school friend who debuted in the portrait in The Enchanted Parade movie who becomes fast friend with Lotte upon learning their common passion for Night Fall series. Both booklets can be read here and here.

Despite the uncertainty of new season or sequel of *Little Witch Academia* anime TV series, Yoshigaki remains interested in working on either upon given the chance. In fact, he occasionally posted illustrations of the series' characters in Twitter where some of them formed intriguing short stories (ex. easter egg hunt which leads Akko and Avery bonding with a cockatrice, Akko feeds Arcas with frozen food during heatwaves, Diana's own take on Shiny Chariot costume). Though neither of them necessarily official, such illustrations won't be out of place in canon proper nonetheless.

## Personal Life

Per *Studio Trigger* official news release on October 27, 2017, the following is known of his life:

Born on November 17, 1973 in Kanagawa Prefecture, Yusuke initially decided to enter the animation industry after learning that becoming an animator would provide him with a high income despite being underpaid being among common issues in such industry. For that, he took the entrance exam for the animation production studio GAINAX, and made his debut as an animator with *Neon Genesis Evangelion* on the same day as Hiroyuki Imaishi did. After a year and a half of working in animation, he passed GAINAX's original picture exam and made his original picture debut with "Slayers NEXT" since the production company was located in GAINAX's neighborhood. He worked with Hiroyuki Imaishi, who also made his debut as an original picture artist at the same time, and expanded the range of his painting style.

The scene that attracted the most attention was episode 39 of "Micro Man, the Little Giant," in which the hero boy is playing grass baseball on a riverside when the heroine, a girl, walks by. She is approached by the hero and teased by her classmates, but she responds in a loud voice, a scene that evokes the friendship between children. His lively portrayal of the children was a testament to his ability. In addition to participating as an original artist for all episodes of "Furikuri," Hiroyuki Imaishi storyboarded the fifth episode, for which he was in charge of original drawings from the beginning of the episode to the subtitle. He masterfully wrote slapstick gag scenes ranging from gunfights to parodies. Since then, he has continued to show his ability in "Gurren Lagann" and "Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt".

When many of his peers decided to leave Gainax for greener pastures, Yoshigaki followed suit by joining Studio Trigger with his close friend and fellow key animator Hiroyuki Imaishi. There, he would go on to work on key animation for *When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace*, and of course, most recently, *Little Witch Academia*. during which he was in charge of posters, illustrations, and sub-character designs.

His setting drawings, which include the characters' backgrounds, have contributed to broadening and deepening the world of the work. He also handled an enormous amount of work, including the original drawings for cuts in which hundreds of mob characters appeared, and he added brilliant color to the work.

Carefully surveying and observing – packing tons of ideas into one drawing. Layouts that make us feel the drama even outside the realms of a frame. For 20 years, he has been acquainted with Hiroyuki Imaishi, who has described him as the “ideal animator.”

## Representative works

* Original art for "FURIKURIKURI" (2000, directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki)
* Original drawings for "Aim for the Top 2" (2004, directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki)
* Gurren Lagann" Animation Director and original drawings (2007, directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi)
* Character Design, Animation Supervisor, Animation for "Mahoutsukai ni Ika na Koto ~Sora in Summer~" (2008, directed by Osamu Kobayashi)
* Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt" Episode settings, animation director, original drawings (2010, directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi)
* Character Design, Chief Animation Director, Accessory Design, and Animation Director for "Black Rock Shooter" (2012, directed by Shinobu Yoshioka)
* Guest character design, animation director (joint), and original drawings for "Kill la Kill" (2013, directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi)
* Japan Anime (Tater) Trade Fair "Denko Chojin Gridman" character design, original drawings (2015, directed by Tetsu Amemiya)
* Space Patrol Luruko" Character Design (Cooperative), Chief Animation Director (Cooperative) (2016 / directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi)
* Design works and original drawings for "Little Witch Academia" (2017 / film directed by Yoh Yoshinari)

## Gallery

### Concept Art

Little Witch Academia Special ED Cut for Episode 3 sketch by Yusuke YoshigakiED 4 Art sketch by Yusuke YoshigakiED 5 Art sketch by Yusuke YoshigakiPisces' concept art 1Fafnir's facial expression by Yusuke YoshigakiMerman Akko Concept Art 01 by Yusuke YoshigakiMerman Akko Concept Art 02 by Yusuke YoshigakiLotte and Sucy fish Concept Art 1 by Yusuke YoshigakiLotte and Sucy fish Concept Art 2 by Yusuke YoshigakiLittle Witch Academia Special ED Cut for Episode 3 sketch by Yusuke YoshigakiConcept sketch of Luna Nova Students' facial design for short film by Yusuke YoshigakiConcept sketches of Jiji, Linlin, Balsa, and Katherine by Yusuke YoshigakiMob students see Akko having a hard time stopping Shooting Star by Yusuke YoshigakiThe official poster of Yusuke Yoshigaki's Tokyo ExpoDittoSketches of Linlin, Jiji, and Katherine by Yusuke Yoshigaki
### Various works

Backside of 5 Christmas edition Chariot Cards promoted as bonus for those who buy recess The Art of Little Witch Academia book in Yusuke Yoshigaki's Original Art ExhibitionVarious pixel arts of Space Patrol Luluco characters which includes Sucy by Yusuke YoshigakiSketches of different Little Witch Academia scenarios by Yusuke YoshigakiSketches of different Little Witch Academia scenarios by Yusuke Yoshigaki 2Ursula pulls Croix away from Woodward after the latter decorated her antlers like christmas trees by Yusuke YoshigakiGaelle (wearing a Skid Row shirt) and Akko's middle school friend standing side by side by Yusuke YoshigakiLotte imagining a scene in Night Fall while Marianne gazing a mecha on the background by Yusuke YoshigakiAkko hugs Merman Diana with Merman Hannah and Merman Barbara on the background by Yusuke YoshigakiAkko happily hugging a piglet to the dismay of the sow by Yusuke YoshigakiTwo kangaroo-rabbits observing their surroundings on a stone platform by Yusuke YoshigakiAkko feeds Arcas with frozen food during the summer heat by Yusuke YoshigakiAkko, Lotte, and Sucy with sunflowers in the background by Yusuke YoshigakiAkko, Lotte, Sucy, and Marianne attend Smile Fest event by Yusuke YoshigakiFafnir and Constanze having an online chess match by Yusuke YoshigakiBack of the Limited Shiny Chariot Christmas card from Yusuke Yoshigaki’s gallery exhibitionFront of the Limited Shiny Chariot Christmas card from Yusuke Yoshigaki’s gallery exhibitionAkko commences Happy Easter Egg project by Yusuke YoshigakiAkko and Avery gather suspicious-looking huge eggs while joined by three faery custodians during Easter Egg hunt by Yusuke YoshigakiSucy, Lukić, and Avery with tamed cockatrice by Yusuke YoshigakiAvery's Cockatrice pet entrusts its owner and Akko its chicks by Yusuke YoshigakiKimberly frantically taking notes by Yusuke YoshigakiDrawing of Kimberly being flustered by Yusuke YoshigakiAkko's sketch image by Yusuke Yoshigaki posted in his Twitter in December 23, 2017Shiny Diana by Yusuke YoshigakiAkko introduces her friends how to share Otoshidama by Yusuke YoshigakiDiana attempts to discreetly place her own Otoshidama while unknowingly watched by curious Hannah and Barbara by Yusuke YoshigakiJasminka using a phone booth by Yusuke YoshigakiJasminka notices a pigeon eating her snack while sitting alone on a bench near flower field Amanda and Constanze hanging out at by Yusuke YoshigakiAmanda and Constanze bring Jasminka to The World Pickle Egg Eating Contest to cheer her up by Yusuke YoshigakiGreen Team's unexpected meeting with Finnelan Part 1 by Yusuke YoshigakiGreen Team's unexpected meeting with Finnelan Part 2 by Yusuke YoshigakiGreen Team's unexpected meeting with Finnelan Part 3 by Yusuke YoshigakiAkko faces off against the Blindfold Professor by Yusuke YoshigakiDittoUnnamed Finnish Yeti and Akko at a small river in Finland by Yusuke Yoshigaki. Curiously, the Yeti has orange fur instead of grey.MouseAkko, Merman Akko, Paul Hanbridge, unnamed parliament official, Marjolaine, Finnelan, Shiny Chariot's producer, Last Wednesday Society proprietor, and Unnamed Finnish Yeti by Yusuke YoshigakiDittoAkko hugs Finnelan while covered in gunk much to her dismay by Yusuke YoshigakiYusuke Yoshigaki's compiled Twitter conversation with the drawing of the red team in red astronaut gear on the backgroundYusuke Yoshigaki's compiled Twitter conversation with the drawings of Croix from her time as a student to as Modern Magic professorYusuke Yoshigaki's compiled Twitter conversation with the drawings of unused wheelchair-bound professorYusuke Yoshigaki's compiled Twitter conversation with the drawings of unused wheelchair-bound professor along with Avery and Katya in hockey uniformsYusuke Yoshigaki's compiled Twitter conversation which pointed out distinct designs of Luna Nova students in courtesy of Naoko Tsutsumi and Yoshihiro Miyajima. Said conversation highlighted how distinct designs of members of Purple Team and Teal Team in courtesy of the latter and Naoko Tsutsumi's part in designing Linlin as well as how easy to distinguish a student with hijab who likely AishaAwkward Akko in jack-o-lantern mask alongside young trick-or-treaters with Andrew and Cafe Proprietor on the background by Yusuke YoshigakiAvery won a contest hosted by Dan Razaya by Yusuke YoshigakiYusuke Yoshigaki's sketches of Amanda, Constanze, Lotte, Hannah, Barbara, Michiru, Jackie, Nazuna, and Shirou's vacation at Central America, Akko about to be experimented with Sucy, and background students. This post comes with Yoshigaki's note on background students' personality as hinted by their drawing not reflected their finalized versions in TV Series proper.Pop Up Parade Akko as drawn by Yusuke YoshigakiHilda with her pet black cat by Yusuke Yoshigaki
### Official videos

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Twitter
## Trivia

* As revealed in his Twitter post in October 16, 2023, it was Yoshigaki who originally designed mob students in the series all the way back to the development of short films. In fact, his contribution in the classroom scene of the Anime Mirai short film impressed Yoshinari that the latter elected Yoshigaki to be one of Studio Trigger's animators.
	+ In the same post, he didn't expect the series' original short — which developed as part of Anime Mirai 2013 of Young Animator Training Project — to be successful enough to give rise its very own franchise considering it was originally meant to teach involved aspiring animators.
* According to Yusuke Yoshigaki in his Twitter post in October 19, 2023, among character designs which Yoshinari eventually unused was an elderly professor with wheelchair. Yoshigaki also stated that her absence was attributed to how the series' settings had become so elaborated to Yoshinari's liking that some parts he wanted to establish had to be left vague as the result.
	+ In the same post, Yoshigaki believed that second season of anime TV Series will likely greenlit if enough people (companies who provide production offer included) are interested to it. He also remarked the presence of aforementioned professor with wheelchair to be not unlike MSM-04N Agguguy in *Gundam* franchise.
* During his time as a former member of Studio Gainax in 2011, Yusuke Yoshigaki participated in the 84-page Gurren Lagann Quake charity book entitled *Jibun o Shinjite* (Believe in Yourself) and provided an illustration for the book.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1  *Yusuke Yoshigaki*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://st-trigger.co.jp/news/889/
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.otaquest.com/little-witch-academia-exhibition/
5. ↑ https://twitter.com/Alcor\_MX/status/1715570441983512617
6. ↑ https://twitter.com/Alcor\_MX/status/1715569505898766768
8. ↑ https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-09-08/gurren-lagann-quake-charity-book-sold-on-kindle-store
9. ↑ http://talkliveanimated.web.fc2.com/index\_english.html

### News

* Anime News Network
	+ Gainax, Last Airbender Artists Sell Quake Charity Book by Gia Manry April 28, 2011
	+ Gurren Lagann Quake Charity Book Sold on Kindle Store by Daryl Bunao September 8, 2011
* Ink and Image
	+ Yoshigaki Yusuke – A Life in Pictures by aci\_J posted on February 18, 2018

### External Links

 *Yusuke Yoshigaki*
  Yūsuke Yoshigaki (@hil8DieG0wrQ1Ei) on Twitter