Akiyuki Shinbo
Akiyuki Shinbō (新房 昭之 Shinbō Akiyuki), born September 27, 1961 in Fukushima, Japan, is a Japanese animation director. He is part of Magica Quartet and served as a chief director for Puella Magi series.
Biography
Akiyuki Shinbo began his career as an animator on Urusei Yatsura (1981) before working on storyboard for YuYu Hakusho (1992) and made his directorial debut with Metal Fighter Miku (1994). He developed his signature surreal, atmospheric style through The SoulTaker and Le Portrait de Petit Cossette (2004), while also working on Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha as a director.
In 2004, Shinbo approached Shaft's president, Mitsutoshi Kubota in 2004 to work on Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase. Together with Shin Ōnuma and Tatsuya Oishi, he significantly shaped aesthetic for every Shaft's production through 2018. Following the success of Bakemonogatari (2009), he collaborated with producer Atsuhiro Iwakami, character designer Ume Aoki, and scriptwriter Gen Urobuchi (Nitroplus) to create Puella Magi Madoka Magica.
Shinbo frequenly used pseudonyms throughout his career, such as Sōji Homura (帆村壮二), Futoshi Shīya (椎谷太志), and Satoko Shindo (進藤里子). He also worked on adult anime projects under Jūhachi Minamizawa (南澤十八).
Role in Puella Magi series
Credits in Puella Magi series
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011) as Director
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 1: Beginnings (2012) as Chief Director
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part 2: Eternal (2012) as Chief Director
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie -Rebellion- (2013) as Chief Director
- Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story Anime (2020-2022) as Animation Supervisor
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica Beginnings & Eternal (TV Edition) (2025) as Chief Director
- Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie -Walpurgisnacht: Rising- (2026) as Chief Director
Interviews
- November 2011 Shinbo book interview on Madoka Magica and several other works
- June 2012 Kirara Magica interviews Shinbo about the Madoka Magica Movies