Shinji Aramaki

Shinji Aramaki (荒牧 伸志 , Aramaki Shinji , born 2 October 1960) is a Japanese anime director and mechanical designer from Fukuoka Prefecture. He graduated from Fukuoka Prefectural Fukuoka High School and Okayama University. He was a member of Artmic and is currently the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) at Sola Digital Arts. He is a leading figure in 3DCG animation in Japan.

From middle school through high school, Aramaki was influenced by Space Battleship Yamato, Mobile Suit Gundam, and Star Wars, and aspired to a career in the visual arts. During his time at Okayama University, he was a member of the manga club. One of his best-known works from his time in the manga club was the self-produced animation Moonstruck Artemis.

Aramaki himself stated that he did not have a particular desire to work in the animation industry, but rather went into it because he could draw pictures and because the industry had a wide range of opportunities. He does not distinguish between animation and live-action genres, and says that the spread of digital technology has made it easier for him to work in the animation and live-action fields, as the boundary between the two has disappeared. He is particularly well known for his work on anime featuring mecha of the sort that can transform into powered exoskeletons and motorcycles.

In 2004, he directed Appleseed, the world's first 3D live anime that introduced motion capture, which had a great impact on creators not only in Japan but also around the world.

On October 27, 2011, Aramaki participated in a panel discussion at the VFX-JAPAN Kickoff Meeting.

On 29 November 2018, it was announced that he and Kenji Kamiyama will direct the initial season of Blade Runner: Black Lotus, an anime for Adult Swim and Crunchyroll.[10]