Haruo Sotozaki
Haruo Sotozaki (Japanese: 外崎春雄, Hepburn: Sotozaki Haruo) is a Japanese anime and film director. He made his full directorial debut in 2004 with the anime adaptation of Ninja Nonsense. In 2019, he directed the anime adaptation of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, as well as its film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train in 2020, which has earned numerous awards.
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Haruo Sotozaki
Haruo Sotozaki (Japanese: 外崎春雄, Hepburn: Sotozaki Haruo) is a Japanese anime and film director. He made his full directorial debut in 2004 with the anime adaptation of Ninja Nonsense. In 2019, he directed the anime adaptation of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, as well as its film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train in 2020, which has earned numerous awards.
Works
TV series
• X (2002–2003) (episode director) • Ninja Nonsense (ニニンがシノブ伝, Ninin ga Shinobuden) (2004) (director) • Tales of Symphonia: The Animation (テイルズ オブ シンフォニア The Animation, Teiruzu Obu Shinfonia The Animation) (2007–2012) (director) • Tales of Zestiria the X (テイルズ オブ ゼスティリア ザ クロス, Teiruzu Obu Zesutiria Za Kurosu) (2016–2017) (director) • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (鬼滅の刃, Kimetsu no Yaiba) (2019–2024) (director)
Films
• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編, Gekijō-ban "Kimetsu no Yaiba" Mugen Ressha-hen) (2020) (director) • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限城編, Gekijō-ban "Kimetsu no Yaiba" Mugen Jō-hen) (2025) (director)
Video games
• Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories (魔界戦記ディスガイア2, Makai Senki Disugaia Tsū) (2006) (animation part director, character designer, scenarist, cinematographer, animation director, opening animator)
Awards and nominations
Haruo Sotozaki
<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Award</th><th>Category</th><th>Work/Recipient</th><th>Result</th><th>Ref.</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2019</td><td>9th Newtype Anime Awards</td><td>Best Director</td><td>Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2020</td><td>4th Crunchyroll Anime Awards</td><td>Anime of the Year</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tokyo Anime Awards Festival</td><td>Best Television Animation</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>45th Hochi Film Award</td><td>Best Animation Film</td><td>Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Nikkan Sports Film Award for Yūjirō Ishihara Award</td><td>Best Director</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2021</td><td>44th Japan Academy Film Prize</td><td>Animation of the Year</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Mainichi Film Awards</td><td>Best Animation Film</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>25th Satellite Awards</td><td>Best Motion Picture, Animated or Mixed Media</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Tokyo Anime Awards Festival</td><td>Best Director</td><td>Won</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>11th Newtype Anime Awards</td><td>Best Director</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2022</td><td>12th Newtype Anime Awards</td><td>Best Director</td><td>Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Mugen Train Arc Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Entertainment District Arc</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2023</td><td>7th Crunchyroll Anime Awards</td><td>Best Director</td><td>Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Entertainment District Arc</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2025</td><td>9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards</td><td>Best Director</td><td>Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Hashira Training Arc</td><td>Nominated</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2026</td><td>83rd Golden Globe Awards</td><td>Best Motion Picture – Animated</td><td>Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle</td><td>{{nom}</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>