Mamoru Hosoda

Mamoru Hosoda (細田 守, Hosoda Mamoru, born September 19, 1967) is a renowned Japanese film director and animator. Born in Kamiichi, Nakaniikawa District, Toyama, Japan, Hosoda found his early influences in acclaimed anime projects such as Isao Takahata's Anne of Green Gables and Hayao Miyazaki's Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro. He studied oil painting at the Kanazawa College of Art before venturing into filmmaking and animation. In 1991, he joined Toei Animation where he honed his skills working on popular series and films, notably directing two Digimon Adventure short films. His talent was recognized henceforth, leading to his appointment as the initial director of Studio Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle. However, after leaving the project due to creative differences, Hosoda returned to Toei Animation and later freelanced, delivering successful projects such as The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars. Hosoda then established his own animation studio, Studio Chizu, and continued to create award-winning films including Wolf Children, The Boy and the Beast, and the Oscar-nominated Mirai. His latest film, Belle, released in 2021, has stood as his biggest hit to date.