Munehisa Sakai

Munehisa Sakai
境 宗久
Born (1971-09-01) September 1, 1971 (age 53)[1][2]
Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan[2]
OccupationAnime director
Years active1992–present
Employers
Known for

Munehisa Sakai (Japanese: 境 宗久, Hepburn: Sakai Munehisa, born September 1, 1971) is a Japanese anime director. He joined Toei Animation in 1992, where he directed part of One Piece, Suite PreCure, and Sailor Moon Crystal. After leaving Toei Animation and joining MAPPA in 2017, he has directed Zombie Land Saga, Mr Love: Queen's Choice, and Dance Dance Danseur. Sakai later joined Studio Kai in 2022.[2]

Biography

While in an animator school, one of the teachers introduced Sakai to Toei Animation, which he joined in 1992.[3][4] From 2006 to 2008, Sakai directed One Piece; Sakai also directed One Piece Film: Strong World in 2009.[5][6] One Piece Film: Strong World won the award for excellence in animation of at the year and was nominated for animation of the year at the 34th Japan Academy Film Prize.[7] In 2011, Sakai directed Suite PreCure.[8] In 2014, he directed Sailor Moon Crystal.[9]

In 2017, Sakai left Toei Animation and joined MAPPA.[4] In 2018, Sakai directed Zombie Land Saga.[10] The series won the animation of the year award in the television category at the Tokyo Anime Awards Festival in 2019.[11] It was also nominated for anime of the year at the 2019 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.[12] In 2020, he directed Mr Love: Queen's Choice.[13] In 2022, Sakai will direct the anime adaptation of Dance Dance Danseur.[14]

In 2022, Sakai left MAPPA, and joined Studio Kai.[2] Later, he directed and made the storyboard for third episode of 7th Time Loop which aired on January 21, 2024.[15]

Works

TV series

Films

Web series

References

  1. ^ "We Want to Portray a Realistic Girl's Drama - Interview with Sailor Moon Crystal Series Director Munehisa Sakai and Character Designer Yukie Sakō". Animage (in Japanese). Japan: Tokuma Shoten. July 1, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d "境宗久① オープニングに胸高鳴らせた『銀河鉄道999』". Febri (in Japanese). October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  3. ^ Coats, Cayla (October 3, 2019). "INTERVIEW: Zombie Land Saga's Strange, Wonderful Origins". Crunchyroll. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Sakai, Munehisa [@munehisa_sakai] (March 31, 2017). "本日付で25年間お世話になった東映アニメーションを退職。 明日からはMAPPAでお世話になる事に。 少しでもいいものが創れるように、これからも励んでいきます。" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved January 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "One piece log collection Ohz". Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Loo, Egan (May 11, 2009). "One Piece Creator Oda to Oversee Production of 10th Film". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  7. ^ 第 34 回日本アカデミー賞優秀賞 (in Japanese). Japan Academy Film Prize. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "スイートプリキュア♪". Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Loo, Egan (January 9, 2014). "New Sailor Moon Anime Producer: Not Remaking 1st Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  10. ^ a b Pineda, Rafael (September 10, 2018). "Zombieland Saga Anime's Video Reveals Staff, More Cast, October 4 Premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  11. ^ Chapman, Paul (February 21, 2019). "ZOMBIE LAND SAGA and Case Closed Win Big at TAAF 2019". Crunchyroll. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  12. ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (January 11, 2019). "Megalobox, Devilman crybaby Dominate Crunchyroll Anime Award's Nominations". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Loo, Egan (July 8, 2019). "Mr Love: Queen's Choice Otome Romance Game Gets TV Anime by MAPPA". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Pineda, Rafael (September 8, 2021). "MAPPA Animates Dance Dance Danseur TV Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life (TV)". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  16. ^ "ゲゲゲの鬼太郎[第4作] 112". Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  17. ^ "ドクタースランプ 68". Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  18. ^ "ひみつのアッコちゃん（第3作） 25". Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  19. ^ "DAYS". Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  20. ^ "賭ケグルイ 8". Media Arts Database (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved January 29, 2022.