Atsushi Wakabayashi, a renowned Japanese animator, anime director, character designer, and storyboard artist, has made a significant impact in the industry. Having graduated from the prestigious Tatsunoko Animation Technology Institute in 1989, Wakabayashi began his career at Tatsunoko, where he honed his skills as an animation director on various shows, including the popular series "Yu Yu Hakusho" and "Midori no Makibao" in the 1990s. His primary focus during this period was supporting the animation of Studio Pierrot's productions.
Wakabayashi's work on "Naruto" marked a significant turning point in his career, as he directed episodes 30, 71, and 133 of the show, garnering major attention and recognition within the industry. Since then, he has expanded his work to other companies' productions, although his involvement is often limited to basic storyboarding.
Wakabayashi is affectionately known as "Kaba-san" on set, a testament to his friendly and approachable demeanor. In addition to his work in the industry, he has also taken on a new role as a lecturer at NUNOANI Juku since 2013, sharing his expertise and knowledge with the next generation of animators and directors.
