Ryotaro Makihara

Ryotaro Makihara, the Virtuoso of Animated Storytelling. Born in 1980 in Yokohama, Japan, Makihara embarked on his directing career in the early 2000s, specializing in the magical realism and drama genres of anime. His best-known works include the critically acclaimed "The Empire of Corpses" and "Hal," the former of which earned him the prestigious Sitges Film Festival award for Best Animated Feature Film in 2015. Makihara's trademark style is his ability to weave together fantastical elements with deeply emotional narratives, resulting in a uniquely immersive viewing experience. As a person, Makihara is a quiet, introspective individual, whose passion for storytelling is palpable in every frame of his films.