(born 3 April 1980) is a Japanese writer and director of animated short films. Many of his works such as Pale Cocoon and Time of Eve have garnered awards and featured at film festivals. His production studio is called Studio Rikka. Yoshiura is known for maintaining a high degree of creative control over his projects, often personally handling the screenplay, cinematography, and editing. In a May 2026 interview, he explained that this "indie-style" approach allows him to ensure his original artistic vision remains intact throughout the production process. He also emphasized that his creative routine is deeply influenced by his interest in how technology integrates into daily life, which he uses to ground his science-fiction concepts in reality.
Style and themes Yoshiura focuses on creating "user-friendly" science fiction that prioritizes entertainment and universal human emotions over overt moralizing. In a May 2026 interview, he stated that his primary goal is to make stories accessible to a global audience by grounding fantastical elements in realistic, everyday settings.
Biography Yoshiura was born in Hokkaido and was raised in Fukuoka. He majored in art engineering at Kyushu University. In 2002, he released a short film called Aquatic Language which aired on NHK BS1's 10 min. theater. The film won an "Excellent Work Award" at the Tokyo International Anime Fair. In 2006, he released the direct-to-video film Pale Cocoon. After moving to Tokyo he worked on the anime web series Time of Eve which aired six episodes and later was made into a feature movie. In 2013, he released the film Patema Inverted, which won awards at Edinburgh's Scotland Loves Animation festival, and the Chicago International Film Festival. In 2014, he directed the film Harmonie, which was used for the Anime Mirai 2014 program. In 2015, his short PP33 (Power Plant No. 33) and Bureau of Proto Society were featured in the Japan Animator Expo.
Works Year Title Production role Cast role Notes Refs 2000 Noisy Birth Director 2001 Kikumana Original concept, screenwriter, sound effects, music, production Honorary Mention, Computer Animation / Visual Effects, 2002 Prix Ars Electronica Aquatic Language Original concept, director, screenwriter Protagonist Excellent Work Award, Tokyo International Anime Fair, 2003 Pale Cocoon Original concept, director, screenplay, production Co-worker –10 Time of Eve Creator, director, screenwriter ONA and feature film (List of Awards and screenings) 2009 Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance Design works Time of Eve Movie Creator, director, screenwriter, sound director, storyboard artist, unit director, editor, photography, digital animation 2010 Yozakura Quartet: Hoshi no Umi CG directing assistance –13 Patema Inverted Creator, director, screenwriter, design work, photography director, storyboard artist, unit director, editor ONA Beginning of the Day and feature film 2012 A Town Where You Live: Twilight Intersection Chief director 2014 Wake Up, Girls! Movie Digital video supervisor 2014 Harmonie Creator, director, screenwriter, design work, photography, editor Part of Young Animator Training Project 2013. Power Plant No. 33 Director, writer 11th episode of the Japan Animator Expo. 2015 Bureau of Proto Society Director, writer 29th episode of the Japan Animator Expo. 2016 Mobile Police Patlabor Reboot Director, screenwriter, photography director, photography, storyboard artist, unit director, editing Extra episode of the Japan Animator Expo. 2017 The Dragon Dentist Episode director 2021 Sing a Bit of Harmony Creator, director, screenwriter, storyboard artist, unit director Original film.
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