Naoyuki Itô

Naoyuki Ito is a much-in-demand Japanese anime director/writer, whose background is in character design in such features as Grappler Baki: Maximum Tournament (2001). Ito, after thirty years as a character designer and key animator, was promoted to director of DokiDoki! PreCure the Movie: Mama’s Getting Married!!? The Dress of Hope Tied to the Future (2013).

Ito became the lead helmer of the Overlord anime series, starting with Overlord (2017), and continuing with Overlord: The Dark Hero (2017). Ito departed from the world of Overlord for the anime feature, Your Voice–Kimi no Koe o Todoketai (2017), but then Ito returned to his familiar territory with his direction of the anticipated sequel, Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom (2024).

Naoyuki Ito has had a long track record in anime filmmaking as a key animator, including The Weathering Continent (1992), Dragon Ball: The Path to Power (1996), Hell Teacher Nube: At 0 a.m. Nube Dies!! (1997), One Piece The Movie (2008), Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection “F” (2015). Ito’s versatility is further exemplified by his record as a storyboard artist, including the anime features One Piece: Strong World (2009) and Your Voice–Kimi no Koe o Todoketai (2017).