Meet the Director of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes

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Summary

  • My Hero Academia: Vigilantes is a prequel series directed by Kenichi Suzuki of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure fame.
  • The new director’s resume includes not only JoJo, but also Hellsing Ultimate, Drifters, and Cells at Work.
  • Suzuki joins a promising production staff, combining veteran staff from the parent story as well as new artists.
Title My Hero Academia: Vigilantes
Director Kenichi Suzuki
Studio Bones Film
Release Date 04/2025

As a long-time fan of anime and manga, I must say that Kenji Nagasaki’s move to direct My Hero Academia: Vigilantes has left me absolutely thrilled! With his impressive background in storytelling and character development, I believe he is more than capable of delivering another masterpiece.

Nagasaki’s life experience working on My Hero Academia for several seasons gives him a unique perspective that will surely shine through in this new spin-off. His ability to capture the essence of the original series while breathing fresh life into its characters and storylines is something I eagerly await.

Of course, no one can predict the future, but if Nagasaki’s past work is any indication, we fans are in for a wild ride! And who knows, maybe he’ll even find time to sneak in a cameo of his beloved character, Todoroki’s ice cream.

In conclusion, I have full confidence that Kenji Nagasaki will deliver an outstanding adaptation of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, leaving us fans with another unforgettable anime experience!

As a long-time fan of superhero stories, I am thrilled about the upcoming anime adaptation of “My Hero Academia: Vigilantes.” Having grown up watching various iterations of these tales, from comics to movies and television shows, I have come to appreciate their unique blend of action, morality, and character development.

Given my passion for this genre, I have been eagerly anticipating the release of “My Hero Academia: Vigilantes” since its announcement. The series’ premise of vigilantes operating outside the system, a concept that has always intrigued me in superhero narratives, is particularly enticing.

Moreover, the fact that this prequel will be directed by Shun Enokido, who has previously worked on “One Punch Man” and “Attack on Titan,” adds an extra layer of excitement to the project. Enokido’s expertise in crafting engaging and visually stunning action sequences will undoubtedly bring the world of “My Hero Academia: Vigilantes” to life in a way that is both faithful to the source material and fresh for fans.

Overall, I believe that this new anime series has the potential to captivate audiences and offer a fresh perspective on the superhero genre, one that I am eagerly looking forward to experiencing.

Vigilantes, penned by Hideyuki Furuhashi and illustrated by Betten Court, is one of Bones Film’s inaugural significant productions – a new branch from the esteemed Studio Bones anime production company. Among many familiar faces returning, director Kenichi Suzuki catches the eye; he has built an impressive career, particularly recognized for his contributions to another renowned shōnen series.

From JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure to Vigilantes

Kenichi Suzuki has held the director position throughout David Production’s adaptations of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, from Phantom Blood in 2012 to Stone Ocean a decade later. He collaborated with other prominent directors on the anime series, including Naokatsu Tsuda, who directed Parts 1-5, and Toshiyuki Katou, who handled Parts 4 and 6. However, Suzuki was not the director for Part 4: Diamond Is Unbreakable and Part 5: Golden Wind.

As a lifelong fan of anime, I have followed the career of Yoshiyuki Tomino, a renowned director and writer in the genre, with particular interest. Having grown up watching his groundbreaking work like Mobile Suit Gundam, I was thrilled to learn about his earliest anime credit, Gundam Evolve, a series of 15 promotional shorts released between 2001-2007.

In my opinion, this collection showcases Tomino’s creative prowess and versatility as a storyteller, even in the face of varied animation styles. Among these shorts, I was particularly impressed by the two directed by him (#8, #14), which were animated in 3D. Though the animation hasn’t aged exceptionally well, the ambition on display is quite admirable and serves as a testament to Tomino’s visionary spirit.

Tomino’s association with the Gundam franchise didn’t end there; he would go on to direct Gundam Sangoku Den Brave Battle Warriors in 2010 and several episodes of Gundam AGE in 2011. His continued contributions to this iconic series have only solidified his status as a titan in the anime industry, and I eagerly await future projects from him.

Hellsing, Drifters, and Beyond

It’s not just JoJo that Suzuki has been associated with in terms of directing; he also directed the final two episodes of Hellsing Ultimate, a highly praised anime OVA, at Studio Graphinica, which was the third studio to produce the OVA following Satelight and Madhouse. This experience seems to have sparked Suzuki’s interest in the works of Kouta Hirano, Hellsing’s author, as he later took on directing one of his most eagerly awaited but yet unfinished stories.

Before the Isekai genre became overwhelmingly prevalent, the anime series Drifters stood out significantly among the community. With its gritty take on the formula, where historical figures are transported from their death locations into a fantasy realm, it quickly gained popularity. Enhanced by Hirano’s distinctive art style, which had already garnered fame through the Hellsing anime, Suzuki’s adaptation was highly acclaimed. However, its subsequent relative obscurity today only adds to the sadness.

In the following years, Suzuki resumed his duties on two OVA installments of “Drifters”, in addition to penning and helming the 2018 anime series “Cells at Work” at David Production. Following this, he took on the role of director for a 24-episode fantasy action series called “Fairy Gone” from P.A. Works, which received mixed reviews due to its inconsistent presentation and excessive storyline. His latest project was co-directing “JoJo Part 6” together with Toshiyuki Katou.

Who Will Suzuki Be Working With?

As the anime adaptation of “My Hero Academia” concludes, the spin-off series “Vigilantes” welcomes back significant personnel from its origin story, enriching this new venture with their expertise. Leading the pack is Yuki Hayashi, whose unique musical style has been instrumental in shaping the narrative of the franchise. Additionally, screenwriter Yosuke Kuroda will contribute to the anime’s scriptwriting. What makes this even more intriguing are the fresh faces joining the team.

Hayashi isn’t working on the music alone; he’s joined by Yuki Furuhashi and Shogo Yamashiro. In fact, Hayashi has previously collaborated with Shogo Yamashiro on the 2020 album “Immersive Theatre ‘Sakura-hime’ from ‘Sakura-hime Azuma Bunsho’”. Lastly, it’s important to note that Takahiko Yoshida, known for designing anime for series like “Yowamushi Pedal”, “Cells at Work”, and “Welcome to the NHK”, is handling the character designs for this project.

What it Means to Direct My Hero Academia

Exploring a series similar to “My Hero Academia” sets high standards, especially considering its successful anime adaptation. Kenji Nagasaki faced such expectations after leading the first three seasons. However, it was his perceived lack of creative influence in subsequent seasons – where he took on the role of “Chief Director” – that is frequently cited as a potential cause for a questionable decline in quality in those seasons.

Indeed, the influence of Nagasaki persists, even though it may seem absent at first glance. Masahiro Mukai’s tenure as director from Seasons 4 to 6 showcased compelling narratives, while Naomi Nakayama’s work on Season 7 left us in awe. It’s clear that this series has been graced with gifted storytellers, and I am hopeful that Suzuki will find his place among them, given his demonstrated talent. The answer to whether he fits seamlessly will be revealed when My Hero Academia: Vigilantes makes its debut in April.

My Hero Academia is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

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2025-01-01 19:04