Susumu Mitsunaka

Director, Animation Department

Birthdate: June 10, 1980 (46 Years Old)

Birthplace: Japan

Susumu Mitsunaka is a highly regarded Japanese anime director and storyboard artist who has worked on several hit TV and feature anime franchises since 2001. Mitsunaka began his career as an in-between artist on such features as Digimon Tamers: Runaway Locomon (2002) and A Tree of Palme (2002), and soon shifted to the position of key animator on a roster of features including Sergeant Keroro the Super Movie (2006), Brave Story (2006), writer-director Hiroyuki Okiura’s A Letter to Momo (2011), and Tiger & Bunny: The Rising (2014).

Mitsunaka moved to the directing chair first in TV anime production in 2010, followed by his first of several features in the Haikyuu!! series, Haikyuu!! The Movie 1: The End and the Beginning (2015). Mitsunaka continued his work as a key animator on several important anime features, including Mary and the Witch’s Flower (2017), Fireworks (2017), Makoto Shinkai’s beautiful and charming Weathering With You (2019), and Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning The Boy and the Heron (2023), grossing a robust $294 million globally.

Susumu Mitsunaka became predominantly a feature director with the Haikyu!! franchise, with Haikyu!! Saint to Sense (2017), and Haikyu!! Concept no Tatakai (2017). Mitsunaka directed his first non-Haikyu!! movie with Detective Conan: The Bride of Halloween (2022), and then returned to familiar territory as director and co-writer (with Haruichi Furudate) of Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle (2024), produced by Sony Music Entertainment/Shueisha/Production I.G. and released wide in the U.S. by Crunchyroll.

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Personal Life
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Facts

Personal life

Susumu Mitsunaka was born and raised in Japan by his parents.

Known For

HAIKYUU!! The Dumpster Battle

Director (2024)

Susumu Mitsunaka Movies

Director

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Previous (2)

2024 |
HAIKYUU!! The Dumpster Battle
HAIKYUU!! The Dumpster Battle
2024
Animation, Comedy, Drama, Sport
Despite a strong field, the Karasuno High volleyball team advances past the preliminary round of the Harutaka tournament in Miyagi prefecture to reach the third round.
More Info Watch Now
2024 |
HAIKYUU!! The Dumpster Battle
HAIKYUU!! The Dumpster Battle
2024
Animation, Comedy, Drama, Sport
Despite a strong field, the Karasuno High volleyball team advances past the preliminary round of the Harutaka tournament in Miyagi prefecture to reach the third round.
More Info Watch Now

Facts About Susumu Mitsunaka

AKA: Susumu Mitsunaka has used the pseudonym of Haruchika Kanatsumi on several projects, including The Scarlet Bullet (2021), where he was a storyboard artist, technical director, and head of key animation.

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