Directed credits
33
Prolific
Very extensive directing filmography.
Director
Haruo Sotozaki
Directing
Career Snapshot
ExplainedThese indicators come from TMDB. They are relative signals, not review ratings.
TMDB popularity
1.9
Low visibility
TMDB internal trend index. Higher usually means more searches and page activity now.
Directed movies: 21Directed series: 12All crew credits: 58
TMDB ID: 1283010
IMDb ID: nm1417038
Known for: Directing
Place of birth: Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan
Gender: Male
Adult content flag: No
Career span: 1996 - 2025
Years active: 30
Average TMDB rating: 7.41
Wikidata: Q28687612
Also known as
そとざき はるお • 外崎 春雄
Frequent jobs
Director (17)Animation Director (12)Series Director (3)Second Unit Director (1)Key Animation (24)Character Designer (1)
Biography
Haruo Sotozaki is a Japanese anime and film director best known for his work on the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba series. He began his career in the animation industry in the mid-1990s, contributing as a key animator and storyboard artist on various projects. Sotozaki made his full directorial debut with the anime adaptation of Ninja Nonsense (2004). In 2019, he directed the critically acclaimed Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba television series, followed by the record-breaking film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train (2020). His direction is noted for its dynamic action sequences and faithful adaptation of source material.
Movies
Directed Movies
Movies directed by Haruo Sotozaki.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Director
2025 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Special Edition Hashira Training Arc Part 2
Director
2025 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Special Edition Hashira Training Arc Part 1
Director
2025 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Special Edition Swordsmith Village Arc Part 2
Director
2025 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Special Edition Swordsmith Village Arc Part 1
Director
2025 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Infiltration Arc
Director
2025 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training-
Director
2024 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Entertainment District Decisive Battle Arc
Director
2023 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village-
Director
2023 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Tsuzumi Mansion Arc
Director
2022 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Asakusa Arc
Director
2022 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hashira Meeting Arc
Director
2021 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mt. Natagumo Arc
Director
2021 Movie
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
Director
2020 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sibling's Bond
Director
2019 Movie
Tales of Zestiria: The Shepherd's Advent
Second Unit Director
2014 Movie
Magical Sisters Yoyo & Nene
Animation Director
2013 Movie
Lupin the Third: Swallowtail Tattoo
Animation Director
2004 Movie
New Fist of the North Star: The Cursed City
Animation Director
2003 Movie
Initial D: Third Stage
Animation Director
2001 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle 2
Director
Movie
Series
Directed Series
Series directed by Haruo Sotozaki.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Series Director • 63 eps
2019 Series
Tales of Zestiria the X
Series Director • 25 eps
2016 Series
Antique Bakery
Animation Director • 2 eps
2008 Series
Tales of Symphonia: The Animation
Series Director • 11 eps
2007 Series
Noein: To Your Other Self
Animation Director • 1 eps
2005 Series
Heat Guy J
Animation Director • 2 eps
2002 Series
X
Director • 2 eps
2001 Series
Fruits Basket
Animation Director • 6 eps
2001 Series
Earth Maiden Arjuna
Animation Director • 2 eps
2001 Series
Saiyuki
Animation Director • 1 eps
2000 Series
Legend of Himiko
Animation Director • 1 eps
1999 Series
Eat-Man '98
Animation Director • 2 eps
1998 Series
Movies
Top Rated Movies
Highest rated movies linked with Haruo Sotozaki.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Director
2025 Movie
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
Director
2020 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sibling's Bond
Director
2019 Movie
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Key Animation
2001 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mt. Natagumo Arc
Director
2021 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Asakusa Arc
Director
2022 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Tsuzumi Mansion Arc
Director
2022 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village-
Director
2023 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hashira Meeting Arc
Director
2021 Movie
Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel
Key Animation
2005 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training-
Director
2024 Movie
Series
Top Rated Series
Highest rated series linked with Haruo Sotozaki.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Key Animation • 2 eps
2009 Series
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Series Director • 63 eps
2019 Series
Rurouni Kenshin
Key Animation • 4 eps
1996 Series
Hunter x Hunter
Key Animation • 5 eps
1999 Series
Naruto
Key Animation • 2 eps
2002 Series
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Key Animation • 1 eps
2002 Series
Inazuma Eleven
Key Animation • 1 eps
2008 Series
Pokémon
Key Animation • 1 eps
1997 Series
X
Director • 2 eps
2001 Series
Fruits Basket
Animation Director • 6 eps
2001 Series
Movies
Most Popular Movies
Most viewed movie titles linked with Haruo Sotozaki.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Director
2025 Movie
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
Director
2020 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training-
Director
2024 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village-
Director
2023 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle 2
Director
Movie
Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel
Key Animation
2005 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mt. Natagumo Arc
Director
2021 Movie
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hashira Meeting Arc
Director
2021 Movie
Series
Most Popular Series
Most viewed series linked with Haruo Sotozaki.
Pokémon
Key Animation • 1 eps
1997 Series
Naruto
Key Animation • 2 eps
2002 Series
Hunter x Hunter
Key Animation • 5 eps
1999 Series
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Key Animation • 2 eps
2009 Series
Inazuma Eleven
Key Animation • 1 eps
2008 Series
Saiyuki
Animation Director • 1 eps
2000 Series
Rurouni Kenshin
Key Animation • 4 eps
1996 Series
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Series Director • 63 eps
2019 Series
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Key Animation • 1 eps
2002 Series
Noein: To Your Other Self
Animation Director • 1 eps
2005 Series
Heat Guy J
Animation Director • 2 eps
2002 Series
Fruits Basket
Animation Director • 6 eps
2001 Series
Movies
Other Crew Work in Movies
Additional movie credits for Haruo Sotozaki.
Eden of the East Movie II: Paradise Lost
Key Animation
2010 Movie
Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike
Key Animation
2009 Movie
Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel
Key Animation
2005 Movie
eX-Driver the Movie
Key Animation
2002 Movie
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Key Animation
2001 Movie
Digimon Adventure 02: Revenge of Diaboromon
Key Animation
2001 Movie
You're Under Arrest: The Motion Picture
Key Animation
1999 Movie
Series
Other Crew Work in Series
Additional series credits for Haruo Sotozaki.
Zetman
Key Animation • 1 eps
2012 Series
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Key Animation • 2 eps
2009 Series
Inazuma Eleven
Key Animation • 1 eps
2008 Series
Reideen
Key Animation • 1 eps
2007 Series
Ninja Nonsense
Key Animation • 1 eps
2004 Series
Samurai 7
Key Animation • 1 eps
2004 Series
New Fist of the North Star
Character Designer • 3 eps
2003 Series
E's Otherwise
Key Animation • 2 eps
2003 Series
Naruto
Key Animation • 2 eps
2002 Series
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Key Animation • 1 eps
2002 Series
Rave Master
Key Animation • 1 eps
2001 Series
R.O.D: Read or Die
Key Animation • 1 eps
2001 Series
The SoulTaker
Key Animation • 1 eps
2001 Series
Star Ocean EX
Key Animation • 1 eps
2001 Series
Hunter x Hunter
Key Animation • 5 eps
1999 Series
AWOL -Absent Without Leave-
Key Animation • 3 eps
1998 Series