Directed credits
32
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
1.2
Low visibility
TMDB internal trend index. Higher usually means more searches and page activity now.
Directed movies: 20Directed series: 12All crew credits: 56
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: 7.4
Wikidata: Q28687612
Also known as
そとざき はるお • 外崎 春雄
Frequent jobs
Director (16)Animation Director (12)Series Director (3)Second Unit Director (1)Key Animation (23)Creator (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.
7.7
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Director
2025 Movie
10.0
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Special Edition Hashira Training Arc Part 2
Director
2025 Movie
10.0
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Special Edition Hashira Training Arc Part 1
Director
2025 Movie
10.0
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Special Edition Swordsmith Village Arc Part 2
Director
2025 Movie
10.0
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Special Edition Swordsmith Village Arc Part 1
Director
2025 Movie
10.0
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Infiltration Arc
Director
2025 Movie
6.5
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training-
Director
2024 Movie
9.2
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Entertainment District Decisive Battle Arc
Director
2023 Movie
7.3
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village-
Director
2023 Movie
7.4
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Tsuzumi Mansion Arc
Director
2022 Movie
7.8
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Asakusa Arc
Director
2022 Movie
7.0
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hashira Meeting Arc
Director
2021 Movie
7.8
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mt. Natagumo Arc
Director
2021 Movie
8.2
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
Director
2020 Movie
7.9
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sibling's Bond
Director
2019 Movie
7.4
Tales of Zestiria: The Shepherd's Advent
Second Unit Director
2014 Movie
6.7
Magical Sisters Yoyo & Nene
Animation Director
2013 Movie
6.6
Lupin the Third: Swallowtail Tattoo
Animation Director
2004 Movie
6.0
New Fist of the North Star: The Cursed City
Animation Director
2003 Movie
6.8
Initial D: Third Stage
Animation Director
2001 Movie
Series
Directed Series
Series directed by Haruo Sotozaki.
8.6
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Series Director • 63 eps
2019 Series
7.1
Tales of Zestiria the X
Series Director • 25 eps
2016 Series
5.6
Antique Bakery
Animation Director • 2 eps
2008 Series
7.8
Tales of Symphonia: The Animation
Series Director • 11 eps
2007 Series
7.4
Noein: To Your Other Self
Animation Director • 1 eps
2005 Series
5.9
Heat Guy J
Animation Director • 2 eps
2002 Series
7.3
X
Director • 2 eps
2001 Series
6.8
Fruits Basket
Animation Director • 6 eps
2001 Series
6.7
Earth Maiden Arjuna
Animation Director • 2 eps
2001 Series
6.2
Saiyuki
Animation Director • 1 eps
2000 Series
7.2
Legend of Himiko
Animation Director • 1 eps
1999 Series
9.2
Eat-Man '98
Animation Director • 2 eps
1998 Series
Movies
Top Rated Movies
Highest rated movies linked with Haruo Sotozaki.
8.2
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
Director
2020 Movie
7.9
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sibling's Bond
Director
2019 Movie
7.8
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mt. Natagumo Arc
Director
2021 Movie
7.7
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Key Animation
2001 Movie
7.7
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Director
2025 Movie
7.4
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Tsuzumi Mansion Arc
Director
2022 Movie
7.3
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village-
Director
2023 Movie
7.0
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hashira Meeting Arc
Director
2021 Movie
6.8
Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel
Key Animation
2005 Movie
6.5
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training-
Director
2024 Movie
Series
Top Rated Series
Highest rated series linked with Haruo Sotozaki.
8.7
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Key Animation • 2 eps
2009 Series
8.6
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Series Director • 63 eps
2019 Series
8.5
Rurouni Kenshin
Key Animation • 4 eps
1996 Series
8.5
Hunter x Hunter
Key Animation • 4 eps
1999 Series
8.4
Naruto
Key Animation • 2 eps
2002 Series
8.2
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Key Animation • 1 eps
2002 Series
8.0
Inazuma Eleven
Key Animation • 1 eps
2008 Series
7.3
X
Director • 2 eps
2001 Series
Movies
Most Popular Movies
Most viewed movie titles linked with Haruo Sotozaki.
7.7
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Director
2025 Movie
8.2
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
Director
2020 Movie
6.5
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training-
Director
2024 Movie
6.8
Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel
Key Animation
2005 Movie
7.3
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village-
Director
2023 Movie
7.9
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sibling's Bond
Director
2019 Movie
7.8
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mt. Natagumo Arc
Director
2021 Movie
7.7
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Key Animation
2001 Movie
7.0
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hashira Meeting Arc
Director
2021 Movie
6.8
Initial D: Third Stage
Animation Director
2001 Movie
Series
Most Popular Series
Most viewed series linked with Haruo Sotozaki.
8.4
Naruto
Key Animation • 2 eps
2002 Series
8.0
Inazuma Eleven
Key Animation • 1 eps
2008 Series
8.7
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Key Animation • 2 eps
2009 Series
8.5
Hunter x Hunter
Key Animation • 4 eps
1999 Series
8.5
Rurouni Kenshin
Key Animation • 4 eps
1996 Series
8.6
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Series Director • 63 eps
2019 Series
8.2
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Key Animation • 1 eps
2002 Series
6.2
Saiyuki
Animation Director • 1 eps
2000 Series
7.7
Rave Master
Key Animation • 1 eps
2001 Series
5.9
Heat Guy J
Animation Director • 2 eps
2002 Series
7.4
Noein: To Your Other Self
Animation Director • 1 eps
2005 Series
7.0
Samurai 7
Key Animation • 1 eps
2004 Series
Movies
Other Crew Work in Movies
Additional movie credits for Haruo Sotozaki.
6.8
Eden of the East Movie II: Paradise Lost
Key Animation
2010 Movie
6.4
Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike
Key Animation
2009 Movie
6.8
Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel
Key Animation
2005 Movie
6.5
eX-Driver the Movie
Key Animation
2002 Movie
7.7
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Key Animation
2001 Movie
6.9
Digimon Adventure 02: Revenge of Diaboromon
Key Animation
2001 Movie
5.9
You're Under Arrest: The Motion Picture
Key Animation
1999 Movie
Series
Other Crew Work in Series
Additional series credits for Haruo Sotozaki.
6.1
Zetman
Key Animation • 1 eps
2012 Series
8.7
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Key Animation • 2 eps
2009 Series
8.0
Inazuma Eleven
Key Animation • 1 eps
2008 Series
7.5
Reideen
Key Animation • 1 eps
2007 Series
7.6
Ninja Nonsense
Key Animation • 1 eps
2004 Series
7.0
Samurai 7
Key Animation • 1 eps
2004 Series
5.5
New Fist of the North Star
Creator
2003 Series
6.9
E's Otherwise
Key Animation • 2 eps
2003 Series
8.4
Naruto
Key Animation • 2 eps
2002 Series
8.2
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Key Animation • 1 eps
2002 Series
7.7
Rave Master
Key Animation • 1 eps
2001 Series
8.2
R.O.D: Read or Die
Key Animation • 1 eps
2001 Series
7.0
The SoulTaker
Key Animation • 1 eps
2001 Series
5.4
Star Ocean EX
Key Animation • 1 eps
2001 Series
8.5
Hunter x Hunter
Key Animation • 4 eps
1999 Series
4.5
AWOL -Absent Without Leave-
Key Animation • 3 eps
1998 Series