Katsuyuki Hirano is a Japanese animation director and producer. He is best known for his work on the animated TV series Naruto Shippuden.
Hirano was born in Tokyo in 1963. He attended the Tokyo University of the Arts and graduated with a degree in animation in 1988. After graduation, he joined the animation studio Studio Pierrot, where he worked as an in-between animator on a number of projects.
In 2000, Hirano was promoted to Chief Animation Director on the anime series Naruto. He worked on the series for eight years, directing more than 100 episodes. During this time, he was also responsible for the show's character designs and overall continuity.
In 2008, Hirano left Studio Pierrot and began freelance work in the anime industry. He directed several episodes of the series Bleach, before being hired as the director for the sequel series Naruto Shippuden in 2007. He has since directed over 80 episodes of the show and has become one of its most recognizable directors.
Outside of his work in animation, Hirano has also directed several live-action films. He made his directorial debut with the 2010 film Sakuranbo no Hate, and has since directed a number of other live-action films.
Hirano is also well known for his work in the video game industry. He directed the 2D fighting game Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, which was released in 2015.
Katsuyuki Hirano is a highly accomplished and respected director in the anime industry. He has been responsible for many of the most popular anime series of the past two decades and has directed dozens of episodes of Naruto Shippuden. His work on the show has been praised for its consistency and attention to detail, and he is widely regarded as one of the best animation directors working in the industry today.
