Takeshi Honda

Wiki (jp)

After dropping out from Tokyo Designers' College in 1987, Honda joined Atelier Giga. He later joined Gainax, where he debuted as the studio's youngest animation director on Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water. A few years later in 1994, he got to handle the character designs for the first time on Metal Fighter Miku, a TV series directed by Akiyuki Shinbou.

After having left Gainax, Honda participated in most of Satoshi Kon's works. Perhaps most notably as a character designer on Millenium Actress, a role which was originally planned to be Hideki Hamasu's, but was given to him due to Hamasu having contracted a severe tendon inflammation. Honda also designed the characters for Mitsuo Iso's Dennou Coil.

In 2006, Honda joined Studio Khara and reprised his vital staff roles in the Evangelion franchise. The same year he made his long-awaited debut in a Studio Ghibli film, working as a key animator on Tales from Earthsea and then again on Ponyo. His work received high praise by Hayao Miyazaki for expressing the characters' individuality through their movements.

Nicknamed as "Master" (師匠, Shishou), by Takahiro Kishida during the production of Bubblegum Crisis. Since then the nickname has been widely recognized within the industry.