A work in constant progress (and occasional regress).
Alias:
そとざき はるお
外崎 春雄
Birthplace:
Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan
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.
Animation Director:
2001 Initial D: Third Stage
2003 New Fist of the North Star: The Cursed City
2004 Lupin the Third: Swallowtail Tattoo
2013 Magical Sisters Yoyo & Nene
2020 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
Director:
2001 Initial D: Third Stage
2003 New Fist of the North Star: The Cursed City
2004 Lupin the Third: Swallowtail Tattoo
2013 Magical Sisters Yoyo & Nene
2014 Tales of Zestiria: The Shepherd's Advent
2019 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sibling's Bond
2020 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
2021 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Tsuzumi Mansion Arc
2021 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mt. Natagumo Arc
2021 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hashira Meeting Arc
2022 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Asakusa Arc
2023 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village-
2024 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training-
2025 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
???? Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle 2
???? Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle 3
Key Animation:
1999 You're Under Arrest: The Motion Picture
2001 Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
2001 Digimon Adventure 02: Revenge of Diaboromon
2001 Initial D: Third Stage
2002 eX-Driver the Movie
2003 New Fist of the North Star: The Cursed City
2004 Lupin the Third: Swallowtail Tattoo
2005 Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel
2009 Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike
2010 Eden of the East Movie II: Paradise Lost
2013 Magical Sisters Yoyo & Nene
2014 Tales of Zestiria: The Shepherd's Advent
2019 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sibling's Bond
2020 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
2021 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Tsuzumi Mansion Arc
2021 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mt. Natagumo Arc
2021 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hashira Meeting Arc
2022 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Asakusa Arc
2023 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village-
2024 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training-
2025 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
???? Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle 2
???? Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle 3
Second Unit Director:
1999 You're Under Arrest: The Motion Picture
2001 Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
2001 Digimon Adventure 02: Revenge of Diaboromon
2001 Initial D: Third Stage
2002 eX-Driver the Movie
2003 New Fist of the North Star: The Cursed City
2004 Lupin the Third: Swallowtail Tattoo
2005 Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel
2009 Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike
2010 Eden of the East Movie II: Paradise Lost
2013 Magical Sisters Yoyo & Nene
2014 Tales of Zestiria: The Shepherd's Advent
2019 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sibling's Bond
2020 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
2021 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Tsuzumi Mansion Arc
2021 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mt. Natagumo Arc
2021 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hashira Meeting Arc
2022 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Asakusa Arc
2023 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village-
2024 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training-
2025 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
???? Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle 2
???? Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle 3
Storyboard Artist:
1999 You're Under Arrest: The Motion Picture
2001 Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
2001 Digimon Adventure 02: Revenge of Diaboromon
2001 Initial D: Third Stage
2002 eX-Driver the Movie
2003 New Fist of the North Star: The Cursed City
2004 Lupin the Third: Swallowtail Tattoo
2005 Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel
2009 Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike
2010 Eden of the East Movie II: Paradise Lost
2013 Magical Sisters Yoyo & Nene
2014 Tales of Zestiria: The Shepherd's Advent
2019 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sibling's Bond
2020 Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
2021 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Tsuzumi Mansion Arc
2021 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mt. Natagumo Arc
2021 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hashira Meeting Arc
2022 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Asakusa Arc
2023 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village-
2024 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Hashira Training-
2025 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
???? Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle 2
???? Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle 3
Animation:
2001 Earth Maiden Arjuna
Animation Director:
1998 Eat-Man '98
1999 Legend of Himiko
2000 Saiyuki
2001 Earth Maiden Arjuna
2001 Fruits Basket
2002 Heat Guy J
2002 Naruto
2005 Noein: To Your Other Self
2008 Antique Bakery
2019 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Creator:
1998 Eat-Man '98
1999 Legend of Himiko
2000 Saiyuki
2001 Earth Maiden Arjuna
2001 Fruits Basket
2002 Heat Guy J
2002 Naruto
2003 New Fist of the North Star
2005 Noein: To Your Other Self
2008 Antique Bakery
2019 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Director:
1998 Eat-Man '98
1999 Legend of Himiko
2000 Saiyuki
2001 Earth Maiden Arjuna
2001 Fruits Basket
2001 X
2002 Heat Guy J
2002 Naruto
2003 New Fist of the North Star
2005 Noein: To Your Other Self
2008 Antique Bakery
2019 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Key Animation:
1996 Rurouni Kenshin
1998 AWOL -Absent Without Leave-
1998 Eat-Man '98
1999 Hunter × Hunter
1999 Legend of Himiko
2000 Saiyuki
2001 Earth Maiden Arjuna
2001 Fruits Basket
2001 R.O.D: Read or Die
2001 Rave Master
2001 Star Ocean EX
2001 The SoulTaker
2001 X
2002 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
2002 Heat Guy J
2002 Naruto
2003 E's Otherwise
2003 New Fist of the North Star
2004 Ninja Nonsense
2004 Samurai 7
2005 Noein: To Your Other Self
2007 Reideen
2007 Tales of Symphonia: The Animation
2008 Antique Bakery
2008 Inazuma Eleven
2009 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
2012 Zetman
2019 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Opening/Ending Animation:
1996 Rurouni Kenshin
1998 AWOL -Absent Without Leave-
1998 Eat-Man '98
1999 Hunter × Hunter
1999 Legend of Himiko
2000 Saiyuki
2001 Earth Maiden Arjuna
2001 Fruits Basket
2001 R.O.D: Read or Die
2001 Rave Master
2001 Star Ocean EX
2001 The SoulTaker
2001 X
2002 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
2002 Heat Guy J
2002 Naruto
2003 E's Otherwise
2003 New Fist of the North Star
2004 Ninja Nonsense
2004 Samurai 7
2005 Noein: To Your Other Self
2007 Reideen
2007 Tales of Symphonia: The Animation
2008 Antique Bakery
2008 Inazuma Eleven
2009 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
2012 Zetman
2019 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Series Director:
1996 Rurouni Kenshin
1998 AWOL -Absent Without Leave-
1998 Eat-Man '98
1999 Hunter × Hunter
1999 Legend of Himiko
2000 Saiyuki
2001 Earth Maiden Arjuna
2001 Fruits Basket
2001 R.O.D: Read or Die
2001 Rave Master
2001 Star Ocean EX
2001 The SoulTaker
2001 X
2002 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
2002 Heat Guy J
2002 Naruto
2003 E's Otherwise
2003 New Fist of the North Star
2004 Ninja Nonsense
2004 Samurai 7
2005 Noein: To Your Other Self
2007 Reideen
2007 Tales of Symphonia: The Animation
2008 Antique Bakery
2008 Inazuma Eleven
2009 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
2012 Zetman
2016 Tales of Zestiria the X
2019 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Storyboard Artist:
1996 Rurouni Kenshin
1998 AWOL -Absent Without Leave-
1998 Eat-Man '98
1999 Hunter × Hunter
1999 Legend of Himiko
2000 Saiyuki
2001 Earth Maiden Arjuna
2001 Fruits Basket
2001 R.O.D: Read or Die
2001 Rave Master
2001 Star Ocean EX
2001 The SoulTaker
2001 X
2002 Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
2002 Heat Guy J
2002 Naruto
2003 E's Otherwise
2003 New Fist of the North Star
2004 Ninja Nonsense
2004 Samurai 7
2005 Noein: To Your Other Self
2007 Reideen
2007 Tales of Symphonia: The Animation
2008 Antique Bakery
2008 Inazuma Eleven
2009 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
2012 Zetman
2016 Tales of Zestiria the X
2019 Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Most data and links to images for the Movies section come from TheMovieDB (TMDB).
Additional data for Film Titles come from The Open Movie Database (OMDb).
At least one plug-in comes from IMDb.
Data are -- hey, it's a plural -- subject to the limitations of their sources. (For example, TMDB search results currently max out at 20.) I am limiting myself to free data sources for now. (No, a "free trial" is not free.)
While much of the above data are retrieved directly from outside APIs and other such sources, data from American Film Institute (AFI) and British Film Institute (BFI) were manually entered the old fashioned way into a MySQL database. Re BFI I took the following liberties:
Regarding profile removals and data corrections:
Filtering is applied here to film projects flagged as "adult" by TheMovieDB. Pending "popular demand" I am contemplating a login and profile system with preferences (such as whether to allow adult images to appear) and permissions (such as data entry).
Whereas the overall purpose of this website is to serve as a personal demo/portfolio/workshop of web and data skills, this Movies section is not meant to compete with or substitute for far more definitive movie websites.
Whether or not he still clings to an award which he won in 1986 as a film critic for his college's newspaper, Jeffrey Hartmann is not responsible for the texts of overviews and biographies supplied by external data sources.