Haruo Sotozaki

Haruo Sotozaki (Japanese: 外崎春雄, Hepburn: Sotozaki Haruo) is a Japanese anime and film director. He made his full directorial debut in 2004 with the anime adaptation of Ninja Nonsense. In 2019, he directed the anime adaptation of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, as well as its film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train in 2020, which has earned numerous awards.

OccupationAnime director

Yearsactive1994–present

KnownforDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Quick facts Occupation, Years active ...

Haruo Sotozaki
外崎春雄
Sotozaki in 2025
Occupation	Anime director
Years active	1994–present
Known for	Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Close

Works

X (2002–2003) (episode director)^[1]
Ninja Nonsense (ニニンがシノブ伝, Ninin ga Shinobuden) (2004) (director)^[2]
Tales of Symphonia: The Animation (テイルズオブシンフォニア The Animation, Teiruzu Obu Shinfonia The Animation) (2007–2012) (director)^[3]
Tales of Zestiria the X (テイルズオブゼスティリアザクロス, Teiruzu Obu Zesutiria Za Kurosu) (2016–2017) (director)^[3]
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (鬼滅の刃, Kimetsu no Yaiba) (2019–2024) (director)^[4]

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限列車編, Gekijō-ban "Kimetsu no Yaiba" Mugen Ressha-hen) (2020) (director)^[5]
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編, Gekijō-ban "Kimetsu no Yaiba" Mugen Jō-hen) (2025) (director)^[6]

Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories (魔界戦記ディスガイア2, Makai Senki Disugaia Tsū) (2006) (animation part director, character designer, scenarist, cinematographer, animation director, opening animator)

More information Year, Award ...

Year	Award	Category	Work/Recipient	Result	Ref.
2019	9th Newtype Anime Awards	Best Director	Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba	Won	^[7]
2020	4th Crunchyroll Anime Awards	Anime of the Year			^[8]
	Tokyo Anime Awards Festival	Best Television Animation			^[9]
	45th Hochi Film Award	Best Animation Film	Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train		^[10]
	Nikkan Sports Film Award for Yūjirō Ishihara Award	Best Director			^[11]
2021	44th Japan Academy Film Prize	Animation of the Year			^[12]
	Mainichi Film Awards	Best Animation Film		Nominated	^[13]
	25th Satellite Awards	Best Motion Picture, Animated or Mixed Media		Nominated	^[14]
	Tokyo Anime Awards Festival	Best Director		Won	^[15]
	11th Newtype Anime Awards	Best Director			^[16]
2022	12th Newtype Anime Awards	Best Director	Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Mugen Train Arc Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Entertainment District Arc		^[17]
2023	7th Crunchyroll Anime Awards	Best Director	Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Entertainment District Arc		^[18]
2025	9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards	Best Director	Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Hashira Training Arc	Nominated	^[19]
2026	83rd Golden Globe Awards	Best Motion Picture – Animated	Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle	Nominated	^[20]

Close