Anime Central is thrilled to announce that Studio Durian will be joining us at this year’s convention! Studio Durian has brought us works like Look Back. Join us in welcoming the creative minds behind these projects and get an exclusive look at what’s next for Studio Durian at Anime Central!
International Guests of Honor
We’re thrilled to announce that Director Kiyotaka Oshiyama, will make an appearance. Don’t miss your chance to meet him, attend his panels, and celebrate his amazing career at Anime Central.
About Kiyotaka Oshiyama
Born in 1982, Kiyotaka Oshiyama first started as an animator with Xebec in 2004. In 2006, he worked as the animation director for Dennou Coil. After that, he joined a number of animation projects with various studios, in all sorts of production roles.
2017 saw the establishment of Studio Durian, and the release of the animated short, Shishigari. Look Back was released in 2024, where he acted as the director, character designer, animation director, key animator, and wrote the screenplay.
Notable Works
Dennou Coil (2007 – animation direction, key animation)
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009 – key animation)
The Secret World of Arietty (2010 – key animation)
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos (2011 – animation direction, key animation)
The Wind Rises (2013 – key animation)
Space☆Dandy Season 2 (2014 – screenplay, storyboard, production, animation direction, key animation)
Flip Flappers (2016 – direction, screenplay, storyboard, key animation)
Devilman: Crybaby (2018 – devil design, storyboard, production, animation direction, key animation)
Shishigari (2019 – creation, direction, screenplay, animation)
Doraemon: Nobita’s New Dinosaur (2020 – direction, key animation)
Chainsaw Man (N/A – devil design)
The Boy and the Heron (2023, key animation)
Look Back (2024 – direction, screenplay, character design, animation direction, key animation)
Message from Director Oshiyama
I’m thrilled to have been invited to this year’s Anime Central. With the release of Look Back last year, we connected with anime fans across America. That made me feel just how lucky I am to be able to work in the same industry for twenty years and counting. This will be my first time in Chicago, but I’m really looking forward to seeing you all there.
Look Back Key Visual Art
About Anime Central
Anime Central (ACen) is the largest anime, manga and Japanese popular culture convention in Chicago and the Midwest. Anime Central 2025 will take place from May 16-18 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
