Anime Filmmaker & Director; Creator of "Your Name," "Weathering with You" & "Suzume"; Award-Winning Screenwriter

Shinjuku City, Japan
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Makoto Shinkai Biography

Makoto Shinkai is a Japanese filmmaker recognized for his contributions to anime as a director, writer, producer, animator, editor, cinematographer, voice actor, manga artist, and former graphic designer. Shinkai began his career as a video game animator with Nihon Falcom and gained recognition with the original video animation "She and Her Cat." He made his directorial debut with the self-produced short film "Voices of a Distant Star," followed by the feature-length "The Place Promised in Our Early Days."

Shinkai's subsequent feature films, including "5 Centimeters Per Second," "Children Who Chase Lost Voices," and "The Garden of Words," established him internationally as a director known for anime feature films characterized by visually detailed animation and narratives centered on teenagers and high school students. "5 Centimeters Per Second" received Best Animated Film at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival and the Platinum Grand Prize at the Future Film Festival in Italy. "The Garden of Words" was awarded Best Anime Feature Film at the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film in Germany.

Shinkai achieved global recognition with the release of "Your Name." The film became the second-highest-grossing film in Japan, following Spirited Away. At the Japan Academy Prize, "Your Name" won Excellent Animation of the Year and Screenplay of the Year, marking a milestone for animated films. Internationally, it received Best Animated Feature Length Film at the Sitges Film Festival and Best Animated Film at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, becoming only the third anime film to win the LAFCA award.

Shinkai's films "Your Name," "Weathering with You," and "Suzume," collectively referred to as the Disaster Trilogy, are among the highest-grossing Japanese films both domestically and globally. "Weathering with You" represented Japan for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. "Suzume" was the first Japanese animated feature accepted in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival since Spirited Away. "Suzume" earned a worldwide box office total of $315 million.

Often compared to Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki, Shinkai has developed a distinct artistic identity. His films frequently incorporate weather as a narrative element and explore themes of communication, distance, and longing. The Disaster Trilogy has received recognition from international award ceremonies, including the Annie Awards and Crunchyroll Anime Awards, with "Your Name" and "Suzume" each winning Film of the Year at the latter. Shinkai's work continues to influence the global anime industry and cinematic storytelling.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/30/2026.

Makoto Shinkai Videos

Behind the Mac - Makoto Shinkai

Behind the Mac - Makoto Shinkai

Unofficial subtitles for Makoto Shinkai's Apple "Behind the Mac" advertisement.

How Makoto Shinkai Changed Anime Forever

How Makoto Shinkai Changed Anime Forever

Your Name's director Makoto Shinkai is hands down one of the most influential anime artists of our generation, but unlike other directors he made a...

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  • What topics does Makoto Shinkai speak about?

    Makoto Shinkai is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Art & Design, Author, Bestselling Authors, Entertainment, Fiction Authors, Gaming, Storytelling, Television & Film, Youth
  • Where does Makoto Shinkai travel from?

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Makoto Shinkai is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Makoto Shinkai for your event is available upon request. Makoto Shinkai generally travels from Shinjuku City, Japan and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are SungWon Cho, Shinichirō Watanabe, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Maggie Kang and Chris Sanders. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Makoto Shinkai for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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