Yoshihiro Furusawa

Yoshihiro Furusawa, the name might not pop up in every casual film convo, but, man, this guy’s fingerprints are all over some of the most visually stunning and emotionally gut-punching anime films in recent memory. Let’s talk about the heavy-hitters: “Kimi No Na Wa.” (aka “Your Name.”), “Weathering with You,” and “Suzume.” The dude’s pretty much a go-to when it comes to high-profile animation projects that actually make you feel something—like, really feel it, not just a little sniffle here and there. He’s mostly worked on the animation side, which, if you know anime, you know is no small feat. The sheer amount of detail in these films? Wild. It’s that kind of work where the cityscapes look prettier than real life, and the characters’ emotions hit you right in the chest. “Your Name.” exploded into a global phenomenon, and a big chunk of its magic is thanks to the behind-the-scenes folks like Furusawa. People lose their minds over the body-swapping, the breathtaking comet scenes, the way Tokyo feels so alive, and yeah, Furusawa is one of the people making sure every frame lands. Then you’ve got “Weathering with You”—the rain, the clouds, the way sunlight breaks through after a storm, all that stuff is basically a love letter to animation nerds. “Suzume” follows in that tradition, blending surreal fantasy with day-to-day life in a way that just sticks with you. So no, he’s not the headline star, but Furusawa’s the kind of creator who makes these movies linger in your brain way after the credits roll.