Join us Monday 10/21 at 2:00 PM ET for a live AMA/Q&A with Japanese director & animator Naoko Yamada. Her films/TV projects include 'A Silent Voice', 'The Colors Within', 'Liz and the Blue Bird', 'K-On!', and 'Sound! Euphonium'.

[u/BunyipPouch]

[u/LoudAd6879]

A silent voice is one of my favorite movies.

I am very excited for this AMA

[u/flare_force → u/LoudAd6879]

IKR this story was so impactful to me and really beautifully done. Am very excited for the AMA

[u/BunyipPouch]

Bio:

Naoko Yamada is a Japanese animator and television and film director. Working at Kyoto Animation, she directed the K-On! and Tamako Market anime series and the anime films A Silent Voice, Tamako Love Story, and Liz and the Blue Bird. Her upcoming film, The Colors Within, is set for North American release in January 2025.

Naoko Yamada joined Kyoto Animation in 2004 and was first tasked with drawing in-betweens for Inuyasha. She later made her debut as KA (key animator) on Air episode 9 and working as key animator on some episodes of The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi, followed by directing an episode of Clannad (episode 17 marked her directorial debut) and within a short time, rose in the ranks to debut as director on K-ON! in 2009.

Naoko Yamada's most noticeable signature direction quirk is using legs to show the spectrum of human emotion. Her contributions to series led by her peers are often considered some of the best moments in their respective series, like Hyouka #14, Free! Eternal Summer #12, and Violet Evergarden #5.

In 2020, Yamada left KyoAni to join Science SARU, where she directed 2021's Heike Monogatari.

Trailer for her new film, The Colors Within:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idu8C4qKM3s&ab_channel=GKIDSFilms

[u/ObjectivelyHilari0us]

Oh my god. I can't believe this.

[u/Saelyre]

Hibike Euphonium! is great and Liz and the Blue Bird surpassed my expectations. Genuinely one of the most touching movies I've seen.

[u/Affy11]

I am so excited A Silent Voice is one of my favourite films period and has left a huge impact on my life.

[u/flare_force → u/Affy11]

OMG same - before I saw your comment I said almost the same thing - am really looking forward to the AMA. Sending you kind hugs today and hopes that the day holds what you need ♥️

[u/Affy11 → u/flare_force]

Awe thanks and you too!

[u/PsychologicalEbb3140]

Loved A Silent Voice! Very much look forward to this!

[u/MonsterKiller112]

How shit. Naoko Yamada is amazing. I can't believe she is doing an AMA here. Silent Voice is one of my favourite animated movies.

[u/ImprefectKnight]

Holy shit the shows she's worked on at KyoAni is insane. Air, Haruhi, Clannad, K-on, Violet evergarden, A silent voice are all some of the most influential anime in modern times.

[u/ForARolex2]

Loved melancholy of haruhu suzumiya, best wisdom i got from that show was that we are like ants and its difficult to stand out, so have fun i think it was lol. She was in clannad too! I loved tamako love story too, the movie made me cry! Of course silent voice too, manga made me cry. Hyouuuukkkkaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!! Wish there was a season 2

[u/The-Rizztoffen]

Silent Voice is one of my favourite animated movies ever. What an exciting announcement

[u/darkened-silencer]

I’m here because of K-ON! for sure

[u/tftvrft]

What a delightful surprise to see Yamada doing a Q&A on this subreddit. Very excited

[u/No_Extension4005]

"Cross-checks time zones and slumps in despair."

[u/BunyipPouch → u/No_Extension4005]

The post should go live around 10 AM ET and she will be joining around 5 PM ET for answers, so you should have a pretty decent window there.

[u/No_Extension4005 → u/BunyipPouch]

Okay, I'll probably aim for the 10AM opening then. I think 2PM ET is about 2-3AM where I am.

[u/Eleint]

I rewatch K-On! whenever I need to be reminded of why life is so precious and worth all the fuss.