Naoko Yamada

Naoko Yamada
山田 尚子
BornNovember 28
Alma materKyoto University of the Arts
Occupations
  • Animator
  • director
  • storyboard artist
Years active2004–present
EmployerKyoto Animation (2004–2020) Science SARU (2021–present)
Signature

Naoko Yamada (pronunciation) (山田 尚子, Yamada Naoko) is a Japanese animator and director. Working at Kyoto Animation, she directed the anime series K-On! (2009–2010) and Tamako Market (2013), and the anime films A Silent Voice (2016), Liz and the Blue Bird (2018) and The Colors Within (2024).

In 2021, she directed the original net animation (ONA) The Heike Story under Science Saru. The series premiered on Japanese television in January 2022. She has won multiple awards for her work, as well as become world renowned for her stylistic choices in anime. She was also one of the youngest people to be made a director with Kyoto Animation, getting her first directing opportunity around 4 years after finishing college and starting work for the studio.