Kosuke Hayashi

Kosuke Hayashi
Art Director and Background Artist

Born in 1984 in Toyama, Japan, Kosuke Hayashi studied traditional Japanese painting (Nihonga) at the University of Tsukuba, graduating in 2008. Today, he works at Studio Ghibli and is widely recognized for his commitment to hand-painted techniques in an industry that has largely shifted to digital production.

Using poster color and brush on paper, Hayashi’s work is celebrated for its material richness, tonal subtlety, and painterly atmosphere. His unique approach brings depth and emotion to the animated worlds he helps create.

In 2025, Hayashi received the Nippon Rising Star Award at the Nippon Connection Film Festival in Frankfurt, acknowledging both his achievements in animation and his growing recognition as a visual artist.

Alongside his commissioned work for animated films, Hayashi also creates personal paintings. These one-of-a-kind pieces are often made during or parallel to his work in film production. As such, they resonate closely with the visual language of anime backgrounds. His personal and professional works inform each other, resulting in a body of art that reflects both his evolving technique and individual voice.

Professional Experience
2008 – J.C.STAFF Art Department
2011 – Inspired Inc.
2014 – Freelance background artist
2016 – Deho Gallery
2023 – Present: Studio Ghibli

As Art Director
– Giovanni’s Island (2014)
– In This Corner of the World (2016)
– The Invisible Man (2018)
– In This Corner (and Other Corners) of the World (2019)
– Tomorrow’s Leaves (2020)
– The Imaginary (2023)

As Background Artist
– When Marnie Was There (2014)
– The Boy and the Beast (2015)
– Mary and the Witch’s Flower (2017)
– Children of the Sea (2019)
– Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)
– The Boy and the Heron (2023)
– Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window (2023)