Born March 11, 1960 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan

Twitter/X: 🐦 @satojumichi

Junichi Sato is a Japanese anime director with a real talent for shōjo anime and magical girl stories. He's spent most of his career at TYO Animations (formerly known as Hal Film Maker).

He first made his mark directing the first two seasons of Sailor Moon at Toei Animation—work that basically defined his early career. After stepping back from the director's chair, he still contributed by storyboarding and directing individual episodes in later seasons, eventually handing full control to Kunihiko Ikuhara. From there, he moved on to co-direct Ojamajo Doremi and Princess Tutu, both solid entries in the magical girl space.

Sato served as chief director on the long-running comedy Sgt. Frog, but these days he's probably just as well known for his "healing anime"—slow-paced, atmospheric shows like Aria and Tamayura that prioritize mood and character over plot. That shift has made him something of a distinctive voice in the industry, creating work that feels deliberately calming and introspective.