Yoshio Mukainakano was born in 1944 in Ashibetsu, Hokkaido. He's an animator and founder of Studio Zaendou, which he still directs today.

His path into animation started almost by accident—he caught Hakujaden as a kid and it completely hooked him on the medium. When he tried to become a manga assistant early on, he got turned down because he'd only finished junior high school. Instead of giving up, he moved to Tokyo for high school and spent his free time constantly drawing and sketching. Teachers noticed his talent and suggested he pursue art college after graduation, but he had other plans.

Right after high school, he applied to Toei and got in on the strength of his portfolio drawings alone. He stayed with Toei for years until going freelance in 1982, at which point he founded Studio Zaendou.