Rintaro is the pen name of Hayashi Shigeyuki, born in Tokyo. He's also worked under the name Kuruma Hino early in his career. Best known as a co-founder of Madhouse, one of anime's most respected studios, Rintaro was also instrumental in establishing the Japanese Animation Creators Association (JAniCA), where he served as a founding member. His influence on the medium extends well beyond any single project—he's shaped how the industry itself operates.