Departures of note

Yuji Yanase was a Japanese anime director and animator who began his career as an animation director around 1996. Over more than two decades he contributed to numerous popular series, serving as animation director on works such as Super Mashin Hero Wataru, Shaman King, Human Crossing, Fist of the North Star: Raoh Gaiden, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's, and Saint Seiya Omega, and handling direction and storyboards on titles including Naruto Shippuden and Inazuma Eleven Ares no Tenbin.

In 2014 he made his directorial debut with Himegoto, and subsequently directed the short series Onsen Yōsei Hakone-chan, for which he also handled character design and storyboards. He later directed the 2024 series Akuyaku Reijō nano de Last Boss wo Katte Mimashita, which premiered internationally at Anime Messe Babelsberg in Germany, and was directing the 2026 series Saikyō Degarashi Ōji no An'yaku Teii Arasoi at the time of his death.

Yanase was known for giving opportunities to younger voice actors in his productions and for his belief that animation, direction, and supervision all constitute forms of acting. He died on August 22, 2026.