Masayuki Uchiyama

Uchiyama holds the distinction of supervising more Dragon Ball Z episodes than any animator in the franchise, with 71 directorial credits spanning the entire series from the Raditz Saga through GT. His supervision work defined Z's visual direction across every major arc, from early Saiyaman Tournament episodes through the culminating Kid Buu Saga. He also provided key animation on 40 Z episodes and animated 15 GT episodes, demonstrating continuous involvement with the franchise across its evolution. His work on the first three Dragon Ball films and Dr. Slump adaptations established his place as a cornerstone animator for Akira Toriyama's creations.

Born in 1952, Uchiyama began his career in 1969 at Neo Media Studios under Keiichiro Kimura, later working as a freelancer and founding Last House studio where he became the primary animator. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he was deeply embedded in Toei Animation's productions, becoming instrumental in defining Dragon Ball's visual identity. His stiff line work and prolific output made him legendary within the industry. Uchiyama also supervised animation for Yu-Gi-Oh!, Ginga Tetsudo 999, and numerous other classic series. He died unexpectedly from heart failure on August 31, 2010, at age 58, leaving an immeasurable legacy in anime history.