Tarō Iwasaki
DirectorTarō Iwasaki is a prolific Japanese episode director whose long resume includes Fullmetal Alchemist and Pokémon; on Gurren Lagann he directed episode 9 of the original 2007 television run.
Gurren Lagann Role
Iwasaki served as episode director for episode 9 of Gurren Lagann, turning the episode's storyboards into finished cuts during the show's original broadcast. The assignment placed him among the rotating pool of episode directors Gainax brought in to keep the anime's demanding weekly schedule on pace. It was one of hundreds of single-episode directing credits across his freelance career.
Career and Notable Roles
Iwasaki has built a career as a storyboard artist and episode director on long-running franchises such as Pokémon and Fullmetal Alchemist, where he also served as production director on the film Conqueror of Shamballa, plus credits on Eureka Seven and Ghost Hound. In recent years he has taken on full directing duties for shows including One Week Friends, Sweetness & Lightning, Laid-Back Camp, and Case Files of Jeweler Richard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tarō Iwasaki?
Tarō Iwasaki is a prolific Japanese storyboard artist and episode director who has built hundreds of single-episode directing credits across a long freelance career. He has worked across major franchises spanning decades of Japanese television anime.
What did Tarō Iwasaki direct in Gurren Lagann?
Iwasaki served as episode director for episode 9 of Gurren Lagann during its original 2007 broadcast. The assignment placed him among the rotating pool of episode directors Gainax brought in to keep the show's demanding weekly schedule on pace.
What long-running franchises has Tarō Iwasaki worked on?
Iwasaki has built a career as a storyboard artist and episode director on long-running franchises such as Pokémon and Fullmetal Alchemist, where he also served as production director on the film Conqueror of Shamballa.
What other anime has Tarō Iwasaki contributed to?
Iwasaki has additional credits on Eureka Seven and Ghost Hound, part of a broad freelance résumé across many different anime productions.
What anime has Tarō Iwasaki fully directed?
In recent years, Iwasaki has taken on full directing duties for shows including One Week Friends, Sweetness & Lightning, Laid-Back Camp, and Case Files of Jeweler Richard.
Related Reading
See all
Naruto vs Luffy: Does the Fight Change if Luffy Tickles Hinata?
Naruto vs Luffy with the twist nobody asked for: Luffy tickled Hinata on date night, and she kind of liked it. We break down the whole fight and commit to a winner....
Piccolo Gets the Namek Hoes: Namek Has No Women, and He Pulls Anyway
There are no women on Namek. That isn't an oversight, it's the biology. Why we handed Piccolo the one thing his own species rules out, and why it had to be trap soul....
Sources & Information
This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Dragon Ball anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Toei Animation and Shueisha.
- Game pages: official box art, credited to Bandai Namco, Atari, and other publishers.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Akira Toriyama.
Official resources:
Help Us Keep This Wiki Accurate
Daddy Jim Headquarters maintains this encyclopedia. If you spot an error, a translation issue, or something that doesn't look right, let us know.
