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Toshiyuki Tsuru

Director and writer

Tsuru Toshiyuki (都留稔幸) is a Japanese animator, designer, storyboard artist, screenwriter, and director. A pioneer of digitally drawn anime, he is known for challenging camera angles and his ultramodern usage of CG backgrounds. Tsuru is also known for his collaborative efforts with animator Hirofumi Suzuki, for which they are described (in the industry) as the "golden pair" for their efforts on shows such as 'Kaze No Yojimbo' and 'Naruto'. His pen-name Yasuaki Kurozu (黒津安明), comes from the names of Akira Kurosawa (黒澤明) and Yasujirou Ozu (小津安二郎), two prominent Japanese film directors.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Works as
Director and writer
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 70 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Up 31% in 30 days

What are Toshiyuki Tsuru's films like?

Across a limited sample of 3 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
51%
Morality
24%
Self
19%
Society
7%
Loyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

Moods and endings

endings shown from 5 titles

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Hopeful
3
Tense
1
Joyful
1
Thrilling
1
Melancholic
1
Other
2

How their films linger

Hopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Toshiyuki Tsuru's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Crunchyroll (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Toshiyuki Tsuru's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

70 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Obsessed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Animation Director · Key Animation · Layout · Second Unit Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Cosmo Samurai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show Creator

  • The Millionaire Detective - Balance: UNLIMITED(2020)

    Show 11 episodes · Opening/Ending Animation

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Boruto: Naruto Next Generations(2017)

    Show 13 episodes · Opening/Ending Animation · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Boruto: Naruto the Movie(2015)

    Director · Opening/Ending Animation

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Last: Naruto the Movie(2014)

    Opening/Ending Animation

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Road to Ninja - Naruto the Movie(2012)

    Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Naruto OVA 8: Naruto x UT (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Director

  • KUROKAMI The Animation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Storyboard Artist

  • Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Naruto: Shippuden(2007)

    Show 12 episodes · Director · 3D Modeller · Animation Director · Character Designer · Key Animation · Opening/Ending Animation · Series Director · Storyboard Artist · Writer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Naruto the Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom(2006)

    Director · Key Animation · Screenplay · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Noein: To Your Other Self(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Basilisk(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Bleach(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Gungrave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 26 episodes · Director · Key Animation · Series Director · Storyboard Artist

  • RahXephon: Pluralitas Concentio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Key Animation

  • Heat Guy J(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Naruto(2002)

    Show 220 episodes · Director · Background Designer · CG Artist · Opening/Ending Animation · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Petite Princess Yucie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • eX-Driver the Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Key Animation · Layout

  • RahXephon(2002)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Kaze no Yojimbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 25 episodes · Director · Key Animation · Opening/Ending Animation · Storyboard Artist

  • Cowboy Bebop: The Movie(2001)

    Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Saiyuki: Requiem - The Motion Picture(2001)

    Second Unit Director · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • R.O.D: Read or Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Earth Maiden Arjuna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · Animation · Key Animation

  • Ah! My Goddess: The Movie(2000)

    Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Escaflowne: The Movie(2000)

    Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Gensomaden Saiyuki(2000)

    Show 5 episodes · Director · Key Animation · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • Platinumhugen Ordian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Storyboard Artist

  • Omishi Magical Theater Risky Safety (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Colorful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Key Animation · Storyboard Artist

  • Great Teacher Onizuka(1999)

    Show 43 episodes · Opening/Ending Animation · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Tenamonya Voyagers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · Key Animation

  • Serial Experiments Lain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 13 episodes · Opening/Ending Animation

  • Neo Ranga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 9 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist

  • Cowboy Bebop(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Storyboard Artist

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Berserk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Virus Buster Serge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Storyboard Artist · Writer

  • Tokyo Pig (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Maze Megaburst Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · Key Animation · Storyboard Artist

  • Spring and Chaos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Key Animation

  • Baby and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • The Vision of Escaflowne(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Ninja Cadets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Rurouni Kenshin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Saber Marionette R (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Key: The Metal Idol(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Darkside Blues(1994)

    Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Bounty Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Mobile Fighter G Gundam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation · Opening/Ending Animation

  • JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 4 episodes · Key Animation

  • Suikoden Demon Century (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Animation Director · Character Designer · Storyboard Artist

  • Shippuu! Iron Leaguer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Opening/Ending Animation

  • Run, Melos! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Key Animation

  • Ruriiro Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • KO Century Beast Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Key Animation · Storyboard Artist

  • Tekkaman Blade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Mama is a 4th Grader (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Opening/Ending Animation

  • Magical Angel Sweet Mint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 47 episodes · Opening/Ending Animation

  • Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water(1990)

    Show 2 episodes · Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Magical Hat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Yawara! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 3 episodes · Key Animation

  • Hi-Speed Jecy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Venus Wars(1989)

    Key Animation

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Peter Pan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 4 episodes · Key Animation

  • Sonic Soldier Borgman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · Key Animation

  • Osomatsu-kun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

  • Little Lord Fauntleroy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Key Animation

Career shape

A full career of 70 titles from 1988 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015)

$38M worldwide

Highest rated

Boruto: Naruto the Movie (2015)

Midcredits 92nd

Most popular right now

Heat Guy J (2002)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing12 of 70: 1 only directing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score61stWriting3 of 70: 0 only writing, 3 with another roleOther crew69 of 70: 58 only other crew, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score79th

70 titles, 11 with more than one role — other crew and directing overlap on 11 of them.

By decade

1980s8 · crew1990s31 · crew2000s23 · crew2010s5 · crew2020s3 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Who does Toshiyuki Tsuru work with?

People who share at least 2 of Toshiyuki Tsuru's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Masashi Kishimoto shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers