Michiyo Yasuda was a Japanese animator and colour designer who worked for Toei Animation, A Production, Nippon Animation, Topcraft, and Studio Ghibli.
15 Facts About Michiyo Yasuda
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Michiyo Yasuda's designs were used by directors such as Isao Takahata, Hayao Miyazaki and Mamoru Oshii.
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Michiyo Yasuda officially retired after working on Ponyo in 2008, but worked on the Academy Award nominated animated feature The Wind Rises, released in July 2013.
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Michiyo Yasuda's father was a university professor, and she grew up with an older brother, an older sister and three younger brothers.
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Michiyo Yasuda has described her youth as very pleasant with a lot of freedom and mentioned getting encouragement to excel in any field.
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Michiyo Yasuda received an education in culture and the arts at school and at home.
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Michiyo Yasuda joined Toei Doga in April 1958, immediately after her graduation from high school.
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Michiyo Yasuda has said that she applied not knowing what the job entailed but that she had submitted her application because she did not fancy employment in any of the other jobs available for most women at the time, such as bank teller or store clerk.
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Michiyo Yasuda started out in the Toei finishing department, in the ink and paint section, where she worked on TV series and commercials as a tracer.
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Michiyo Yasuda worked as a tracer on Hols: Prince of the Sun, directed by Takahata, for which Yasuo Otsuka was animation director and Miyazaki was one of the key animators.
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Michiyo Yasuda worked with Mamoru Oshii on his 1985 OVA Angel's Egg released in December 1985.
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Michiyo Yasuda took charge of Studio Ghibli's colour department from its inception for the creation of the Castle in the Sky production and collaborated with various directors and animators in the creation of nearly all Studio Ghibli animation works until her retirement.
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Michiyo Yasuda last worked on the feature films Ponyo and The Wind Rises and in between on the short Pandane to tamago hime for the Ghibli Museum.
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At Studio Ghibli, Michiyo Yasuda decided colours in consultation with Miyazaki and let the depicted objects guide her choices, based on the availability of materials and dyes in the time period portrayed.
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In 2011, Michiyo Yasuda received an Animation Lifetime Achievement Award from the Japanese Movie Critics Awards.