The Kantoku is the director of an anime production. They are the highest creative authority on a project and are ultimately responsible for the overall vision, pacing, tone, and execution of the work.

The Kantoku collaborates with all departments (writing, storyboard, animation, editing, sound) to ensure the final product aligns with their vision. While some Kantoku focus more on storytelling or animation quality, others may delegate and concentrate on coordination and final approval.

Responsibilities

Their main tasks include:

• Defining the overall tone and narrative direction
• Reviewing and approving storyboards, usually drawn by episode directors (Enshutsu), but sometimes created or revised directly by the Kantoku, especially for key scenes.
• Working closely with the enshutsu (episode directors) to maintain coherence across episodes
• Approving animation quality, layouts, and key scenes
• Supervising editing, sound direction, and final delivery
• Collaborating with producers to balance creative ambition and production constraints

In film productions, They are usually deeply involved in every step. In TV anime, they may work more indirectly through a team of assistants and enshutsu.

Difference Between Kantoku and Enshutsu

While both are involved in directing, the Kantoku supervises the entire project, while the Enshutsu is in charge of individual episodes.

Role	Scope	Main Focus
Kantoku	Full project	Vision, cohesion, creative direction
Enshutsu	Individual episode	Scene direction, storyboard, animation flow

Variants and Related Roles

• Sō Kantoku (総監督): Chief Director ー Often used when there are multiple directors or when the Kantoku takes a more supervisory or symbolic role.
• Enshutsu (演出): Episode Director ー Handles direction on a per-episode basis under the Kantoku’s supervision.
• Kanshū (監修): Supervisor ー A role sometimes credited for overseeing thematic or franchise consistency.

Notable Examples

• Hayao Miyazaki (宮崎 駿) ー Director of Studio Ghibli films such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke.
• Mamoru Hosoda (細田 守) ー Known for The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Belle.
• Shinichirō Watanabe (渡辺 信一郎) ー Director of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo.

Each of these directors demonstrates how a Kantoku shapes the unique identity of a work through their decisions, sensibilities, and leadership.

Summary

The Kantoku plays a central role in shaping an anime’s identity. Through creative leadership, collaboration, and a clear vision, they guide the entire production team to bring a project to life. Whether through hands-on involvement or high-level oversight, he ensures artistic and narrative coherence from start to finish.