Aguri Miyazaki
Description
Aguri Miyazaki is a Japanese art director, designer, and original creator best known for her foundational work on the animated comedy series Usavich. Miyazaki works as a freelance art director and designer, with her professional history closely tied to the animation studio Kanaban Graphics. She joined the production team that would eventually form Kanaban Graphics in 2003, where she handled 3D CG production and graphic design. When Kanaban Graphics was formally established in 2004, Miyazaki was a participant in its founding. Her role at the studio involves creating character designs, logos, graphic designs, and concept art, all marked by a distinctive illustrative style.
Miyazaki is credited as the original character designer for the studio's flagship series, Usavich. According to the series producer and Kanaban founder Satoshi Tomioka, the characters in Usavich were created by Miyazaki, a designer described as being addicted to drawing frogs and rabbits. Tomioka selected two rabbits wearing striped shirts from her final character designs to serve as the main protagonists, Putin and Kirenenko. From these designs, the story of a prison break was developed. Miyazaki is officially credited as the original creator, character designer, and art director for the series.
Usavich is a CGI animated comedy that first aired on mobile platforms in June 2006 before broadcasting on MTV Japan. The series is known for its short-form, dialogue-free episodes that focus on slapstick humor, following the absurd daily routines and escape attempts of two anthropomorphic rabbits imprisoned in a Soviet-era facility. Miyazaki worked on multiple seasons of the show. Her credits include original creator and character designer for Usavich Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, and Season 5. She also served as the original creator and designer for the related series Usavich Zero. Beyond the Usavich franchise, Miyazaki is credited as the character designer for Inazma Delivery, also known as Inazuma Delivery, a series produced by Kanaban Graphics that aired in 2016. Her other production credits include美术设定, or art setting, for the series Yan Yan Machiko.
Within the animation industry, Aguri Miyazaki is a significant figure as the primary designer behind a successful and long-running original IP. Her work on Usavich demonstrates how a strong, unique character design can serve as the core foundation for a multimedia franchise that spans multiple seasons, merchandise, and international distribution. Her career reflects the role of a creator who combines freelance art direction with deep integration into a single production studio's output.
Miyazaki is credited as the original character designer for the studio's flagship series, Usavich. According to the series producer and Kanaban founder Satoshi Tomioka, the characters in Usavich were created by Miyazaki, a designer described as being addicted to drawing frogs and rabbits. Tomioka selected two rabbits wearing striped shirts from her final character designs to serve as the main protagonists, Putin and Kirenenko. From these designs, the story of a prison break was developed. Miyazaki is officially credited as the original creator, character designer, and art director for the series.
Usavich is a CGI animated comedy that first aired on mobile platforms in June 2006 before broadcasting on MTV Japan. The series is known for its short-form, dialogue-free episodes that focus on slapstick humor, following the absurd daily routines and escape attempts of two anthropomorphic rabbits imprisoned in a Soviet-era facility. Miyazaki worked on multiple seasons of the show. Her credits include original creator and character designer for Usavich Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4, and Season 5. She also served as the original creator and designer for the related series Usavich Zero. Beyond the Usavich franchise, Miyazaki is credited as the character designer for Inazma Delivery, also known as Inazuma Delivery, a series produced by Kanaban Graphics that aired in 2016. Her other production credits include美术设定, or art setting, for the series Yan Yan Machiko.
Within the animation industry, Aguri Miyazaki is a significant figure as the primary designer behind a successful and long-running original IP. Her work on Usavich demonstrates how a strong, unique character design can serve as the core foundation for a multimedia franchise that spans multiple seasons, merchandise, and international distribution. Her career reflects the role of a creator who combines freelance art direction with deep integration into a single production studio's output.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview