Toshiki Hirano, born Toshihiro Hirano on October 3, 1956, in Tokyo, is a Japanese anime director, animator, character designer, and manga creator. He began his career in the animation industry while still a student at Tokyo Designer Gakuin College, working as an in-between artist for Toei Doga. Over the following years, he gained experience at several notable studios, including Studio No. 1, Artland, and AIC, before establishing his own company, Toshiki Hirano Office Ltd. His early work as a character animation director on the 1982 television series The Super Dimension Fortress Macross brought him significant attention for his skill in depicting appealing female characters. This success led to high-profile assignments such as character design for the original video animation Megazone 23 in 1985 and the television series Ninja Senshi Tobikage the same year.

Hirano made his directorial debut with the original video animation Fight! Iczer One, a project he co-developed that became a commercial success and launched a franchise. He continued to direct numerous OVA series throughout the late 1980s, including Dangaioh, Hades Project Zeorymer, and Daimajū Gekitō: Hagane no Oni, cultivating a dedicated following. His involvement as an original creator and director extended to the Vampire Princess Miyu franchise, a series he developed in collaboration with his wife, the animator and manga artist Narumi Kakinouchi. The pair have frequently collaborated on projects, including the manga series Vampire Princess Miyu, Shaolin Sisters, and Golden Warrior Iczer-One.

As his career progressed, Hirano transitioned to directing television series, with notable credits including Magic Knight Rayearth, the horror-infused Devil Lady, and Angel Heart. He also contributed storyboards to the anime Sonic X. In the 2000s and 2010s, he directed entries in the Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior film series and the Baki franchise. Throughout his career, his work has been characterized by a blend of science fiction, horror, action, and a focus on strong female protagonists, a style established in his early OVA works. His contributions span multiple decades, establishing him as a significant figure in the industry, particularly in the direct-to-video market of the 1980s and 1990s.