Shinichi Watanabe is a Japanese anime director and voice actor, born September 6, 1964. He is widely recognized by his nickname, Nabeshin, a portmanteau of his family name Watanabe and his given name Shinichi. This persona is central to his identity in the anime industry, serving as his on-screen alter ego and the primary voice acting role for which he is known.

Watanabe's voice acting career is inextricably linked to his work as a director, beginning with his debut series, Fair, then Partly Piggy, also known as Tokyo Pig, in 1997. In this show, he first introduced a character based on himself, a young friend of the protagonist with his signature afro. This self-insertion became a hallmark of his style, reaching its peak with the 1999 anime adaptation of Excel Saga, which he directed. In Excel Saga, Watanabe voiced the character Nabeshin, a flamboyant, afro-sporting, Lupin III-like figure who acts as a parody of a director inserting himself into his own creation to appear cooler. The character often intervenes in the plot and breaks the fourth wall.

The Nabeshin character was further developed in the 2001 original video animation series Puni Puni Poemy, a spin-off of Excel Saga which Watanabe also directed. In Puni Puni Poemy, he reprises the role of Shinichi Nabeshin Watanabe, the adoptive father of the titular character, Poemi. As in Excel Saga, the character is depicted with his distinctive afro and is killed and later resurrected in a plot that parodies anime conventions, further cementing Nabeshin as a comedic, self-referential icon.

Beyond these central roles, Watanabe has lent his likeness and voice to numerous cameo appearances in other series he directed or was involved with. His Nabeshin persona, or variations of it, can be seen as NB in Tenchi Muyo! GXP, as Inu-Afro in Dotto! Koni-chan, and as the rental shop owner Oya-san in Nerima Daikon Brothers. He has also made brief appearances or cameos in a wide array of other anime, including Eyeshield 21, Hayate the Combat Butler, Nyan Koi!, Sket Dance, and The Wallflower. These appearances often involve Watanabe voicing a character who is clearly designed to look like him, engaging in brief, humorous interactions.

A notable achievement in Watanabe's career came in 1998, when he won the Best Individual award at the 3rd Animation Kobe for his directorial work on Tokyo Pig. While this award recognizes his directing, it is part of the same creative output that features his voice acting persona. His distinctive appearance, including the afro and bright clothing inspired by Lupin III, has become a trademark, making him a recognizable and celebrated figure at anime conventions and a unique talent who has blurred the lines between creator and character.