Akitarō Daichi is a Japanese anime director, producer, and photography director known for a diverse body of work that spans slapstick comedy, heartfelt drama, and grim war narratives. Born on January 13, 1956 in Gunma Prefecture, Daichi is a graduate of Tokyo Polytechnic University. He originally aspired to be a stage photographer before entering the anime industry at Tokyo Animation Film, a company specializing in anime photography. His first major credit was as photography director for the Doraemon film History of Nobita's Outer Space Trailblazing. After five years, he left to work at a video production company creating karaoke videos, but later returned to animation to focus on direction. In 1994, he gained attention for his storyboard work on Akazukin Chacha, and in 1995 he made his series directorial debut with Nurse Angel Ririka SOS.

As a creator, Daichi is credited as the original creator for several works. He is listed as the original creator and original story writer for the 1999 series Now and Then, Here and There, a dark isekai narrative about a boy transported to a brutal, war-torn world. He also served as original creator for Jubei-chan: The Ninja Girl and its sequel, as well as the original story for the short series Grrl Power. Beyond these original productions, Daichi has directed numerous adaptations of existing manga. His directorial filmography includes Kodocha (Kodomo no Omocha), Fruits Basket (2001), Ojarumaru, Jubei-chan, Carried by the Wind: Tsukikage Ran, Animation Runner Kuromi, Gag Manga Biyori (also known as Funny Manga Biyori), We Were There (Bokura ga Ita), Kamisama Kiss (Kamisama Hajimemashita), and Poyopoyo Kansatsu Nikki.

Daichi has articulated his creative approach by identifying comedy, crying, and action as his basic themes. He has described Now and Then, Here and There as an exception to his usual style, explaining that he wanted to make an anime about war to show how life would feel for a person who does not know conflict and is suddenly placed into a country at war. His directorial style is often characterized by rapid-fire dialogue, insertion of seemingly irrelevant comedic gags, and distinctive pacing in story rhythm and visual composition. This versatility has allowed him to work across genres, moving from the hyperactive insanity of Kodocha to the gentle warmth of Fruits Basket and the harsh realism of Now and Then, Here and There.

Daichi's industry significance is reflected in his reputation as a highly respected and prolific director who has worked on numerous high-profile and influential series from the late 1990s through the 2010s. However, his career is also marked by controversy. In 2018 and 2019, voice actress Hiroko Konishi alleged that she was propositioned by her manager to enter a mixed bath with Daichi in the nude and that she was subsequently blacklisted from the voice acting industry when she refused.