Yuzuru Tachikawa was born on December 2, 1981, in the Iruma District of Saitama Prefecture, Japan. He is a graduate of the Nihon University College of Art. Following his education, he began his career in the animation industry at the renowned studio Madhouse, initially working as an animation director. He made his directorial debut in 2007 with the final episode of the television series Kiba. After his time at Madhouse, Tachikawa transitioned to working as a freelance director.

Tachikawa is widely recognized as the original creator of the psychological thriller series Death Parade. The project originated from the 2013 short film Death Billiards, which Tachikawa created, wrote, and directed as part of the Young Animator Training Project’s Anime Mirai program. The success of this short led to the full television series Death Parade in 2015, for which he again served as the original creator, writer, and director. The series is produced by Madhouse and explores themes of judgment, the afterlife, and the nature of the human soul through the lens of a mysterious bar where guests gamble their lives in games.

Beyond his original creations, Tachikawa has directed several other major projects. He directed the acclaimed anime adaptation of Mob Psycho 100 across its three seasons, from 2016 to 2022, receiving multiple accolades and nominations for his work. In 2020, he directed Deca-Dence, another original anime series. In an interview, Tachikawa described Deca-Dence as a high-concept science fiction action series that uses the setting of a post-human world managed by cyborgs to explore what it means to have the will to move forward. He stated that the character Natsume, a determined girl with a prosthetic arm, was created to represent this theme of perseverance despite impediments. He has also directed feature films, including Detective Conan: Zero the Executor (2018), Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine (2023), and the jazz-themed film Blue Giant (2023).

A recurring element in Tachikawa’s directorial work is the portrayal of intense, expressive physicality, whether in the psychic battles of Mob Psycho 100, the high-stakes games of Death Parade, or the musical performances in Blue Giant. His approach often blends conventional action with more abstract or psychedelic sequences to visualize a character's internal state. His career reflects a significant contribution to the industry, moving from studio work at Madhouse to become a prominent freelance director known for both critically successful adaptations and conceptually bold original anime series.