Ryō Aoki is a Japanese creator and producer primarily known for originating the anime television series Gibiate. Aoki served as the original creator, writer, and executive producer for the project, which was announced at Anime Expo in 2019 and aired from July to September 2020. In addition to writing the series, he was responsible for the overall planning of the production.

Before Gibiate, Aoki had involvement in other anime projects, including Girlfriend (Kari) and Bonjour Sweet Love Patisserie, where he worked as a project leader. His role in Gibiate marked a significant expansion of his creative control, as he sought to bring together a team of Japanese creators with international recognition. This approach was informed by his belief that creating ambitious, globally appealing content required assembling what he termed "Japanese creative all-stars". For Gibiate, this included renowned artist Yoshitaka Amano, who provided the original character designs, and composer Yuzo Koshiro.

Aoki has stated that the concept for Gibiate was conceived in Singapore, where the Marina Bay Sands development inspired him to embrace an extravagant, "over-the-top" creative philosophy to attract a worldwide audience. The story of Gibiate combines elements of science fiction and historical drama, centering on a post-apocalyptic Japan in 2030 where a virus transforms people into monsters, and three warriors from the Edo period who are transported through time to confront this crisis. Aoki identified the series' central theme as "to live," exploring how individuals from a harsh historical period navigate a different but equally challenging modern hell.

Aoki's career reflects a focus on production leadership, with Gibiate representing a project where he brought together a diverse team of collaborators, including specialists in sword-making, calligraphy, and traditional Japanese music, to realize his creative vision.