Haruo Sotozaki
Birthdate: Feb 1, 1974
Birthplace: Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan
Haruo Sotozaki is a 30-year veteran in the Japanese animation industry and is best known as the director and animation director of parts of five features (and 44 TV episodes) in the Demon Slayer/Kimetsu no Yaiba series, starting in 2019 with Demon Slayer: Sibling’s Bond, which was a compilation of the first five episodes in the TV series version, the first two of which were directed by Sotozaki.
Sotozaki then directed the feature Demon Slayer: The Movie-Mugen Train (2020), a direct sequel to Demon Slayer’s previous TV season, starring the voices of Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kito, and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, and grossing a knockout $507 million for producers Ufotable and distributor Toho. Sotozaki’s third feature in the series was Demon Slayer: Mt. Natagumo Arc (2020), followed by Sotozaki directing Demon Slayer: To the Swordsmith Village (2023), featuring the same voice cast, and serving as a sequel as well as a compilation of the previous TV season’s episodes, and grossing $56 million worldwide.
Haruo Sotozaki directed his next feature in the series, Demon Slayer: To the Hashira Training (2024), which was also a combined sequel and a compilation of the TV series’ previous (third) season, and again starring the voice cast of Hanae, Kito, and Matusoka, and released by Toho/Aniplex, first in Japan and then in Brazil, Korea, Mexico, the U.S. and other world markets. Sotozaki worked in various capacities in animation production before becoming a director for anime TV production in 2002 with such series as X (2002-2003), Ninja Nonsense (2004), Tales of Symphonia: The Animation (2007-2012), and Tales of Zestiria the X (2016-2017).
Sotozaki was director of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba—The Movie: Infinity Castle (2025), the direct theatrical sequel to the fourth season of the Demon Slayer series as well as the sequel to To the Hashira Training, starring Japanese voice acts Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kito and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka and, for the English dub, Zach Aguilar, Abby Trott and Bryce Papenbrook, was released in Japan by Aniplex/Toho to become the highest-grossing Japanese released of 2025 and the third-highest in Japanese theatrical history ($294 million gross to date), and released by Crunchyroll via Sony Pictures Releasing.
Personal life
Haruo Sotozaki was born and raised by his parents in Muroran on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. Sotozaki’s estimated net worth is $4 million.
Known For
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
(2019)
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train
(2020)
Haruo Sotozaki Movies
director
Previous (4)
- 2025 |
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – Infinity Castle
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – Infinity Castle
The Demon Slayer Corps are drawn into the Infinity Castle, where Tanjiro, Nezuko, and the Hashira face terrifying Upper Rank demons in a desperate fight as the final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji begins.
- 2024 |
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Hashira Training
Tanjiro undergoes rigorous training with the Stone Hashira, Himejima, in his quest to become a Hashira. Meanwhile, Muzan continues to search for Nezuko and Ubuyashiki.
- 2023 |
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village
Tanjiro needs to bring a definitive end to Upper Rank Six. After the dust settles, he goes with his sister Nezuko to the Swordsmith Village in search of a new sword.
- 2021 |
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train
After his family was brutally murdered and his sister turned into a demon, Tanjiro Kamado's journey as a demon slayer began. Tanjiro and his comrades embark on a new mission aboard the Mugen Train, on track to despair.
actor
Previous (5)
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