If you’ve seen intergalactic dogfights, energetic idol groups, or bikini-clad swordswomen tearing up the screen, there’s a solid chance that Hiroaki Gouda animated them. After proving his chops on 80s classics like Macross: Do You Remember Love? and Project A-ko, the key animator made his directorial debut with Bubblegum Crisis’s final episode, Scoop Chase. This directorial momentum carried him into the Ah! My Goddess series, of which he’s helmed nearly every installment. In recent years, he’s kept his skills sharp by contributing key animation to series such as Lycoris Recoil, SPYxFAMILY, and Solo Leveling.