---
name: "Hisao Shirai"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/hisao-shirai"
fi1m_id: "hisao-shirai"
imdb_id: "nm0794174"
tmdb_id: 12186
wikidata_id: "Q11579330"
roles: ["Cinematographer"]
born: "12 December 1946"
died: "28 April 2019"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 85
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-17T14:50:07.698720+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Hisao Shirai

## Identity

Hisao Shirai

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/hisao-shirai
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** hisao-shirai
- **IMDb ID:** nm0794174
- **TMDB ID:** 12186
- **Wikidata ID:** Q11579330
- **Same entity:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11579330, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0794174/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12186

Cinematographer. Born 12 December 1946 in Saitama, Japan. Died 28 April 2019.

## Details

- **Work:** Cinematographer
- **Born:** 12 December 1946, Saitama, Japan
- **Died:** 28 April 2019
- **Active:** 1988–2002
- **Also known as:** 白井 久男
- **Frequently works with:** [Sadayuki Murai](https://film.one/person/sadayuki-murai.md), [Satoshi Kon](https://film.one/person/satoshi-kon.md)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 89 (1), 1990s 82 (2), 2000s 86 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 85 to 82 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Animation 4, Action 1, Drama 1, Family 1, Fantasy 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $54m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11579330, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0794174/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12186

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*My Neighbor Totoro*](https://film.one/film/my-neighbor-totoro.md) (89), [*Millennium Actress*](https://film.one/film/millennium-actress.md) (86), [*Perfect Blue*](https://film.one/film/perfect-blue.md) (82)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Ghost in the Shell*](https://film.one/film/ghost-in-the-shell.md) (83)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Hisao Shirai (白井 久男) was a Japanese cinematographer and director of photography specialising in animation. Born in Saitama Prefecture on 12 December 1946, he began in live-action photography before moving into anime as the film industry declined.

He worked on numerous television series and films from the 1970s onwards, serving as director of photography on *My Neighbor Totoro* (1988), *Only Yesterday* (1991), *Ghost in the Shell* (1995), *Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion* (1997), *Perfect Blue* (1997), *Pokémon: The First Movie* (1998), *Millennium Actress* (2001) and many episodes of the *Pokémon* and *Cardcaptor Sakura* series. He was formerly representative director of Studio Cosmos and died on 28 April 2019.

*Sources: imdb.com, ja.wikipedia.org, production-ig.co.jp.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Millennium Actress* (2002), Fi1m 86, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/millennium-actress.md)
- *Perfect Blue* (1998), Fi1m 82, Cinematography, Director of Photography — [page](https://film.one/film/perfect-blue.md)
- *Ghost in the Shell* (1995), Fi1m 83, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/ghost-in-the-shell.md)
- *My Neighbor Totoro* (1988), Fi1m 89, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/my-neighbor-totoro.md)

## Complete filmography (84)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Pokémon: Eevee & Friends* (2013), Director of Photography
- *Ghost in the Shell 2.0* (2008), Director of Photography
- *Saiyuki Reload: Burial* (2007), series, Director of Photography
- *Pokémon: The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon* (2006), Director of Photography
- *Himawari!* (2006), series, Director of Photography
- *Elfen Lied* (2004), series, Director of Photography
- *Mezzo DSA* (2004), series, Director of Photography
- *Gungrave* (2003), series, Director of Photography
- *The Galaxy Railways* (2003), series, Director of Photography
- *Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker* (2003), Director of Photography
- *Nasu: Summer in Andalusia* (2003), Director of Photography
- *Neon Genesis Evangelion: Theatrical Edition #26 Live Action Part (Special Rush Edit Version)* (2003), Director of Photography
- *Millennium Actress* (2002), Director of Photography — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/millennium-actress.md)
- *Pokémon Heroes* (2002), Director of Photography
- *Witch Hunter Robin* (2002), series, Director of Photography
- *Detective Conan: The Phantom of Baker Street* (2002), Camera Supervisor
- *Patlabor WXIII the Movie* (2002), Director of Photography
- *Aquarian Age: Sign for Evolution* (2002), series, Director of Photography
- *Inuyasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time* (2001), Director of Photography
- *X* (2001), series, Director of Photography
- *Pokémon 4Ever* (2001), Director of Photography
- *Pikachu's PikaBoo* (2001), Director of Photography
- *Ah! My Goddess: The Movie* (2000), Director of Photography
- *Argento Soma* (2000), series, Director of Photography
- *Fighting Spirit* (2000), series, Director of Photography
- *Lupin the Third: Missed by a Dollar* (2000), Director of Photography
- *Cardcaptor Sakura: The Sealed Card* (2000), Director of Photography
- *Leave it to Kero!* (2000), Director of Photography
- *Pokémon 3: The Movie* (2000), Director of Photography
- *Space Travelers: The Animation* (2000), Director of Photography
- *Crest of the Stars: Birth* (2000), Director of Photography
- *Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade* (1999), Director of Photography
- *Infinite Ryvius* (1999), series, Director of Photography
- *Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie* (1999), Director of Photography
- *Pokémon: Pikachu's Rescue Adventure* (1999), Director of Photography
- *Crest of the Stars* (1999), series, Director of Photography
- *Master Keaton* (1998), series, Director of Photography
- *Spriggan* (1998), Director of Photography
- *Pokémon: The First Movie* (1998), Director of Photography
- *Pikachu's Vacation* (1998), Director of Photography
- *Cardcaptor Sakura* (1998), series, Director of Photography
- *Legend of Basara* (1998), series, Director of Photography
- *TRIGUN* (1998), series, Director of Photography
- *EVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)²* (1998), Director of Photography
- *Revival of Evangelion* (1998), Director of Photography
- *Perfect Blue* (1998), Director of Photography — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/perfect-blue.md)
- *Vampire Princess Miyu* (1997), series, Director of Photography
- *Hyper Speed GranDoll* (1997), series, Director of Photography
- *Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion* (1997), Director of Photography
- *Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth* (1997), Director of Photography
- *Armitage III: Poly Matrix* (1996), Director of Photography
- *M.D. Geist II: Death Force* (1996), Director of Photography
- *Special Duty Combat Unit Shinesman* (1996), series, Director of Photography
- *Ghost in the Shell* (1995), Director of Photography — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/ghost-in-the-shell.md)
- *Saber Marionette R* (1995), series, Director of Photography
- *Lupin the Third: Farewell to Nostradamus* (1995), Camera Production Assistant
- *Armitage III* (1995), series, Director of Photography
- *Wild 7: Biker Knights* (1994), Director of Photography
- *Phantom Quest Corp.* (1994), series, Director of Photography
- *Crying Freeman 6: The Guiding Light of Memory* (1994), Director of Photography
- *Akuemon* (1993), Director of Photography
- *Miracle Girls* (1993), series, Director of Photography
- *Crying Freeman 5: Abduction in Chinatown* (1992), Director of Photography
- *Comet in Moominland* (1992), Director of Photography
- *Moonlight Pierce* (1991), Director of Photography
- *Adachi-ga Hara* (1991), Director of Photography
- *Flaming Rugby Boy: Dodge Danpei* (1991), series, Director of Photography
- *Crying Freeman 4: A Taste of Revenge* (1991), Director of Photography
- *Only Yesterday* (1991), Director of Photography
- *Slow Step* (1991), series, Director of Photography
- *Crying Freeman 3: Shades of Death, Part 2* (1990), Director of Photography
- *Moomin* (1990), series, Director of Photography
- *Crying Freeman 2: Shades of Death, Part 1* (1989), Director of Photography
- *Alfred J. Kwak* (1989), series, Director of Photography
- *Space Family Carlvinson* (1988), Director of Photography
- *Crying Freeman 1: Portrait of a Killer* (1988), Director of Photography
- *My Neighbor Totoro* (1988), Director of Photography — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/my-neighbor-totoro.md)
- *California Crisis: Gun Salvo* (1986), Camera Production Assistant
- *Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hoyoyo! The Treasure of Nanaba Castle* (1984), Director of Photography
- *Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hoyoyo! The Great Race Around The World* (1983), Director of Photography
- *Future War 198X* (1982), Director of Photography
- *Dr. Slump: Hoyoyo! Space Adventure* (1982), Director of Photography
- *The Tomb of Dracula* (1980), Director of Photography
- *King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table* (1979), series, Director of Photography

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/hisao-shirai