Biography: Toshifumi Akai (赤井 俊文, Akai Toshifumi, born August 18, 1982) is a Japanese animator, character designer, director, and animation director born in Osaka. He is affiliated with A-1 Pictures. After graduating from Tokyo Animation Academy (Tokyo Animator Gakuin), he joined Studio Takuranke. He left the company in less than half a year and, after working at Feel and Gainax, he joined A-1 Pictures.