Kazuo Oga

[Wiki (jp)](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/男鹿和雄) | [Wiki (en)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazuo_Oga) After graduating from Kakunodate High School he joined an art school, which he quit one year prior to graduation. In 1972, he started working at Kobayashi Production, where he was studying under [Shichirou Kobayashi](https://anilist.co/staff/103964/). Later he joined [Madhouse](https://anilist.co/studio/11/) for a brief time, working as an art director on titles such as [Barefoot Gen](https://anilist.co/anime/1824/) and [Wicked City](https://anilist.co/anime/1107/). After this he was scouted out by [Hayao Miyazaki](https://anilist.co/staff/96870/), who was searching for a new art director for Studio Ghibli. At Ghibli he was appointed as the art director for [My Neighbour Totoro](https://anilist.co/anime/523/), in which he was praised for his work by both Miyazaki and [Isao Takahata](https://anilist.co/staff/100579/). He worked at Ghibli for many years taking part in the production of most of their films. During this time he also worked on non-Ghibli works. Oga has since left the studio and is now freelance. He has also published several art books and acts as an advisor at Deho Gallery.