Shiniichi Masaki (政木 伸一) was a Japanese animation director and storyboard artist who passed away in May 2018. He began his career at Kaname Production, transitioning from production assistant to director. At a young age, he directed "The Humanoid", a science fiction film that marked his directorial debut. Later, he worked as a freelancer, mainly collaborating with studios like Studio Gazelle. Over more than three decades, Masaki contributed to a wide range of anime series across TV, film, and OVA formats. His notable works include "Fist of the North Star", "Saint Seiya", "Cardcaptor Sakura", "Initial D: Second Stage", and "Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion". He also directed episodes of "Yu-Gi-Oh!", "Persona4 the ANIMATION", "Danganronpa", and "Girls und Panzer".