Yutaka Yamamoto was born in 1974 and graduated from the Literature Department of Kyoto University. After joining the anime studio Kyoto Animation, he worked as an Episodic Director on several animated television series, including Haré+Guu, Atashinchi, Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu, and AIR. In 2006, he was the Series Director for the smash hit The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and made his full directorial debut in 2007 with Lucky Star. Since then, Yamamoto has established his own independent animation studio, Ordet and in 2008 directed Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens.