[Japanese Interviews: Life in LA] Kenji Ono Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Supervising Producer

Kenji Ono

Profession: Animation director at Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Born: 1976, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Education: studied illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he discovered his passion for animation.
Background: Having grown up across three continents, Ono’s multicultural upbringing deeply influences his creative vision and leadership style.

Kenji Ono: Leading the Animation Team at Nickelodeon Animetion Studio with a Global Perspective

“I’ve loved drawing since I was a child. As a child, I initially wanted to become an oil painter like my father. But after studying illustration in art school, I was drawn to the power of storytelling through images, which led me to pursue a career in animation,” says Kenji Ono, an animation director at Nickelodeon Animation Studio. Nickelodeon Animation, owned and operated by Paramount Global, is known for hits like SpongeBob SquarePants. At the helm of one of its creative teams, Ono brings a unique background shaped by life across three continents.

■Drawing has been his passion since early childhood.

Born in 1976 in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Ono spent his early years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where his father worked as a commercial trading company executive specializing in ships. Growing up in a five-member family with a Portuguese-speaking housekeeper, Ono attended a local kindergarten and was deeply influenced by his father’s passion for oil painting.

When he was six, his family returned to Tokyo. Though he found the urban environment stifling compared to Brazil, he adjusted, focusing on school while continuing to paint with his father on weekends. Then, at age 13, another international move took him to Jakarta, Indonesia. Adaptable and curious, Ono quickly embraced the local culture, balancing Islamic customs in daily life with American influences in school. He spent his free time skateboarding, playing baseball and dreaming of a future in the United States. During his high school years in Jakarta, Ono noticed how cultural differences shaped expression. While Japanese peers often tried not to stand out, his international classmates celebrated individuality — something that resonated with him. He found his best friend in a Dutch student named Nico, with whom he shared endless adventures.

In his senior year, Ono returned to Japan and enrolled at Yokohama International School. His art teacher recommended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), often referred to as the “Harvard of art schools.” After being accepted, he studied illustration before discovering his passion for animation in his third year. Following graduation, Ono moved to Los Angeles and began building an impressive career. His animation credits include The Simpsons, The Boss Baby (2017), and My Dad the Bounty Hunter (2023). Currently, he is directing the upcoming feature film Avatar: Seven Heavens, slated for release in 2027.