Tasuku Nagaoka is a Japanese director, animator, and storyboard artist who rose to prominence in the animation industry, primarily during the 1990s. He is best known for directing the acclaimed science fiction comedy series *Martian Successor Nadesico* and its sequel film, *The Prince of Darkness*. His career also includes directing several films for the *Slayers* franchise and successful OVA series such as *The Irresponsible Captain Tylor*, as well as contributing in various roles to productions like the *Tenchi Muyo!* saga. His work on *Nadesico* was instrumental in the series winning the prestigious Animage Anime Grand Prix in 1996, cementing his reputation as an influential figure in Japanese animation of that decade.