Takeshi Koike (小池健 Koike Takeshi) (born January 26, 1968) is a Japanese studio animator, illustrator and film director. Something of a protégée of Yoshiaki Kawajiri, he went straight from a high school education to beginning his career at Madhouse as an in-betweener on works directed by Kawajiri after being interviewed by him.[1] His first professional work as director is the title sequence of the 2000 film Party 7; while his first feature film is REDLINE, which premiered in 2009 and was released in 2010. Work outside of animation includes the artwork for the 2004 Dreams Come True single "Yasashii Kiss o Shite".[2]