Aoi Miyamori developed an early interest in animation during her high school years. In her second year, she was deeply impressed by a drawing made by her classmate Ema Yasuhara during a sports day event. Inspired by the potential of bringing such art to life through animation, Aoi formed an animation club with four of her close friends: Ema Yasuhara, Shizuka Sakaki, Misa Tōdō, and Midori Imai.

Together, the group produced a short animation titled Shinbutsu Konkou SHICHIFUKUJIN, which was screened at their high school’s cultural festival. Throughout the project, each member discovered their natural strengths whether in animation, CG, voice acting, or writing while Aoi came to the realization that she was not particularly skilled in any specific technical area. However, her ability to organize, implement ideas, and manage workflow stood out to the group. Recognizing her leadership qualities, the others unanimously appointed her as the project’s director.

Before graduating, the five friends made a heartfelt promise to one day reunite and create an original anime together. They symbolically sealed this vow by sharing doughnuts, a recurring motif in their friendship.

After graduating from college, Aoi pursued a career in the anime industry, though her job search proved difficult. For two months, she received no offers, leaving her disheartened. Her fortunes changed when she was hired by Musashino Animation (Musani), where she began working as a production assistant. One year later, she participated in her first full production, Exodus!.

Following the completion of Exodus!, Musani began work on another anime project: Third Aerial Girls Squad, an adaptation of a popular manga. During this time, Aoi was promoted to Head Production Assistant by director Seiichi Kinoshita, following the resignation of her colleague Yutaka Honda, who left the company to chase his own creative dreams. The promotion placed Aoi in a demanding role, and she initially struggled with the overwhelming responsibilities it entailed.

After Third Aerial Girls Squad, Musani continued production work smoothly until the development of Time Hippopotamus. A conflict between the company and the creator group TRAP led to the project’s sudden halt. The situation demoralized the staff, causing many employees to resign. Despite the setback, Aoi remained at Musashino Animation, holding on to her passion for anime and her belief in the promise she made with her friends.

Aoi Miyamori is a petite young woman who has recently graduated from college. She has straight, neck-length caramel-colored hair with bangs swept to the right side, and large grayish-green eyes that reflect her energetic and earnest personality.

Her usual outfit consists of a white frilly blouse worn beneath a short black dress, complemented by a blue two-button blazer with three-quarter length sleeves. She pairs this with matching blue socks and blue sneakers adorned with pink laces, giving her a casual yet professional look suitable for her role in anime production.

Aoi Miyamori is bright, cheerful, and energetic, consistently striving to maintain a positive outlook even when faced with difficult or uncertain situations. She is hardworking and deeply values her friendships, often putting others before herself. Despite the high-pressure environment of anime production, Aoi makes a conscious effort to remain calm and composed under stress.

Although she begins her career at Musashino Animation with little experience, Aoi quickly adapts to the demanding nature of the industry. Her perseverance, strong work ethic, and ability to navigate complex challenges earn her the respect of both colleagues and industry professionals. She is notably patient and persistent, qualities that help her manage setbacks and find solutions during production crises.

In the SHIROBAKO movie, Aoi is shown to be deeply impacted by the fallout from the Time Hippo project. The incident leads her into a period of uncharacteristic depression, reflecting the emotional weight of her responsibilities. Nevertheless, she gradually regains her confidence and motivation, playing a key role in the creation of the new anime project, SIVA.

Aoi’s given name is written in hiragana as あおい, which does not carry a specific meaning on its own. However, when written in kanji, it can take on various interpretations, such as:

Her surname, Miyamori (宮森), is composed of the kanji 宮 (miya), meaning “shrine,” “temple,” or “palace,” and 森 (mori), meaning “forest.”