Since we're talking about directing - it is a real shame that Ozu Yasujirou doesn't really get the appreciation he deserves. Yes, he isn't an anime director, but the man is one of the most influential filmakers in history, in general. And in terms of cinematography, anime really owes a lot to Ozu Yasujirou, through the use of still shots/pillow shots that serve as transitions, breather scenes and so on. Obviously, the use of these kind of still shots in anime was stimulated by the fact that the productions are/were in general low budget, but as far as style is concerned, Ozu's influence is undeniable. The "pillow" shots were part of his personal signature style. Other people didn't use them during his time. Not in the way he did, in any case.
And it's this manner of using shots that really caught up on the Japanese side of filmmaking. In terms of legacy, Anno is great at this. Both in his anime and live action films. Evangelion episode 1 is already famous for how good it "looks" even though it was made on not that much cash. And a lot of the shots that make it look good, are "still life" / no "actors" shots. Whenever there is a "cicada scene" in Eva, it's supposed to show you that there it is always summer. But stylistically, that's Ozu Yasujirou. Cuts of street poles and wires? Roofs? Long shots with trains and train passes? Yes, that's because these things are very Japanese (hey travel by train a lot). But stylistically, that's Ozu.