Rintaro was born in
Tokyo. His first job in the animation industry was as an in-between animator on the 1958 film
Hakujaden, which he worked on while working at
Toei Animation. After working on two additional films there, he began working for
Mushi Productions, the studio run by
Osamu Tezuka. His first directing job was the fourth episode of the 1963 series
Astro Boy. In 2023, a short film directed by Rintaro, ''Yamanaka Sadao ni Sasageru Manga Eiga 'Nezumikozō Jirokichi'', premiered at the 1st Niigata International Animation Film Festival. Rintaro's brother, Masayuki Hayashi, is himself an anime director and animator with credits including
Wandering Sun,
Kimba the White Lion,
Combattler V and several
Tatsunoko productions including
Kerokko Demetan,
Dash Kappei, ''
The Littl' Bits, and Okawari Boy
Starzan S. Some sources, including The Anime Encyclopedia'', erroneously claim that "Masayuki Hayashi" and "Rintaro" are one and the same. ==Filmography==