Shingo Araki was born on January 1, 1939 in Aichi, Japan. Over the course of his career, Araki has done storyboards, key art, character design, animation direction, and directing. Araki often collaborated with character designer Michi Himeno, and the two founded the Araki Productions anime studio in 1975.

In the 1960s, Araki did animation for Attack No. 1, Jungle Emperor Leo, Jungle Taitei Susume Leo, and Marine Boy. He also did character design for Kyojin no Hoshi and storyboards for Paaman.

In the 1970s he did animation direction for Akai Tori no Kokoro, Apache Yakyugun, Tomorrow's Joe, Babel II, Cutey Honey, Devilman, the Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato film, Genshi Shonen Ryuu, Judo Sanka, Maho no Mako-chan, Planet Robot Danguard Ace, The Rose of Versailles, Shin Kyojin no Hoshi II, and UFO Robo Grendizer. He also directed Majokko Megu-chan and did original art for Taro the Dragon Boy.

In the 1970s, he also did character design, key animation, and storyboards on such productions as the Andersen Dowa – Ningyo Hime film, the Chingo Muchabei series, Galaxy Express 999, the Grendizer - Getter Robo G - Great Mazinger Kessen! Daikaijuu film, Hana no Ko Lunlun, Kouya no Shonen Isamu, and Shonen Tokugawa Ieyasu.

In the 1980s he did animation direction for Arcadia of My Youth: Endless Orbit SSX, Glass no Kamen, Maple Town Stories, Saint Seiya, and Ulysses 31. He also did character design for the Amon Saga OAV, the Legend of the Galactic Heroes OAV, Lupin III: Part III, Lupin VIII, and Mahou Shoujo Lalabel. He also did animation for Space Adventure Cobra - The Movie.

Also in the 1980s, Araki was an animator on several American productions: Inspector Gadget, Mighty Orbots, The Adventures of the American Rabbit, and G.I. Joe: The Movie. He was also the animation director for Heathcliff & the Catillac Cats.

In the 1990s, Araki did animation direction for the Aoki Densetsu Shoot! series and for Gegege no Kitaro. He also did character designs for the Aoki Densetsu Shoot! film, the Babel II OAV, the Fuma no Kojirou OAVs, Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo, Yokoyama Mitsuteru Sangokushi, and Yu-Gi-Oh!. In the 2000s, he did character design for Ring ni Kakero, Shin Kyuseishu Densetsu Hokuto no Ken: Raoh-den Junai no Sho, and The Siamese – First Mission.

Sadly, Araki passed away in a Tokyo hospital on December 1, 2011 due to acute circulatory failure. He was 72 years old at the time of his passing.