Ume Aoki is a Japanese manga artist from Hy?go Prefecture. She also illustrates under the pen-names Apply Fujimiya, for the visual novel Sanarara and Apricot+ for various doujinshi she makes. She officially romanizes her name as aokiume. She also provides the voice for her 'Metapod' persona in the anime version of Hidamari Sketch. Aoki also provided the original character designs for the anime production, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, developed by Shaft.