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Veteran animation art director Shichiro Kobayashi passes away at 89

The late art director was known for his work on Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, Nodame Cantabile, Treasure Island (Takarajima), Berserk and more.
The late art director was known for his work on Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, Nodame Cantabile, Treasure Island (Takarajima), Berserk and more.
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20 Sep 2022 08:09:42 GMT9
20 Sep 2022 08:09:42 GMT9

Amin Abbas

Animation art director Shichiro Kobayashi passed away due to congestive heart failure on August 25. He was 89.

The official TMS Entertainment page on Twitter quoted: “Anime art director Shichiro Kobayashi passed away on August 25th. For TMS works, he has contributed to the production of many works such as ‘Star of the Giants’, ‘Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro’, ‘Panda Kopanda Ame Furi Circus Volume’, and ‘Gamba’s Adventure’. We are deeply grateful and offer our deepest condolences.”

Veteran animator and animation director Shinya Hasegawa (A Certain Magical Index series, Sailor Moon, Neon Genesis Evangelion TV & Revolutionary Girl Utena) said on Twitter: “Revolutionary Girl Utena, Revolutionary Girl Utena Adolescence Apocalypse, Melody of Oblivion, Winter Garden, and many other wonderful artworks. I’m really thankful to you.”

Veteran director Kunihiko Ikuhara (Sailor Moon anime series, Revolutionary Girl Utena & creator of Penguindrum) said on Twitter: “Mr. Shichiro Kobayashi. Revolutionary Girl Utena on TV and Utena theatrical version. I still can’t forget the smile he occasionally showed me during a hot meeting. The last time we met was for Nodame Cantabile’s opening. Kobayashi-ism is eternal in anime art. I’m really thankful to you. Rest in peace.”

After graduating from Musashino Art University, Kobayashi worked as an elementary school art teacher and then joined Toei Dōga (now known as Toei Animation) in 1964. He then established his own Kobayashi Production company in 1968. He served as the art director on Dokonjo Gaeru, The Adventures of Gamba, Ganso Tensai Bakabon, Tomorrow’s Joe 2, Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer, Nodame Cantabile, Treasure Island (Takarajima), Berserk and other works.

Kobayashi received the Nihon Anime Taishō award in the Art category in 1986 and the Tokyo International Anime Fair’s Award of Merit in 2009. The Japanese government’s Agency for Cultural Affairs gave him the Film Award of Merit in 2011.

Kobayashi had an art exhibition in Kuwait on January 2018 at Kuwait’s Museum of Modern Art for 4 days that featured more than 150 art pieces of his works over the years. Moreover, Kobayashi presented “Anime Backgrounds Workshop” for 3 days during the exhibition.

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