Anime Director Toyoo Ashida Passes Away

Animators Atsuko Watanabe and Hiroshi Koujina reported that anime director and character designer Toyoo Ashida passed away on Saturday, July 23. He was 67.

Ashida served as the series director for the two Fist of the North Star television anime series,Kuso Kagaku Sekai Gulliver Boy, and Sōten Kōro. He also directed the Fist of the North Star Movie, the Vampire Hunter D video anime, and The World of Narue. His many character design credits include UFO Senshi Daiapolon, the 1979 Cyborg 009 television anime, several Fairy Princess Minky Momoprojects, the Ginga Hyōryū Vifam titles, the Chō Mashin Eiyūden Wataru anime franchise, and Gulliver Boy.

In addition to his animation career, Ashida co-founded the labor group Japan Animation Creators Association (JAniCA) in 2007, and served as its first president. He founded Studio Live in 1976, and as the studio's president, he became the mentor of Watanabe, Koujina (the current head of Studio Live), and many other animators.

A private service for family members was held on Monday.

(animenewsnetwork.com)

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I feel terrible. The man has directed some of anime's greatest. Thoughts go out to his family and friends. RIP.