Mecha Animator Kunihiro Abe Dies

by tsubasalover
Aug 18, 2018 9:10 AM | 21 Comments

Renowned mecha animator, Kunihiro Abe, died last Wednesday from a disease not specified. His death was announced by his wife Ayumi Abe and daughter via their Twitter accounts. He was 50 years old. Shown is the final illustration done by Abe, which was given to his daughter during her birthday this July. It was his favorite, too.

Kunihiro Abe was well-known for his work with mecha animation, especially with Sunrise's Gundam franchise, among many other projects throughout his career. Fellow animator and director, Kou Matsuo, said in a statement that Abe possessed the exceptional skill to draw both mecha and human character, allowing the addition of diverse and dynamic scenes in their projects. The most notable of which is during the finale of the Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation - Heir to the Stars, where Abe was able to animate realistic parachute physics upon a bluff request by director Yoshiyuki Tomino.

Source: Ayumi Abe's Twiter

News submitted by changelog

Life Event Staff

20 of 21 Comments Recent Comments

Too young. Rest in peace.

Sep 8, 2018 8:40 AM by Nintendofan204

changelog_ said:

Playcool said:
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=9521

This guy worked on some scenes for Iron Blooded Orphans (which has top animation quality), rest in piece, such a talent lost forever.
The industry does need more people of his talent...

changelog_ said:
For those of you who want to see the parachute scene.

https://twitter.com/Agresiel/status/1030480155238694912?s=09

Is the seen you're referring to the one above?

I said I was talking about iron blooded orphans!

He worked on some scenes there.

Sep 3, 2018 5:51 AM by Playcool

changelog_ said:
For those of you who want to see the parachute scene.

https://twitter.com/Agresiel/status/1030480155238694912?s=09

Is the seen you're referring to the one above?

Aug 28, 2018 11:40 AM by removed-user

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=9521

This guy worked on some scenes for Iron Blooded Orphans (which has top animation quality), rest in piece, such a talent lost forever.
The industry does need more people of his talent...

Aug 28, 2018 7:30 AM by Playcool

this is truly a sad news day, his work will never be forgotten

Aug 20, 2018 10:04 AM by NG_Chloe

this is truly a sad news day, his work will never be forgotten

Aug 20, 2018 10:04 AM by NG_Chloe

damn that's so sad
rest in peace

Aug 19, 2018 2:23 PM by removed-user

Rest in peace, and thank you for all your hard work!

Aug 19, 2018 8:25 AM by _MushiRock11_

50 years old is young, rest in peace mecha legend

Aug 19, 2018 8:13 AM by RedPlaty

Rest in peace Sir.One by one all legends are passing away.God

Aug 19, 2018 7:20 AM by Arjuna777

It's a nice illustration. He's a talented man for sure.

Aug 19, 2018 6:55 AM by hazecloud

Rest in peace Mr Abe.

Aug 19, 2018 2:33 AM by Haneken2086

A big loss for the industry especially in the mecha genre. May your soul rest in peace.
(ノ_<。)

Aug 18, 2018 10:06 PM by xchyssa

i did heard of him, but man this is to sad
R.I.P Kunihiro

Aug 18, 2018 6:03 PM by removed-user

Never heard of him before, but he'll be missed. So many people dying lately.

Aug 18, 2018 4:16 PM by juandmarco

.... I hope he'll find a place in the afterworld where he can draw and animate anything he wants like he's only capable of.

Big loss for the mecha genre and the anime industry as a whole (once again ...) and specially their family, my thoughts are with them.

Aug 18, 2018 10:57 AM by mar1217

What's happening? one by one, really sad :(

Rest In Peace, sir.

Aug 18, 2018 10:50 AM by A_silent_Being

For those of you who want to see the parachute scene.

https://twitter.com/Agresiel/status/1030480155238694912?s=09

Aug 18, 2018 10:44 AM by removed-user

@changelog_ Fixed them, thanks.

Aug 18, 2018 10:37 AM by tsubasalover

Rest in peace. Legends are dying one by one...

Edit: @tsubasalover shouldn't it be "which was given", as apposed to "which given"?

Edit #2: "stent" should be "statement", typos.

Aug 18, 2018 10:25 AM by removed-user

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