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Art Director Shichirou Kobayas...

Art Director Shichirou Kobayashi Dies at 89

by DatRandomDude
Sep 10, 2022 1:20 PM | 21 Comments
Art Director Shichirou Kobayashi died due to congestive heart failure on August 25. He was 89 years old.

Kobayashi was born in August 1932, in Hokkaido prefecture and joined Toei Animation in 1964 after graduating from Musashino Art University. In 1968, he founded Kobayashi Production, which primarily focused on background art.

Kobayashi's portfolio as an art director include Lupin III: Cagliostro no Shiro (Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro), Shoujo Kakumei Utena (Revolutionary Girl Utena), Kenpuu Denki Berserk (Berserk), Nodame Cantabile, and Kaichou wa Maid-sama! (Maid-sama!). He worked as the art director for the Tantei Opera Milky Holmes television anime in Fall 2010 before retiring.

Kobayashi won the Best Art award at the Japan Anime Awards in 1986, Distinguished Achievement Award at the Tokyo International Anime Fair in 2009, and the Film Achievement Prize at the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2011.

Source: Comic Natalie
Life EventStaff

20 of 21 Comments Recent Comments

I was just wondering how good the background art was for berserk 1997 and the perfect colour choice and i was pondering on who couldve been the background artist, turns out he died a couple months ago. rest well king

Feb 12, 2023 11:40 AM by Xelones

Rest in Peace sir.

Sep 12, 2022 2:36 PM by Hirax

May his beaitiful soul rest in peace

Sep 12, 2022 6:08 AM by Tokoya

Huge loss. Anime industry has lost very talented artist. Rest in peace, Shichirou Kobayashi.

Sep 11, 2022 10:38 PM by Adnash

Angel's Egg was good

Sep 11, 2022 5:02 PM by LainPlush

RIP.

A true legend.

Sep 11, 2022 1:02 PM by rktales

An actual legend, RIP.

Sep 11, 2022 8:00 AM by Nidhoeggr

His talent speaks for itself when you look at some of the projects he's worked on. Rest in peace.

Sep 11, 2022 7:30 AM by elnino02

Rest in Peace sir. Your works in anime will be remembered forever.

Sep 11, 2022 7:17 AM by removed-user

RIP Legend. You've inspired many people in the industry.

Sep 11, 2022 6:24 AM by Pre_Yum

This man was incredible! I'm happy he was recognized and acknowledged in life. RIP

Sep 11, 2022 2:30 AM by CataOrShane

Rest in Peace, love your contribution for Utena

Sep 10, 2022 9:08 PM by CQLLIST

My deepest condolences. Rest in peace.

Sep 10, 2022 5:49 PM by Stacias

R.I.P

You've inspired many others. Rest well.

Sep 10, 2022 5:33 PM by Remioxo

DatRandomDude said:
Art Director Shichirou Kobayashi died due to congestive heart failure on August 25. He was 89 years old.

Kobayashi was born in August 1932, in Hokkaido prefecture and joined Toei Animation in 1964 after graduating from Musashino Art University. In 1968, he founded Kobayashi Production, which primarily focused on background art.

Kobayashi's portfolio as an art director include Lupin III: Cagliostro no Shiro (Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro), Shoujo Kakumei Utena (Revolutionary Girl Utena), Kenpuu Denki Berserk (Berserk), Nodame Cantabile, and Kaichou wa Maid-sama! (Maid-sama!). He worked as the art director for the Tantei Opera Milky Holmes television anime in Fall 2010 before retiring.

Kobayashi won the Best Art award at the Japan Anime Awards in 1986, Distinguished Achievement Award at the Tokyo International Anime Fair in 2009, and the Film Achievement Prize at the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 2011.

Source: Comic Natalie


RIP, he definitely did not live a bad life.

Sep 10, 2022 5:15 PM by TheMechaManiac

RIP and wow it feels like its rare for animators to have a long life like him

Sep 10, 2022 3:04 PM by deg

Such a great artist, he will be painting the clouds now...

Sep 10, 2022 2:48 PM by TheNextDoor

A big loss.. Rest In Peace.

Sep 10, 2022 2:38 PM by 024

RIP that’s very sad to hear this news on most of my fav anime ❤️

Sep 10, 2022 1:56 PM by Curiouswanderer

Berserk, Utena, Maid-sama and Nodame? Quite a wide and varied portfolio. Rest in peace.

Sep 10, 2022 1:34 PM by RobertBobert

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