My Hero Academia and Afro Samurai Art Director has Died

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My Hero Academia and Afro Samurai Art Director has Died

Key Takeaways

  • Award-winning art director Shigemi Ikeda, known for My Hero Academia and Afro Samurai, passed away at 69.
  • His work on Afro Samurai: Resurrection earned him a Primetime Emmy Award in 2009, a rarity for anime.
  • Ikeda’s remarkable career spanned numerous iconic anime titles, establishing a lasting legacy in the industry.

As a gamer with an unquenchable thirst for anime, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of loss upon hearing about the passing of Shigemi Ikeda. This man was not just an art director; he was a master storyteller who breathed life into some of the most iconic characters and worlds we’ve come to know and love.

As a gamer, I’m deeply saddened to share that Shigemi Ikeda, the legendary art director who breathed life into iconic anime titles like My Hero Academia and Afro Samurai, is no longer with us. At 69, he left us on October 13th, though his passing wasn’t officially confirmed until October 26th. His funeral was a private affair, attended only by his closest family members. Rest in peace, Shigemi Ikeda, your art will forever live on.

Studio GONZO, known for productions like Hellsing and Welcome to the N.H.K., announced the sad news of Ikeda’s death. According to their social media platform (previously Twitter), this unfortunate event occurred at the end of October. Ikeda, a distinguished art director, was also a recipient of an Emmy Award for his contributions to anime.

An Emmy-Award Winning Art Director

Shigemi Ikeda’s Greatest Work

My Hero Academia and Afro Samurai Art Director has Died

Shigemi Ikeda, a prolific anime art director, is often associated with many projects, but it’s likely his work on “Afro Samurai” that will be most etched in our minds. In 2009, he collaborated with Studio GONZO on the film “Afro Samurai: Resurrection“. This partnership earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for “Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation” for his exceptional work on this title.

scarcely any anime series have managed to secure an Emmy Award (which made waves when Blue Eye Samurai triumphed in 2023), so it was a significant milestone for Ikeda to claim victory. Other notable animation pieces that have also earned this award include prominent titles such as The Simpsons, Adventure Time, Love, Death, & Robots, and Futurama. Most of the nominees and winners for this prestigious award hail from Western studios. Remarkably, Afro Samurai : Resurrection outshone its competitors and Ikeda snatched the award in 2009.

Art Direction by Shigemi Ikeda

A Staggering Resume

As a gaming enthusiast, while “Afro Samurai: Resurrection” might have earned Shigemi Ikeda a Primetime Emmy Award, it was just one among many of his works, and perhaps not even the most renowned. Over the years, he’s collaborated with various studios, amassing an impressive portfolio as an art director on countless anime titles. These projects spanned from brief single-season series to long-running ones that captivated viewers for seasons on end.

AnimeNewsNetwork reports that Ikeda’s incredible career as an art director include,

…the first
Afro Samurai
anime series,
Bastard!!
,
Bokurano
,
Gantz
,
Gasaraki
,
Inuyasha
,
Library War
,
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack
,
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
— and many later
Gundam
projects including
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed
,
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin
,
Mobile Suit Gundam UC
, and the recent
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed FREEDOM
film —
Phantom – The Animation
,
Planetes
,
Starship Troopers
,
Macross Delta
,
Fantasista Doll
,
Boogiepop and Others
, all seven seasons of the
My Hero Academia
anime, all four seasons and films of the
Overlord
anime, the first two seasons of the
One-Punch Man
anime,
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
, both seasons of
The Promised Neverland
,
Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon
,
Infinite Ryvius
,
Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040
,
Bubblegum Crisis
, and many more.

Shigemi Ikeda’s impact may no longer be physically present, but his influence will endure eternally. With a vast repertoire of anime under his belt, some of which have garnered global recognition, his creations will continue to captivate audiences for generations. Just as any exceptional artist, Ikeda’s spirit will persist through the art he has bequeathed, and it is undeniable that many anime owe their greatness to his skill.

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2024-11-08 18:25