09/03/2026
๐ The anime industry has lost a veteran creator.
Japanese director and animator Yลซji Yanase has died at the age of 59 after suffering an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) on August 22.
His passing was announced by the official website for The Insipid Prince's Furtive Grab for The Throne, the series Yanase was directing this season.
But his contributions to anime stretch back nearly four decades.
And there's a VERY good chance you've watched something he helped bring to life.
๐ฌ AKIRA
๐ฅ Hellsing
๐ต Macross 7
โจ Chobits
๐ Aria the Animation
โ๏ธ Symphogear
๐ฑ In Another World With My Smartphone
๐ฒ By the Grace of the Gods
๐ณ In the Land of Leadale
๐ I'll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History
โ๏ธ Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra
Yanase began working in anime by at least 1988, contributing as an in-between animator before building a career as a key animator, animation director, episode director and eventually series director.
He made his directorial debut with Himegoto in 2014 and went on to direct numerous fantasy and isekai series over the following decade.
Even while directing entire productions, he continued working directly in animation.
Behind every anime we love are artists, animators and directors whose names may not always appear on posters...
but whose work is literally in every frame.
Nearly four decades helping bring stories to life.
Thank you for everything you gave to anime, Yลซji Yanase. โค๏ธ
Rest in peace. ๐๏ธ
๐ Which of Yanase's anime have you watched?
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