Veteran Studio Ghibli Animator Makiko Futaki Dies Aged 57

She worked on classics like 'My Neighbour Totoro', 'Spirited Away', and even 'Akira'.

Image via Studio Ghibli

While Hayao Miyazaki is name most people instantly associate with Studio Ghibli, their films require the work of many, many talents animators. One of those unsung was heroes was Makiko Futaki, who has tragically passed away aged just 57.

Futaki worked on every single one of Miyazaki’s classics, including My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away and Ponyo, and she even worked on Sherlock Hound, the early 80s TV series that was Miyazaki’s first notable work as a director. Other Ghibli films on her CV included From Upon On PoppyHill and Whisper of the Heart, and away from the studio she also served as a key animator of possibly the most important anime of all time, Akira.

Rest in peace.

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[via Indiewire]

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