Nizo Yamamoto, an animation art director known for his great contributions to many anime projects, including those of Studio Ghibli, passed away on August 19.
Yamamoto’s son, Takao, shared the news on X (formerly known as Twitter). Takao also revealed that Yamamoto had been working until recently. Yamamoto is 70 years old and has stomach cancer.
Born on June 27, 1953, in Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, Yamamoto’s creative journey took a unique path. He initially studied architecture, but he eventually found his passion for fine art in Tokyo, where he began creating background artwork for anime projects. His early projects include collaborations with acclaimed directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata on series such as Attack on Tomorrow and Future Boy Conan. With the establishment of Studio Ghibli by Miyazaki, Takahata, Yasuyoshi Tokuma, and producer Toshio Suzuki, Yamamoto’s remarkable skills have found a place to showcase their skills in critically acclaimed and valuable animated films. .
Yamamoto served as art director for such iconic works as Laputa: Castle in the Sky, Grave of the Firefly and Princess Mononoke. His art also shows up against the background of titles like Only Today, Whisper of the Heart and Spirited Away. In addition to his work with Studio Ghibli, Yamamoto’s collaborations with other popular anime legends have spawned projects such as Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue, Mamoru Hosoda’s The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, and Makoto’s Weathering with You Shinkai, where he painted the Weather Shrine.
Leaving a lasting impact on the world of animation, Yamamoto’s signature graphic style, characterized by realistic and warm cloud paintings, has earned fans the nickname “Nizo-gumo” (The Nizo cloud). A nationwide traveling museum exhibition of his works is currently on display at the Hamamatsu City Museum of Art. Having attracted more than 900,000 visitors across Japan, the exhibition will run until September 10. In 2018, Clouds Over Goto Art Museum: Nizo Yamamoto was established in his hometown to honor his legacy. grandfather.
As revealed by his son, Takao, Yamamoto is working on a manga project depicting local folk tales, demonstrating his dedication to his craft until the very end. He’s also only one page away from completing it. A memorial service commemorating the life of Nizo Yamamoto will be held on August 27 in Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture, with his son presiding over the ceremony.
Source: Anime News Network
