Osamu Kobayashi, the talented filmmaker and illustrator, who worked on the projects like of Naruto: Shippuden, BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad, Paradise Kiss and Someday’s Dreamers: Summer Skies, has passed away on April 16, 2021.
In a tweet from his official Twitter profile, it was revealed that he had been diagnosed with kidney cancer 2 years ago.
The tweet read:
‘I left for heaven last night. I’ve been fighting kidney cancer for two years, but unfortunately I’m exhausted… I’m sorry that I still had something I wanted to do and a work I wanted to make. I’m sure I’ll be reborn and make a good work! Adios. From the eternal 23-year-old.’
小林治 57歳 昨夜
— 小林治 (@osamukoba) April 18, 2021
天国へ旅立ちました。
2年前から腎臓癌と闘ってきましたが、ここにきて残念ながら力尽き…
まだまだやりたい事、作りたい作品があったのが心残りです
きっとまた生まれ変わって良い作品を作るぞ！
アディオス。永遠の23歳より pic.twitter.com/GLP1qEq7Co
Kobayashi has mentioned some of his influences in life, learning from both Yoshinori Kanada and Hayao Miyazaki. However, one film that particularly inspired him was ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington’.
“It’s an old movie, yeah, but I cried in the theater when I saw it,” he previously said, as Heavy reports.
Among some of the messages online, one user wrote: “Wow, Osamu Kobayashi, an absolutely legendary icon of the animation industry has reportedly passed away from cancer at age 57. That is beyond devastating. Rest in peace. Your work affected me in indescribable ways.”
Mike Toole, an editor-at-large at the Anime News Network, also wrote: “57 is too young 🙁 RIP Osamu Kobayashi, who directed BECK, Paradise Kiss, and episodes of stuff like Kemonozume and Lupin the 3rd Pt IV that _always_ stood out for their rough, expressive style. Wish he got to do more.”
Rest in Power #OsamuKobayashi 🙏🙏
