Tsutomu Shibayama, a prolific director of the beloved "Doraemon" animated film series, passed away on 6/3 at the age of 84 due to lung cancer. His passing was announced by his agency on 17/3. The funeral was a private ceremony, attended only by family members. His company and family are currently considering arrangements for a public memorial service.
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Filmmaker Tsutomu Shibayama and an image of the robot cat Doraemon. Photo: Zaobao |
Filmmaker Tsutomu Shibayama and an image of the robot cat Doraemon. Photo: Zaobao
The director's representative expressed deep gratitude for Shibayama's legacy. "All members of the company wish to express their sincere gratitude to him for the warm love and encouragement he received," the representative stated. Fans across animation forums have also extended their thanks to Tsutomu Shibayama for his imaginative and compassionate works. Zaobao recognized his significant contributions, noting that he ushered in a brilliant era for the animated film industry.
"Doraemon" soundtrack from 2004. Video: Youtube/Mon Mon Dora
Shibayama's career in animation began in 1963. He first directed a feature film adaptation of the "Doraemon" manga in 1983, titled "Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil". Over his career, Tsutomu Shibayama directed a total of 22 "Doraemon" animated films. His final directorial work in the series was "Doraemon: Nobita in the Wan-Nyan Spacetime Odyssey", released in 2004.
The "Doraemon" manga, first released in 1969, tells the story of a robot cat from the 22nd century who travels back to the 20th century. His mission is to assist Nobita, a clumsy elementary school student, in navigating various awkward situations. Beyond their daily escapades, Nobita and his friends embark on numerous thrilling adventures.
The popular manga was adapted into animated films for cinemas starting in 1973, gaining wide acclaim across many Asian countries. In late February, the 45th installment of the film series premiered, directed by Tetsuo Yajima. This new film is a remake of "Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil", the 1983 movie that Tsutomu Shibayama directed, chronicling Nobita and his friends' underwater adventure.
Nhu Anh (according to Yahoo, Zaobao)
