Studio Ghibli anime legend Nizo Yamamoto has passed away at the age of 70

Anime legend Nizo Yamamoto has sadly passed away at the age of 70. Yamamoto had previously been diagnosed with stomach cancer, with the condition eventually taking his life on Saturday 19 August.

Yamamoto was a renowned art director in the anime world. He was born in June 1953, and grew up in Gotō City, Nagasaki Prefecture. Yamamoto would later study architecture at high school in Gifu Prefecture, before moving on to study art in Tokyo. As reported by Anime News Network, it was here that Yamamoto began drawing background art for anime projects.

Yamamoto’s first big break came when he was appointed art director on Future Boy Conan, a TV series directed by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. Those two very recognisable names would later go on to co-found Studio Ghibli, taking Yamamoto with them in the process. Throughout his career at Studio Ghibli, Yamamoto served as art director for some iconic titles including Laputa: Castle in the Sky, Grave of the Fireflies, and Princess Monoke.

He also worked more generally in the animation department for Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, Only Yesterday, Whisper of the Heart, and Spirited Away. If you’re a fan of Studio Ghibli’s picture-perfect clouds, you can thank Yamamoto. He garnered the nickname Nizō-gumo, which translates to Nizō Clouds, due to his signature art style.

In fact, in 2018, his hometown opened the Clouds Over Goto: Nizo Yamamoto Art Museum. A nationwide touring exhibition of some of his works also reportedly drew in close to 900,000 visitors.

Yamamoto will be fondly remembered for his stunning portfolio of work, and GAMINGbible extends its condolences to his friends, family, and colleagues at this difficult time.