Noboru Ishiguro (SDF Macross, LoGH) passes away at age 73

[VF5SS]

A beloved director of science fiction shows passed away at age 73 (via ANN)

Studio Nue co-founder Haruka Takachiho reported on Wednesday that Noboru Ishiguro, the veteran director of such works as Space Battleship Yamato, the first color Astro Boy anime series (1980), The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, and Legend of the Galactic Heroes, has passed away. He was 73.

Ishiguro directed some of the most highly regarded anime classics of the last five decades, including those listed above as well as Megazone 23, The Super Dimension Century Orguss, The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? film, and Yōkai Ningen Bem. Ishiguro also conceived of Megazone 23's story and founded Artland in 1978, the studio that co-produced Macross, Orguss and Galactic Heroes, and animated more recent titles such as Mushi-Shi, Demon King Daimao, and Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Most recently, Ishiguro directed the 2008-2009 television anime series Tytania, which was based on a series of novels by Galactic Heroes author Yoshiki Tanaka, and Pattenrai!! - Minami no Shima no Mizu Monogatari, a 2009 film based on the life of Yoichi Hatta, the Japanese engineer that helped modernize Taiwan when it was a colony of Japan.

Ishiguro was scheduled to attend North Carolina's Animazement convention on May 25-27. He attended past U.S. conventions such as several Anime Expo events, Anime Weekend Atlanta in 2007, and Otakon in 2009.

I was tracking this news on twitter yesterday, dreading to see the confirmation ANN.

Macross is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year so I assume there will be many memorials to the franchise's first director (he admitted to only doing pre-production for DYRL). Space Battleship Yamato is also celebrating its own continued presence in media with Yamato 2199.

He was instrumental in many prolific series and his contributions will not be forgotten.

Yang Wenli...

[Uraniun235]

I hadn't realized so many series had the same director. I see the article now has an addendum that he died in a hospital; I hope he passed away peacefully.

[VF5SS]

Manga UK did a small overview of some of his most important contributions early in his career. here.

However, he also has many followers of his work, as evinced by his last days in a Kawasaki hospital. Remaining spry and good-humoured to the very last, Ishiguro was a hit with the nurses, who refused to give him a standard name-tag like the other patients. Instead, he was identified with two cartoon images: Mikan the cat, and Lynn Minmei, from Super Dimensional Fortress Macross.

I think he passed away with a smile.

[The Yosemite Bear]

damn, sorry to hear the passing.

loved the aussie version where they macroed Max....

[Zor]

Rest in Peace.

Zor