Celebrated animator Makiko Futaki passed away at 57 on May 13th, following what The Hollywood Reporter describes as an “unspecified illness.” Now, she’s being remembered for her contributions to countless mold-breaking films.
Futaki worked at Studio Ghibli for over three decades, beginning her role there in 1981 after getting her start in animation working on Lupin III. She worked on every one of Hayao Miyazaki’s movies following 1984’s Nausicaä of The Valley of the Wind, and was a key animator on films like Princess Mononoke and Kiki’s Delivery Service. In addition to her Studio Ghibli contributions, Futaki was also a key animator on the 1988 feature Akira, an adaptation of Katsuhiro Otomo’s manga of the same name. She also worked on 1987’s Royal Space Force: The Wings Of HonnĂŞamise.
The final film Futaki is credited on was 2014’s When Marnie Was There, which beautifully deals with difficult themes like grief in childhood.
Futaki was remembered in a private funeral held by her family earlier this month. She leaves behind a legacy of work on important, thoughtful, and startlingly gorgeous films.
(via Rocket News 24)
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