Rest in Peace, Satoshi Kon

[Lycaon]

Rumors started to circulate around Twitter today that anime luminary Satoshi Kon, director of such truly brilliant films as Millennium Actress and Paprika, has died at the age of 47. One of the first reports came in from Takeda Yasuhiro, a founding member of Gainax, the animation studio most famous for producing Neon Genesis Evangelion. Now both Ani-Gamers and Anime Reel is reporting that the above tweet is most likely true and while confirmation will have to wait until it's daytime in Japan, Anime Reel writes that other sources have confirmed Yasuhiro's claim, including Masao Maruyama, president of Madhouse Studios (Note: Maruyama didn't say Kon died explicitly, just that a major filmmaker had passed away). According to Anime-Gamers' source, Kon died of cancer.

 

There's still a chance that this could just be a nasty and rather inexplicable rumor but it looks less and less likely. We will update you if the situation changes and as more news becomes available.

 

Kon was a brilliant filmmaker. His works are vital and revolutionary for their visions of lucid dreaming and the way psychosis bleeds over into the waking world. If he has indeed died, the world has lost a bright artist in the prime of his career. I wrote about Kon for the New York Press when most of his body of work screened at the Film Society at Lincoln Center. I also interviewed him at Twitch around the same time. Share your information or your condolences in the comments section. Very sad news, if it's true.

http://www.cinematical.com/2010/08/24/r-i-p-satoshi-kon-1963-2010/

Hopefully this is just a rumor, but I doubt it.

 

EDIT: Fuck, it's been confirmed. May he rest in peace, and my condolences to his loved ones.

Filmography (from IMDB):

Writer:

 

1. The Dreaming Machine (2010) (pre-production) (original story) (screenplay)

... aka "Yumemiru kikai" - Japan (original title)

 

2. Paprika (2006) (screenplay)

... aka "Papurika" - Japan (original title)

3. "Paranoia Agent" (2004) TV series (unknown episodes)

... aka "Môsô dairinin" - Japan (original title)

4. Tokyo Godfathers (2003) (screenplay) (story)

5. Millennium Actress (2001) (writer)

... aka "Sennen joyû" - Japan (original title)

 

6. Kanojo no omoide (1995) (writer)

... aka "Katsuhiro Otomo Presents: Memories" - USA (long title)

... aka "Magnetic Rose" - USA (literal English title)

7. Memories (1995) (segment 1 "Magnetic Rose")

... aka "Memorîzu" - Japan (original title)

8. Warudo apâtomento horâ (1991) (story)

 

Director:

 

1. The Dreaming Machine (2010) (pre-production)

... aka "Yumemiru kikai" - Japan (original title)

 

2. Paprika (2006)

... aka "Papurika" - Japan (original title)

3. "Paranoia Agent" (2004) TV series (unknown episodes)

... aka "Môsô dairinin" - Japan (original title)

4. Tokyo Godfathers (2003)

5. Millennium Actress (2001)

... aka "Sennen joyû" - Japan (original title)

 

6. Perfect Blue (1998)

 

Animation Department:

 

1. Tokyo Godfathers (2003) (character designer)

2. Millennium Actress (2001) (character designer)

... aka "Sennen joyû" - Japan (original title)

 

3. Perfect Blue (1998) (character designer)

4. Rôjin Z (1991) (key animator)

... aka "Roujin Z" - USA (video title)

 

Art Department:

 

1. "Paranoia Agent" (storyboard artist) (1 episode, 2004)

... aka "Môsô dairinin" - Japan (original title)

- Shônen batto sanjô (2004) TV episode (storyboard artist)

 

2. Rôjin Z (1991) (art designer)

... aka "Roujin Z" - USA (video title)

 

Actor:

 

1. Paprika (2006) (voice) .... Jin-nai

... aka "Papurika" - Japan (original title)

 

Miscellaneous Crew:

 

1. Millennium Actress (2001) (original concept by)

... aka "Sennen joyû" - Japan (original title)

 

Set Decorator:

 

1. Kidô keisatsu patorebâ: The Movie 2 (1993)

... aka "Patlabor 2" - USA (video title)

[Maldron]

Magnetic Rose remains one of the best things I've ever seen. He will be missed.

[Mr. Hakujin]

Ah, fuck. This news sucks.