On November 5th, 2021, Director and Animator Kinji Yoshimoto left this world at the age of 55. Katsuyuki Tamura, a former Mecha and effects illustrator, designer, and animator, made the announcement on Twitter on Monday.

【訃報です】※コピペで申し訳有りません。

ご存知の方も居られると思いますが失礼します。

先般　吉本欣司儀　かねてより入院加療中でございましたが
11月5日　55歳にて永眠いたしました

葬儀は故人の希望により近親者のみにて営みました

— TAM(超ガラクタ改造人間)/モデロイドバルディオス宜しくお願いします🙇‍♀️ (@moribito03) November 8, 2021

[Old news] * Sorry for copying.

I’m sure some of you may know this, but I’m sorry.

Kinji Yoshimoto had been hospitalized for some time, but he
died on November 5th at the age of 55.

The funeral was held only by close relatives at the request of the deceased.

In the thread, Tamura expresses his gratitude for Yoshimoto’s kindness during his lifetime. He talks about how both of them were hospitalized at the same time but only one of them managed to come out alive.

Tamura felt helpless and sorry that he couldn’t do anything for the deceased and can only pray for them. He expressed his thanks for the friendship he had with Yoshimoto.

Tamura saw him as a big brother and was mentally pained by the news. He gave his condolences and gave his regards to him and his family.

Art designers Hiroyuki Yama and Toshinari Tanaka, as well as director and storyboard artist Yoshikazu Miyao, all shared their condolences on Twitter.

Twitter経由ではありますが、よしもときんじ監督の訃報を知りました。「ありふれ」1期では大変お世話になりました。明るい人柄と牽引力が印象的な方でした。謹んでお悔やみ申し上げます。

— 田中俊成(バーンストーム・デザインラボ) (@tanatosshi) November 9, 2021

「ありふれ」第一期の
美術設定では大変
お世話になりました。
ご冥福をお祈りいたします。
西新宿での打ち上げでの笑顔、
明らかにタイトルスタート時より
体調がすぐれない事が分かりました。
忘れらません。

【訃報】アニメ監督・吉本欣司氏死去　５５歳　https://t.co/jTkowrmzxd #吉本欣司 #訃報

— Netflix監督作準備中アニメーション監督大家みやおよしかず🏠50代からの不動産賃貸業は遅くない (@sbs_miyao) November 10, 2021

Kinji Yoshimoto co-wrote the original Plastic Little manga with Satoshi Urushihara and directed and storyboarded the OVA production.

Regarding his other works, Yoshimoto has also directed the following anime: Genshiken 2, I couldn’t become a hero, so I reluctantly decided to get a job. Queen’s Blade: The Exiled Virgin, Queen’s Blade: Grimoire, Unbreakable Machine-Doll, Seven Mortal Sins, Legend of Lemnear, Kekko Kamen, End of Summer, Arifureta – From Commonplace to World’s Strongest, and Another Lady Innocent are among the titles.

He was also in charge of the series scripts for Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest, Seven Mortal Sins, Queen’s Blade: Grimoire, and Queen’s Blade: The Exiled Virgin anime.

Yoshimoto has worked as a key animator, storyboard artist, and character designer on a variety of anime, including La Blue Girl, Bubblegum Crisis, Crying Freeman, Dirty Pair, Royal Space Force – The Wings of Honnêamise, Megazone 23, and many others.

Our entire Team’s thoughts and prayers are also with everyone affected by his sudden passing away.

Source: Animenewsnetwork