Kugimiya Yoichiro's (production affairs coordinator on Studio Ghibli movies including The Wind Rises and Princess Kaguya) Trash Studio has announced the the passing of Makiko Futaki on May 13th at age 58. A veteran animator, Futaki worked on key animation for all of Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli movies and most of Isao Takahata's, as well as classic anime features Akira and Royal Space Force - The Wings of Honnêamise.

Makiko Futaki also illustrated Nahoko Uehashi's Moribito novels.

【訃報】スタジオジブリ作品を数々手掛けられた、アニメーター二木真希子さんは、病気療養中でしたが、5月13日夕方6時頃にご逝去されました。58歳でした。ご葬儀はご親族のみで執り行われました。謹んでお悔やみ申し上げます。

— トラッシュスタジオ (@yamitukimenbou) May 16, 2016

ジブリ作品手がけたアニメーター、二木真希子さん死去 - ねとらぼ https://t.co/lR2q6cEK3W @itm_nlabより

— 湯浅政明 (@masaakiyuasa) May 16, 2016

Makiko Futaki (二木真希子) MAD by fahad-ivsakuga

It's not credited, but animator Futaki worked on baby Omu scene in Nausicaa. https://t.co/nQrwBp2IYq

— Hyun Park (@reanimator999) May 16, 2016

In that scene where Teto is anxiously walking around injured Nausicaa, Futaki used her cat as reference. https://t.co/Ls5zFDYIif

— Hyun Park (@reanimator999) May 16, 2016

Anipages Daily offered a description of Futaki's worked in the Women Behind Ghibli feature.

via @ikari_gendo

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.