Black Butler, Tegami Bachi Letter Bee Character Designer Minako Shiba Passes Away
Shiba helped bring some of the most well-known anime to life
The official Twitter accounts for P.A. Works and Studio Pierrot revealed today that prolific character designer and animator Minako Shiba has passed away aged 50.
Shiba had worked on and lead many popular anime series, including Black Butler (chief animation director and character designer), Yowamushi Pedal (animation director), Kamigami no Asobi (character designer and animation director), Hikaru no Go (character designer and animation director), and last season's Hypnosis Mic: Division Rap Battle: Rhyme Anima (character designer and animation director).
Memorial Tweet from P.A. Works:
芝美奈子さんの御逝去を悼み、謹んで哀悼の意を表します。
— P.A.WORKS 公式 (@PAWORKS_info) March 16, 2021
「RDG レッドデータガール」ではキャラクターデザイン・総作画監督を務められ、これまで多くの弊社作品において多大なご尽力を賜りました。
ご冥福をお祈り申し上げると共に、ご遺族の方には心よりお悔やみを申し上げます
"We would like to express our deepest condolences on the passing of Minako Shiba-san.
She served as the character designer and chief animation director for "Red Data Girl", and has contributed greatly to many of our works.
I would like to offer our deepest condolences to her family and may she rest peacefully."
Memorial Tweet from Studio Pierrot:
弊社作品では『ヒカルの碁』『テガミバチ』などでキャラクターデザインを務められた芝美奈子さんが亡くなられました。
— 株式会社ぴえろ (@studiopierrot) March 16, 2021
謹んでお悔やみ申し上げます。 pic.twitter.com/0TGcph3F9e
"Minako Shiba-san, who worked as a character designer for many of our works including "Hikaru no Go" and "Tegami Bachi Letter Bee," has passed away.
We would like to express our deepest condolences."
Minako Shiba's touch on the anime industry will not be forgotten. We wish her family our deepest sympathies.
Sources: P.A. Works on Twitter, Studio Pierrot on Twitter via Oricon
Daryl Harding is a Japan Correspondent for Crunchyroll News. He also runs a YouTube channel about Japan stuff called TheDoctorDazza, tweets at @DoctorDazza, and posts photos of his travels on Instagram.
