Leiji Matsumoto, Legendary Manga And Anime Creator, Dies At 85
Renowned Japanese manga and anime creator Leiji Matsumoto died of a heart attack on February 13. He was 85 years old.
Matsumoto's death was announced by his company Studio Legisha.
Akira Matsumoto Born in 1938, Matsumoto grew up in Fukuoka Prefecture and began painting at the age of five. Her first manga, Mitsubachi no Boken (The Adventures of the Bee), was published in Manga Shōnen when she was still 15 years old.
Shortly after graduating from high school, Matsumoto moved to Tokyo with dreams of making a living as a professional artist. There, in 1961, he married Miyako Maki, Japan's first manga artist and creator of the Likka-chan costume doll, a Japanese Barbie-like figure. Matsumoto and Maki collaborated several times over the years and together founded Lizisha Studio.
After writing under various names, Matsumoto finally adopted the name Leiji Matsumoto in 1965 and published under that name until the end of his career. His breakthrough came in 1972 when he released Otoko Oido, a manga series about a poor young man studying for his college entrance exams in Tokyo.
Matsumoto was a prolific artist, publishing hundreds of books over the ensuing decades, many of which were adapted into animated television series that have become timeless classics. His work often explores themes of history, warfare and technology and is usually set in a stylized version of the future. Growing up in Japan during and after World War II, Matsumoto's books and series regularly evoke the scars of the conflict. More than 150 of his short stories describe the tragedies of war.
According to the Associated Press, Matsumoto's father, an elite military pilot, was a staunch opponent of the war. Speaking to Japan's NHK in 2018, Matsumoto saw him apologizing to the mothers of his missing comrades while serving under his father's command.
"War destroys your future," Matsumoto told NHK, lamenting the loss of so many young people who may one day "contribute to civilization" of humanity. "My father told me that all life is not born to die, but to live. I think we shouldn't waste time fighting on earth."
Matsumoto's most popular and enduring animated works include Space Battleship Yamato , Galaxy Express 999 , and Space Pirate Captain Harlock . Despite the fantastic futuristic action scenes, the series regularly features a large amount of action.
Space Battleship Yamato , perhaps Matsumoto's most enduring creation, was a battle between humanity and invading aliens. The series has received numerous spin-offs, remakes, and live-action film adaptations. It is believed to have greatly influenced popular science fiction franchises including Gundam and Neon Genesis Evangelion .
While warfare formed a large part of Matsumoto's work, he was equally fascinated by human history and the future potential of the species. Speaking to The Japan Times in 2017, he explained: "As a child, and indeed all my life, I have always thought and read about past, present and future worlds and beings." This attraction is manifested in most of his works.
Younger generations will recognize Matsumoto's work for French electronic music group Daft Punk. The team members were fans of the classic animated series and asked Matsumoto to create several music videos, including the hit song One More Time . Matsumoto was also appointed supervising director of the animated film Interstella 5555 written by Daft Punk members Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homme-Christo with regular collaborator Cédric Hervet.
Throughout his career, Matsumoto has received numerous cultural and artistic honors from the Japanese government, including medals including the Order of the Rising Sun and the Purple Ribbon. The French government awarded him the honorary title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
After Matsumoto's death, his daughter Makiko Matsumoto, who runs Studio Leijisha, said in a statement that her father "went from a Tokyo hospital to the sea of stars on February 13, 2023 at the age of 85." Meanwhile, a farewell ceremony was held with close relatives. I think it was a happy life."
He continued, "Matsumoto always said, 'where the wheels of time meet again, we meet again.' We believe in these words and look forward to that day."
