On March 17, Japanese media reported that director Tsutomu Shibayama passed away on March 6, at the age of 84, after a period of treatment for lung cancer. The information was confirmed by animation studios such as Shin-Ei Animation and Ajiado.
According to the announcement, his funeral has been held privately by his family according to his wishes, and he has refused funerals and funerals. The memorial service is expected to be announced in the near future.
The passing of Tsutomu Shibayama has caused many colleagues and fans to express condolences. Production units assess him as one of the core figures of the Japanese animation industry, with persistent contributions and widespread influence over decades.
Tsutomu Shibayama was born in 1941 in Asakusa (Tokyo), graduated from the Faculty of Literature, majoring in drama from Meiji University. He entered the animation industry in 1963, starting a creative journey of more than 60 years. Before becoming a name associated with Doraemon, he participated in many projects such as Dokonjo Gaeru and Tensai Bakabon, taking on the role of animator and director, thereby affirming his professional ability.
Tsutomu Shibayama's name is best known for being associated with the Doraemon series. He has been the main director of the television version since 1979, and directly directed more than 20 films over more than two decades. The works he directed range from "Doraemon: Nobita and the Castle at the Bottom of the Sea" to "Doraemon: Nobita in the Dog and Cat Kingdom" – the last film he participated in directing. These films have become familiar memories of many generations of audiences.
Besides Doraemon, he also took on the role of general director of Nintama Rantarō and participated in directing many other famous works such as "Chibi Maruko-chan", "Moomin", "Lupin III" or "Kaiketsu Zorori". In 1978, he co-founded Ajiado Film Studio with his colleague Osamu Kobayashi, contributing to shaping many development directions for the Japanese anime industry.
In his career, Tsutomu Shibayama received many professional recognitions. In 1998, he was awarded at the Mainichi Film Awards for the film "Doraemon: Nobita and the Adventures of the South Sea". In 2012, he continued to be honored with the Film Prize of the Japanese Cultural Agency and in 2018 received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival.
Information about the director's death spread on social networks. Many people expressed their regret and recalled the memories associated with Doraemon for two decades. The legacy that Tsutomu Shibayama left behind is not only classic animated works, but also a deep mark in the history of Japanese anime development.
