I nearly choked on my lunch when I
heard..
This is so sad on so many levels. One of the most genius
creatives in the animation/entertainment industry gone..
just like that.
It really makes ya think about how totally fragile life
can be.
"Like the wind crying endlessly through the universe, Time carries away the names and the deeds of conquerors and commoners alike. And all that we are, all that remains, is in the memories of those who cared we came this way for a brief moment." Harlan Ellison
This news is very tragic and unexpected!
Paprika is my favorite anime film. I would have loved to meet him one day.
You never think something like this would happen.
He left us too early, and will be greatly missed. RIP
Oh my God. I just saw this post 20 minutes ago and looked away because I didn't want it to be true. I finally looked at the news online and just burst into tears.
It feels so sudden and soon, it doesn't even feel right to be writing things like "was" after his name, or writing things that sound like an obituary, but...
I'm a really big fan of his. Millenium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers and Perfect Blue are three of the greatest anime films. He wasn't just an artist/director/writer, he was one of the brightest lights in the culture of this world. His work really brought a level of artistry, maturity, sophistication, depth of human spirit and empathy not found in the majority of works around- he was one of the people that really elevated the art form, using the medium in ways far richer than people expect or imagine. He made beautiful, grown-up films crafted with individuality and understanding. With his chosen subject matters and unique choices in narrative style, he walked his own path and enlightened both anime fan and non-anime fan alike in doing so.
The collective human soul is richer for his existence, and with his passing something will forever feel... gone. I can't believe it; the hope, the joy to see each new film that he worked on is missing from the future now. The people who were closest to him are of course hurting the most, but for the rest of us that empty space that all of his future movies won't occupy anymore really does just make you feel sad/wanna cry :_;.
What a horrible discovery to end the day on.
Wherever your spirit is now Kon-sensei, thank you from the bottom of my heart for over a decade of beautiful movies. And personally, I don't think almost anyone is ever going to go one up on Millenium Actress lol- what a wonderful film to have created in your lifetime ^^;. I really wished you'd still be with us 20, 30 years from now, but hope you are at peace and free from pain at last. May you be remembered forever through your work for generations to come.
Man this is really sad. I really admired Kons work it was always kind of mad, but more in a kind of riot of colour and idea's kind of sense. One of Anime's most adventurous minds has been lost I fear!
I absolutely loved this director second only to Tadao Nagahama. I collect a little bit of his work too and one of my treasures is a Perfect Blue pamphlet were he drew Mima and signed it. But my most favorite of his works were actually Tokyo Godfather and Paranoia Agent which was I believe completely his.
Last night I was scanning a bunch of Millennium Actress cels for a friend who has a stunning collection. It's kind of weird that I ended up scanning those cels and then a little later confirm that Satoshi Kon was dead. It's really sad, I really liked his works especially those done by him completely. I first heard of him when I was watching Patlabor, he did the background work on those...
It's a great lost for the industry as a whole. I just find that he was very willing to experiment and nowadays that's so much more precious than the formulaic anime I see that are a dime a dozen. RIP Satoshi Kon.
This is really sad news. He is one of my favorite directors and was excited to see more of his work. RIP Satoshi Kon. Definitely a great loss for animation and film.
I'll never get tired of watching his films, especially Tokyo Godfathers... I think that they'll still be considered as masterpieces in many, many years and so he won't be forgotten... He was a exceptional artist.
Sylia summed up my thoughts as well... I just read about this from rinkya on facebook. I have loved Satoshi Kon's work for years and was actually thinking the other day "aaaah i cant wait until he comes out with another movie!!!" it was after I watched Paprika for the hundredth time lol!
I am very saddened at the industries loss and my heart goes out to his family. I'm still reading through the translated version of the long rambling letter he wrote during his last days. I can honestly say It had made me tear up and cry a bit. R.I.P. Satoshi Kon
I've not read it. Thank you so much for sharing. It was really good to know his thoughts during the time. I've had quite a few people I admire and a few relatives who died of cancer but never really know the thoughts that goes through ones head in their last days. The insight was good.
Thanks for the link, lain. (Reading this I'm now going to bed with an even more tear-stained face). I watched Millenium Actress again today and that made me upset; after seeing the last scenes and then reading him talking about his "last flight". So sad. I hope his people, family and friends left behind will be okay.
Very sad indeed. I actually had the pleasure of meeting
him in person a couple years ago when I was in Japan.
We did a Madhouse tour, and he was there at the time.
I even have a picture of him and I together. What
a huge loss for the industry. My thoughts and prayers
go out to his family.