#Satoshi Iwataki, Character Designer of Dororo 2019, Has Passed Away

Animator Satoshi Iwataki has passed away after a two-month battle with an unspecified illness. 

Iwataki’s wife, who revealed the news on his X account on January 2 JST, said that he passed on December 30, 2023.

Iwataki begin animating in the 80s, with 1985’s Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam marking his key animator debut. As key animator, Iwataki’s name can be found in shows like Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, the 1988 Patlabor OVA, RahXephon: Pluralitas Concentio, Library Wars, A Certain Magical Index, Nodame Cantabile, Star Driver, From The New World, One Punch Man, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders, Spy x Family, and Attack on Titan Final Season THE FINAL CHAPTERS Special 2.

Iwataki also took on various non-key animator roles, including:

• Character designer, chief animation director et al. on 2019’s Dororo
• Character designer, chief animation director et al. on Ghost Hunt
• Co-mechanical designer on ZOIDS FUZORS
• Prop designer, Episode 2 storyboard artist et al. on A Certain Magical Index
• Mechanical animation director on Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
• Animation director; Part 1, 2, and 3 co-storyboard artist et al. on Berserk: The Golden Age 
• Unit director and storyboard artist et al. for The Irregular at Magic High School‘s ending animation
• Episode 4 storyboard artist on Attack on Titan Season 2
• Co-action animation director on Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku
• Co-animation director on Maboroshi
• Co-setting developer on Steam Boy
• Art director on 1995’s Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon arcade game