Animator Masami Suda has passed away at 77. He was best known as a character designer for Fist of the North Star anime, but in his prolific career, he has worked on many anime projects. As an animation director and key animator, Suda worked for anime titles such as Slum Dunk and Psycho-Pass.
Suda was born on September 16th, 1943 in Saitama, Japan. He spent most of his career working on Toei Animation projects. On August 18th, 2021, JAniCA, the Japan Animation Creators Association, announced his passing on Twitter.
The anime industry has expressed its condolences for the loss of Masami Suda. Most of Suda’s colleagues took to Twitter to express their emotions about his passing.
Tsukasa Kotobuki, character designer for Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, made a series of tweets about Suda Masami-san’s talent:
Another legend… Suda Masami-san, may your soul rest in peace… Like Hokuto no Ken, his animations were really something. I just couldn’t believe how he managed to animate the drawing.
Tsukasa Kotobuki
Kenji Yakoyama, who also worked on the Slam Dunk franchise, expressed his admiration and condolences:
Suda Masami-san has passed away. Among leading animators, Suda-san was especially someone whom I have admired and aimbed to be like. I sincerely pray for his soul to rest in peace.
Yokoyama Kenji
Tatsuo Sato, Japanese director, and scriptwriter reminisced about working with Masami Suda:
Suda Masami-san! He drew a few cuts of Genga in Kankarasanshin I joined as an assistant director. It’s nostalgic to recall that we were astonished to wonder on a meeting when we saw a Porsche parking at Ajiado back then. May his soul rest in peace.
Tatsuo Satou
Hirotaka Marafuji, character designer for Lupin the Third: Part 6, also expressed his condolences, by simply tweeting “Great senior animator, Suda Masami-san has passed away. May his soul rest in peace.“
Hisashi Kagawa, animation director for the Sailor Moon series, expressed his condolences as well. He also shared a private photo:
I learned earlier that great senior animator, Suda Masami-san passed away.
[That’s a shame that] I worked with him only in Hokuto no Ken and Otokojuku myself…
Here is a private photo where I saw him last time on a birthday party.
He praised my singing at Karaoke then… It wasn’t about my drawing, but I was glad.
May his soul rest in peace.Kagawa Hisashi
Mamoru Yokoto, who worked as animation director for Death Note anime, among other things, also shared a touching tweet about Mr. Suda:
I learned on Facebook that Suda Masami-san passed away.
I am sure there are many people whom your works have enjoyed since their childhood until now and I will treasure the signature you gave me.
Thank you for working with me on Rokudenashi Blues movie.
Please accept my condolences.
May your soul rest in peace.Mamoru Yokoto
Nobuteru Yuuki, character designer and general animation director for Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199 series, also shared his admiration:
I learned the obituary of a legendary animator, Suda Masami-an.
Just the other day, I watched Hokuto no Ken the movie for the first time in a while and was astounded “Amazing, that’s the Suda-san. His drawing is phenomenal!”
I humbly pray for his soul to rest in peace.Nobuteru Yuuki
In addition to his colleagues, many fans from all over the world expressed their condolences on social media.