Legendary anime director, Osamu Dezaki, passed away on April 17 at the age of 67 due to complications from lung cancer. A service will be held on April 21 in Tokyo.

Dezaki began as a manga artist during high school and eventually joined Osamu Tezuka’s Mushi Productions in 1963. Dezaki’s directorial debut was the anime series Ashita no Joe (Tomorrow’s Joe) in 1970. Together with Masao Murayama, they founded the anime studio MADHOUSE in 1972.

He is probably best known for working on Japanese animation series and movies such as: Golgo 13, Black Jack, and Space Adventure Cobra.

He is also known for working on 1980’s North American animation series such as: The Mighty Orbots, Bionic Six, and Visionaries.

[tube]DuMa854gXuk[/tube]