Yoshifumi Kondo
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese animator who worked for Studio Ghibli
in his last years. He was born in Gosen
, Niigata Prefecture
, Japan. He worked as an animation director on Anne of Green Gables
, Sherlock Hound
, Kiki's Delivery Service
, Only Yesterday and Princess Mononoke
. Kondō directed the animated film Whisper of the Heart
, and was expected to become one of the top directors at Studio Ghibli, alongside Hayao Miyazaki
and Isao Takahata
, and to become their eventual successor.
Kondō died of an aneurysm
in 1998. His death is said to have been caused by excess work, and seems to be the main reason for Hayao Miyazaki
's announcement of retirement in 1998. Although in the end Miyazaki didn't retire, Kondō's death seems to have influenced Miyazaki to work at a more relaxed pace.
Studio Ghibli
is a Japanese animation and film studio founded in June 1985. The company's logo features the character Totoro from Hayao Miyazaki's film My Neighbor Totoro...
in his last years. He was born in Gosen
Gosen, Niigata
is a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 56,965 and a density of 382.89 persons per km². The total area is 351.87 km².The city was founded on November 3, 1954...
, Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
, Japan. He worked as an animation director on Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables (anime)
is an animated television series, part of Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater. It was adapted from the novel Anne of Green Gables by Canadian writer Lucy Maud Montgomery. Produced by Nippon Animation in 1979, it was first broadcast on Fuji TV from January 7, 1979 to December 30, 1979...
, Sherlock Hound
Sherlock Hound
is an anime television series based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series where almost all the characters are depicted as anthropomorphic dogs. The show featured regular appearances of Jules Verne-steampunk style technology, adding a 19th-century science-fiction atmosphere to the series...
, Kiki's Delivery Service
Kiki's Delivery Service
is a 1989 Japanese animated fantasy film produced, written, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It was the fourth theatrically released Studio Ghibli film.The film won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize in 1989...
, Only Yesterday and Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononoke
is a 1997 epic Japanese animated historical fantasy feature film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli. is not a name, but a general term in the Japanese language for a spirit or monster...
. Kondō directed the animated film Whisper of the Heart
Whisper of the Heart (film)
is a 1995 Japanese animated drama film based on the manga of the same name by Aoi Hiiragi. It was directed by Yoshifumi Kondō and written by Hayao Miyazaki. It was the first theatrical Studio Ghibli feature to be directed by someone other than Miyazaki or Takahata, and the only film to be directed...
, and was expected to become one of the top directors at Studio Ghibli, alongside Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki
is a Japanese manga artist and prominent film director and animator of many popular anime feature films. Through a career that has spanned nearly fifty years, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a maker of animated feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli,...
and Isao Takahata
Isao Takahata
is a Japanese anime filmmaker that have earned critical international acclaim for his work as a director. Takahata is co-founder of Studio Ghibli with long-time collaborative partner Hayao Miyazaki. He has directed films such as the war-themed Grave of the Fireflies, the romantic-drama Only...
, and to become their eventual successor.
Kondō died of an aneurysm
Aneurysm
An aneurysm or aneurism is a localized, blood-filled balloon-like bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can commonly occur in arteries at the base of the brain and an aortic aneurysm occurs in the main artery carrying blood from the left ventricle of the heart...
in 1998. His death is said to have been caused by excess work, and seems to be the main reason for Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki
is a Japanese manga artist and prominent film director and animator of many popular anime feature films. Through a career that has spanned nearly fifty years, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a maker of animated feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli,...
's announcement of retirement in 1998. Although in the end Miyazaki didn't retire, Kondō's death seems to have influenced Miyazaki to work at a more relaxed pace.
Brief history
- March 31, 1950: Kondō is born in GosenGosen, Niigatais a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 56,965 and a density of 382.89 persons per km². The total area is 351.87 km².The city was founded on November 3, 1954...
, Niigata PrefectureNiigata Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
, Japan. - April, 1965: Enters Niigata Prefectural Muramatsu High School, where he is a member of the art club. His senpaiSenpaiand are an essential element of Japanese seniority-based status relationships, similar to the way that family and other relationships are decided based on age, with even twins being divided into elder and younger sibling...
is the future manga artistMangakais the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
Kimio YanagisawaKimio Yanagisawais a Japanese manga artist born on September 26, 1948 in Gosen-shi, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. His real name is pronounced the same way, but is written as . He graduated from Niigata Prefectural Muramatsu High School two years prior to Yoshifumi Kondō...
. - April, 1968: Moves to TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
after graduating from high school, where he enters Tokyo Design College's animation department. - October 1, 1968: Began working at A Production (formerly Shin'ei Dōga), participating in the production of such shows as Kyojin no HoshiStar of the Giantsis a sports manga written by Ikki Kajiwara and drawn by Noboru Kawasaki. It was adapted as the first sports anime television series broadcast in Japan, in 1968. It later spawned 2 anime sequels and different anime movies....
and Lupin IIILupin III, also known as Lupin the 3rd, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuhiko Kato under the pen name of Monkey Punch. The story follows the adventures of a gang of thieves led by Arsène Lupin III, the grandson of Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief of Maurice Leblanc's series of...
. - June 20, 1978: Moves to Nippon AnimationNippon Animationis a Japanese animation studio. The company is headquartered in Tokyo, with chief offices in the Ginza district of Chūō and production facilities in Tama City....
, participating in the production of such shows as Future Boy ConanFuture Boy Conanis an anime series, which premiered across Japan on the NHK network between April 4 and October 31, 1978 on the Tuesday 19:30-20:00 timeslot. The official English title used by Nippon Animation is Conan, The Boy in Future....
and Anne of Green GablesAnne of Green Gables (anime)is an animated television series, part of Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater. It was adapted from the novel Anne of Green Gables by Canadian writer Lucy Maud Montgomery. Produced by Nippon Animation in 1979, it was first broadcast on Fuji TV from January 7, 1979 to December 30, 1979...
. - 1978: Co-authors a textbook for beginning animators titled Animation Book (アニメーションの本 Animēshon no Hon).
- December 16, 1980: Moves to Telecom Animation Film where he is the character designer for Sherlock HoundSherlock Houndis an anime television series based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series where almost all the characters are depicted as anthropomorphic dogs. The show featured regular appearances of Jules Verne-steampunk style technology, adding a 19th-century science-fiction atmosphere to the series...
. - March 16, 1985: Kondō resigns his position at Telecom Animation Film, and is hospitalized from June through August for a type of pneumonia (自然気胸 shizen kikyō).
- January, 1986: Becomes a contract worker for Nippon Animation.
- January, 1987: Moves to Studio GhibliStudio Ghibliis a Japanese animation and film studio founded in June 1985. The company's logo features the character Totoro from Hayao Miyazaki's film My Neighbor Totoro...
. - 1995: Directorial debut with the film Whisper of the HeartWhisper of the Heart (film)is a 1995 Japanese animated drama film based on the manga of the same name by Aoi Hiiragi. It was directed by Yoshifumi Kondō and written by Hayao Miyazaki. It was the first theatrical Studio Ghibli feature to be directed by someone other than Miyazaki or Takahata, and the only film to be directed...
. - January 21, 1998: Dies suddenly of an aneurysmAneurysmAn aneurysm or aneurism is a localized, blood-filled balloon-like bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can commonly occur in arteries at the base of the brain and an aortic aneurysm occurs in the main artery carrying blood from the left ventricle of the heart...
in the Tachikawa City HospitalTachikawa, Tokyois a city located in western Tokyo, Japan.As of February 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 178,064 and the density of 7,303.69 people per km². The total area is 24.38 km²...
in TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
at age 47.
1960s and 1970s
- Star of the GiantsStar of the Giantsis a sports manga written by Ikki Kajiwara and drawn by Noboru Kawasaki. It was adapted as the first sports anime television series broadcast in Japan, in 1968. It later spawned 2 anime sequels and different anime movies....
(March 30, 1968 through September 18, 1971) (in-between animation, key animation) - Lupin IIILupin III, also known as Lupin the 3rd, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kazuhiko Kato under the pen name of Monkey Punch. The story follows the adventures of a gang of thieves led by Arsène Lupin III, the grandson of Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief of Maurice Leblanc's series of...
(October 24, 1971 through March 26, 1972) (opening key animation, key animation) - Dokonjou Gaeru (October 7, 1972 through September 28, 1974) (key animation, animation director)
- Panda! Go, Panda!Panda! Go, Panda!is a Japanese animated film, first released in 1972. It was written and created by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Isao Takahata, predating Studio Ghibli...
(December 17, 1972) (key animation) - Panda! Go, Panda!: The Rainy-day CircusPanda! Go, Panda!is a Japanese animated film, first released in 1972. It was written and created by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by Isao Takahata, predating Studio Ghibli...
(March 17, 1973) (key animation) - Hajime Ningen Gyātoruzu (October 5, 1974 through March 27, 1976) (key animation)
- Ganba no Bouken (April 7, 1975 through September 29, 1975) (key animation)
- Ganso Tensai Bakabon (October 6, 1975 through September 26, 1977) (key animation)
- Manga Sekai Mukashi Banashi (October 7, 1976 through March 28, 1979) (production, character design, key animation, backgrounds)
- Sougen no Ko Tenguri (1977) (key animation)
- Ore ha Teppai (September 12, 1977 through March 27, 1978) (continuity, key animation)
- Future Boy ConanFuture Boy Conanis an anime series, which premiered across Japan on the NHK network between April 4 and October 31, 1978 on the Tuesday 19:30-20:00 timeslot. The official English title used by Nippon Animation is Conan, The Boy in Future....
(April 4, 1978 through October 31, 1978) (key animation) - Anne of Green GablesAnne of Green Gables (anime)is an animated television series, part of Nippon Animation's World Masterpiece Theater. It was adapted from the novel Anne of Green Gables by Canadian writer Lucy Maud Montgomery. Produced by Nippon Animation in 1979, it was first broadcast on Fuji TV from January 7, 1979 to December 30, 1979...
(January 7, 1979 through December 30, 1979) (key animation, animation director, character designer)
1980s
- The Adventures of Tom SawyerThe Adventures of Tom SawyerThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is an 1876 novel about a young boy growing up along the Mississippi River. The story is set in the Town of "St...
(January 6, 1980 through December 28, 1980) (key animation, animation director) - Sugata Sanshirō (June 8, 1981) (key animation)
- Little NemoLittle NemoLittle Nemo is the main fictional character in a series of weekly comic strips by Winsor McCay that appeared in the New York Herald and William Randolph Hearst's New York American newspapers from October 15, 1905 – April 23, 1911 and April 30, 1911 – July 26, 1914; respectively.The...
(worked on from 1982 through 1984, but not released until 1989) (storyboards, pilot film director, general director, pre-production) - Sherlock HoundSherlock Houndis an anime television series based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series where almost all the characters are depicted as anthropomorphic dogs. The show featured regular appearances of Jules Verne-steampunk style technology, adding a 19th-century science-fiction atmosphere to the series...
(November 6, 1984 through May 20, 1985) (animation director, character designer) - Burinkinzu (1985) (character designer)
- Wazurusu (1985) (animation director, key animation)
- Ai Shōjo Pollyanna Monogatari (January 5, 1986 through December 28, 1986) (key animation)
- Ai no Wakakusa MonogatariAi no Wakakusa MonogatariLittle Women, also known as is a 1987 Japanese animated television series adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, produced by Nippon Animation.A sequel series, Little Women II: Jo's Boys, premiered in 1993.- Plot :...
(January 11, 1987 through December 27, 1987) (character designer, key animation) - Grave of the FirefliesGrave of the Firefliesis a 1988 Japanese animated war tragedy film written and directed by Isao Takahata. This is the first film produced by Shinchosha, who hired Studio Ghibli to do the animation production work...
(April 16, 1988) (storyboards, character designer, animation director) - Kiki's Delivery ServiceKiki's Delivery Serviceis a 1989 Japanese animated fantasy film produced, written, and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It was the fourth theatrically released Studio Ghibli film.The film won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize in 1989...
(July 29, 1989) (concept art, animation director)
1990s
- Only Yesterday (July 20, 1991) (animation director, character designer)
- Porco RossoPorco RossoPorco Rosso, known in Japan as is the sixth anime film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, produced by Studio Ghibli and released in 1992, of an Italian World War I fighter ace, now living as a freelance bounty hunter chasing "air pirates" in the Adriatic Sea. The man has been cursed and transformed into...
(July 18, 1992) (key animation) - Sorairo no Tane (1992) (production, key animation)
- I Can Hear the Sea (December 25, 1993) (key animation)
- Pom PokoPom Pokois a 1994 Japanese animated film, the eighth written and directed by Isao Takahata and animated by Studio Ghibli.Consistent with Japanese folklore, the tanuki are portrayed as a highly sociable, mischievous species, able to use "illusion science" to transform into almost anything, but too...
(July 16, 1994) (key animation) - Whisper of the HeartWhisper of the Heart (film)is a 1995 Japanese animated drama film based on the manga of the same name by Aoi Hiiragi. It was directed by Yoshifumi Kondō and written by Hayao Miyazaki. It was the first theatrical Studio Ghibli feature to be directed by someone other than Miyazaki or Takahata, and the only film to be directed...
(July 15, 1995) (director) - Princess MononokePrincess Mononokeis a 1997 epic Japanese animated historical fantasy feature film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli. is not a name, but a general term in the Japanese language for a spirit or monster...
(July 12, 1997) (animation director)