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Makiko Futaki, the animator who brought to life several of the highly acclaimed films of Japan’s renowned Studio Ghibli, passed away on May 13 after an unspecified illness. She was 57. A regular collaborator of director Hayao Miyazaki, Futaki has worked in his My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle. She has also served as the key animator in 1988 dystopian sci-fi anime Akira. Her recent works include From Up on Poppy Hill and When Marnie Was There.
Born on June 19, 1958, Futaki began her career at Ghibli in 1981. Founded by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Yasuyoshi Tokuma and Toshio Suzuki, Ghibli is one of the world’s oldest and foremost animation studios.