The anime industry is mourning the loss of Masayasu Sagisu, a foundational figure in early Japanese animation, who passed away on July 12 at the age of 93. The news was shared by his nephew, the renowned composer Shiro Sagisu, via social media on Friday. Per the family's wishes, a private funeral has already been conducted.
Born in Tokyo in 1932, Sagisu was a key creative force at Eiken, which operated under the name TCJ Animation during his tenure. His career spanned the formative years of the medium, with his work helping define the aesthetic and narrative standards for television anime in the 1960s. He was the younger brother of the late producer and director SΕji Ushio, cementing a deep family legacy within the studio system.
Sagisuβs filmography reflects the high-water mark of early broadcast animation. He is perhaps best remembered for his contributions to the legendary long-running series Sazae-san, as well as pivotal titles such as Tetsujin 28, 8 Man, Super Jetter, and Space Boy Soran. His influence on these foundational works helped shape the trajectory of the industry for decades to follow.
