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Yoshifumi Kondō was a Japanese animator who worked for Studio Ghibli and directed Whisper of the Heart. He died of aortic dissection in 1998 at age 47.
May 15, 2020 · Learn about the life and work of Yoshifumi Kondo, the only director of Whisper of the Heart, the highest grossing Ghibli film in Japan in 1995. Explore how his death at 47 affected the studio and the anime industry, and why his film remains beloved after 25 years.
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Yoshifumi Kondō (近藤 喜文, Kondō Yoshifumi, March 31, 1950 – January 21, 1998) 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 was born in Gosen, Niigata Prefecture, Japan on March 31, 1950. He entered Niigata Prefectural Muramatsu High School in April, 1965, where he was a member of the art club. His senpai was the future manga artist Kimio Yanagisawa. In April, 1968, he moved to Tokyo after graduating from high school, where he entered Tokyo Design College's animation department. On October 1, 1968, he began working at A Production (formerly Shin'ei Dōga), participating in the production of such shows as Kyojin no Hoshi and Lupin III. Kondo moved to Nippon Animation in June 1978, participating in the production of such shows as Future Boy Conan and Anne of Green Gables.
In 1978, he co-authored a textbook for beginning animators titled Animation Book (アニメーションの本 Animēshon no Hon). He moved to Telecom Animation Film on December 16, 1980, where he worked as the character designer for Sherlock Hound. On March 16, 1985, Kondō resigned from his position at Telecom Animation Film, and was hospitalized from June through August for a type of pneumonia (自然気胸 shizen kikyō). He became a contract worker for Nippon Animation afterwards and moved to Studio Ghibli in January, 1987. In 1995, he made his directorial debut with the film Whisper of the Heart.
•Panda kopanda (key animation)
•Sherlock Hound (November 6, 1984 through May 20, 1985) (animation director)
•Grave of the Fireflies (storyboards, character designer, animator director)
•Kiki's Delivery Service (concept art animation director)
•Only Yesterday (animation director, character designer)
•Porco Rosso (key animation)
Yoshifumi Kondō was a Japanese animator and director who worked for Studio Ghibli until his death in 1998. He was involved in many acclaimed films such as Grave of the Fireflies, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Whisper of the Heart.
Kondo was expected to become one of the top directors at Studio Ghibli. However, he died of an aneurysm in 1998 at 47. His death is said to have been caused by work excess, and seems to be the main reason for Miyazaki's announcement of retirement in 1998.
Yoshifumi Kondô was a Japanese animator and director who worked for Studio Ghibli. He died in 1998 at the age of 47, leaving only one film as a director, Whisper of the Heart.
- Yoshifumi Kondô
- January 21, 1998
- March 31, 1950
Apr 1, 2020 · Yoshifumi Kondō's masterpiece, Whisper of the Heart along his life and times as Ghibli's most promising creative and Miyazaki's Successor Follow me on Twitte...
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Yoshifumi Kondou (sometimes spelled "Kondo") was born on March 31, 1950, and has worked with Miyazaki and Takahata for many years, starting when all three worked together at A Pro. He was the animation supervisor for Anne of Green Gables, Grave of the Fireflies, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Only Yesterday.
