Summary
On October 26, Akira Kо̄no, nephew of renowned anime art director and background artist Ryo Kono, revealed the tragic news of her passing three days prior, on October 23. He expressed that every project she worked on was a source of pride for their family. Ryо̄ Kо̄no was best known for her contributions tothe anime adaptation ofMob Psycho 100, Satoshi Kon’sPerfect Blue,Space Dandy,DEVILMAN Crybabyand many other acclaimed anime titles.
Her passing is a huge loss to the industry to which she gave over 40 years of service. “We deeply appreciate the kindness shown to her during her lifetime,” posted Akira. Unfortunately, Akira’s heartfelt post is inaccessible due to the account’s restriction of who may view its posts.
About Ryo Kono
A Legend of Her Craft
Ryo Kоno was born Hiromi Kо̄no in Tokyo and began her career in the anime industry working as a background artist on theSayonara Ginga Tetsudou 999: Andromeda Shuuchakueki (Adieu Galaxy Express 999)movie in 1981. In 1983, she worked on Madhouse’s mecha filmHarmageddonas an art assistant, going on to work exclusively with the studio on a number of famous projects, including Satoshi Kon’sParanoia Agent (2004); BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad (2004); the anime adaptation ofNanaauthor Ai Yazawa’sParadise Kiss (2005)andThe Tatami Galaxy (2010).
Kono was also involved in the productions ofNinja Scroll (1993); Perfect Blue (1997); Tezuka Productions’Metropolis (2001); andthe recently-aired seventh season ofMy Hero Academia. As an art director, Kо̄no worked on titles likeSpace Dandy,Super Crooks,Carole and Tuesday, and of course, the adaptation ofOne Punch Manauthor ONE’sMob Psycho 100, which is often referred to as a masterpiece of modern animation and can be considered a contemporary classic. Kо̄no passed away on October 23 from suspected gastrointestinal bleeding. Ryo Kono’s has left an indelible mark on the industry and the medium of animation. May she rest in peace.
