Leiji Matsumoto, the beloved Japanese manga and anime artist, has passed away at the age of 85.
In a statement, Studio Leijisha said he died of acute heart failure on 13 February. Matsumoto leaves behind a rich legacy of influential and memorable works, including the popular manga series Space Pirate Captain Harlock.
This series, among others, inspired many fans and artists alike, including the iconic electronic duo Daft Punk. In fact, Captain Harlock played a pivotal role in shaping the duo’s creative vision and was one of their biggest early influences.
Daft Punk would later collaborate with Matsumoto on the 2003 animated film Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem, which served as a visual companion to their second album, Discovery. Matsumoto’s contributions to anime and manga, and his collaborations with musicians like Daft Punk, will be sorely missed.
Check out this special video of Leiji Matsumoto in a discussion with Daft Punk via Remastered Memories.
