Via livedoor: Osamu Kobayashi, an animation director and illustrator who worked on “BECK” and “NARUTO Shippuden”, has passed away from kidney cancer on 17th April 2021 at 57 years old. His Twitter account — which had been inactive since January 2021, has posted an announcement regarding his passing.
小林治 57歳 昨夜
天国へ旅立ちました。
2年前から腎臓癌と闘ってきましたが、ここにきて残念ながら力尽き…
まだまだやりたい事、作りたい作品があったのが心残りです
きっとまた生まれ変わって良い作品を作るぞ!
アディオス。永遠の23歳より pic.twitter.com/GLP1qEq7Co— 小林治 (@osamukoba) April 18, 2021
An unofficial translation follows:
I, Osamu Kobayashi, 57, have left for heaven last night.
I’ve been fighting kidney cancer for two years, but unfortunately, I’m exhausted…
I regret that I still have things I wanted to do and works I wanted to create.
I’m sure I’ll be reborn and create good works!
Adios. From the eternal 23-years-old.
Repose en paix.