Yasuo Otsuka, the animation director of "Lupin the Third", passed away. He was Hayao Miyazaki's spiritual mentor

According to Japanese media reports today on March 16, Japanese animation industry giant, animator, and drawing director Yasuo Otsuka passed away on the 15th at the age of 89. He participated in the production of many classic animation masterpieces throughout his life and was hailed as the spiritual mentor of Takahata Isao and Miyazaki Hayao.

· Yasuo Otsuka was born in Shimane Prefecture, Japan in 1931. He participated in the production of Japan's first color animated feature film "The Legend of the White Snake". Later, he mentored his juniors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki who joined Toei, and was praised as the spiritual mentor of Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki.

After leaving Toei, he collaborated with Hayao Miyazaki on classic animated films such as "Lupin the Third" and "Future Boy Conan", serving as an animation director. He also collaborated with Isao Takahata on works such as "The Adventures of Horus, Prince of the Sun" and so on.

The Fiat 500 that Lupin drives in Lupin the Third was based on the car that Yasuo Otsuka loved when he was on the set.