Yamato, Macross Director Noboru Ishiguro Passes Away at Age 73

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-03-21/yamato-macross-director-noboru-ishiguro-passes-away
http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2012/03/21/macross-do-you-remember-love-director-noboru-ishiguro-passes-away-at-age-73

Anime News Network wrote:

Studio Nue co-founder Haruka Takachiho reported on Wednesday that Noboru Ishiguro, the veteran director of such works as Space Battleship Yamato, the first color Astro Boy anime series (1980), The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, and Legend of the Galactic Heroes, has passed away. He was 73.

Ishiguro directed some of the most highly regarded anime classics of the last five decades, including those listed above as well as Megazone 23, The Super Dimension Century Orguss, The Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? film, and Yōkai Ningen Bem. Ishiguro also conceived of Megazone 23's story and founded Artland in 1978, the studio that co-produced Macross, Orguss and Galactic Heroes, and animated more recent titles such as Mushi-Shi, Demon King Daimao, and Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Most recently, Ishiguro directed the 2008-2009 television anime series Tytania, which was based on a series of novels by Galactic Heroes author Yoshiki Tanaka, and Pattenrai!! - Minami no Shima no Mizu Monogatari, a 2009 film based on the life of Yoichi Hatta, the Japanese engineer that helped modernize Taiwan when it was a colony of Japan.

Ishiguro was scheduled to attend North Carolina's Animazement convention on May 25-27. He attended past U.S. conventions such as several Anime Expo events, Anime Weekend Atlanta in 2007, and Otakon in 2009.

Update: Artland's more representative titles added. Thanks, Takkun4343.

Update 2: Ishiguro passed away on Tuesday, March 20, at 5:45 p.m. in a Kawasaki City hospital. The Tokyo-born director leaves behind his wife Yumi. Source: Sports Nippon.

Crunchyroll wrote:

Japan's Asahi Shimbum newspaper has posted an obituary for anime industry veteran Noboru Ishiguro, who passed away at age 73. In 1963, while still a student, Ishiguro started in the business working on the original mecha series, Tetsujin 28. In the 70s he graduated into directing the Space Battleship Yamato series and went on to helm landmarks of the 80s, including the anime movie retelling of Macross, Do You Remember Love?, in addition to Megazone 23 and the 1980 remake of Astro Boy. American watchers of Nickelodeon at the time might remember his children's show Noozles, created in response to Japan's mid-80s koala craze.

In the late 80s and into the 90s, he oversaw the sprawling 110-episode sci-fi war OVA Legend of the Galactic Heroes, and remained active in the field with works such as 2008's Tytania.

Ishiguro was scheduled to be a guest at North Carolina's Animazement this May.

Rest in peace Noboru Ishiguro

One of the best directors to ever come out of Japan. R.I.P. The LOGH anime was fantastic.