TOKYO — Leiji Matsumoto, the anime creator recognized for ”Area Battleship Yamato” and different classics utilizing a fantastical fashion and antiwar themes, has died at age 85.

His manga works “Galaxy Categorical 999” and “Area Pirate Captain Herlock” have been tailored into tv anime sequence within the Seventies and have become large hits in and outdoors Japan.

Matsumoto, whose actual identify was Akira Matsumoto, died of acute coronary heart failure in a Tokyo hospital on Feb. 13, his workplace, Studio Leijisha, mentioned Monday.

Born within the southwestern metropolis of Kurume, Matsumoto began drawing at age 6, and rose to fame with “Otoko Oidon,” a manga sequence telling the story of a poor man from southern Japan who lives in a boarding home in Tokyo and struggles to steadiness work and finding out.

Lots of his manga have been within the “battlefield comics” style with greater than 150 tales depicting tragedy of conflict.

His antiwar theme comes from his father, an elite military pilot who returned from Southeast Asia and taught his son that conflict ought to by no means be fought.

In his interview with Japan’s NHK tv in 2018, Matsumoto recalled seeing his father apologize to the moms of his subordinates for not having the ability to carry them again alive. His father additionally instructed Matsumoto that one needed to be a demon to not suppose an enemy has a household.

“Warfare destroys your future,” Matsumoto mentioned within the interview, noting that many proficient youths who might need contributed to “the civilization of mankind” have been killed throughout conflict.

“I used to be instructed by my father that any life is born so as to dwell, to not die,” Matsumoto mentioned. “I believe we shouldn’t be losing time combating on the Earth.”

Matsumoto acquired a number of cultural and humanities awards from the Japanese authorities, and the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters from France.

Matsumoto’s daughter Makiko Matsumoto, who heads the studio, mentioned in a press release launched on Twitter: “Manga artist Leiji Matsumoto set out on a journey to the ocean of stars. I believe he lived a cheerful life, serious about persevering with to attract tales as a manga artist.”