Shigemi Ikeda, a celebrated art director and the founder of the background art studio Atelier Musa, died on October 13 at the age of 69, his family confirmed.

Born in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Ikeda graduated from Tokyo Designer Academy's animation program (now Tokyo Net Wave) before beginning his career in the art department of Ad Cosmo. After his tenure there, he joined animation studio Group TAC and Studio Uni before establishing Atelier Musa, where he crafted a unique legacy as an art director.

Ikeda's extensive portfolio includes work on iconic Gundam series such as Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack, Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket, Turn A Gundam, and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.

His art direction credits also include One Punch Man, Boku no Hero Academia (My Hero Academia), Yakusoku no Neverland (The Promised Neverland), Overlord, Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. (My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU), and Planetes, among others.

In 2009, Ikeda achieved a historic milestone by winning the Primetime Emmy Juried Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation for his work on Afro Samurai: Resurrection, becoming the first Japanese artist to receive this honor.

Source: Gonzo on X