Rest in peace to the woman behind Kiki’s Delivery Service 🕊️
Akiko Hayashi, the legendary Japanese picture-book author and illustrator, passed away at the age of 81. While anime fans may know Kiki’s Delivery Service through Studio Ghibli’s 1989 film, Hayashi was the artist behind the illustrations of the novel, giving readers one of the earliest printed images of Kiki and Jiji before the story became an anime classic.
Hayashi was best known for her warm, delicate portrayals of childhood in books like Miki’s First Errand, Good Evening Mr. Moon, Aki and the Fox, and There’s a Hippo in My Bath! Her work captured small emotions with rare tenderness: a child’s nervous first step, a quiet moment under the moon, or the courage hidden in everyday life.
Her illustrations helped shape the visual memory of generations, from picture-book readers in Japan and Korea to fans who later discovered Kiki’s story through Ghibli.
Rest in peace, Akiko Hayashi 🌙
Are smart glasses ruining anime cons? 🚨
@RiccoFajardo (MHA, BLUELOCK) warns against attendees secretly recording table interactions using camera eyewear:
"I’m conditioned now to assume everyone is trying to record... Please ask; and be okay with being told no."
Thoughts? 👇
Remembering Robert L. Manahan — Died at 43 Due to a Heart Aneurysm
He was the iconic voice of Zordon across multiple Power Rangers series and game adaptations, shaping how the mentor of the Rangers sounded for an entire generation.
He died on this day in 2000.
*updated photo
Gone too soon at only 34 😢
Rest in peace, Luis de la Rosa Obregón. The animator and illustrator, whose credits included Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, My Little Pony: The Movie, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Animaniacs, and Carmen Sandiego, has passed away after a tragic train accident in Annecy, France while attending the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
His work helped shape some of the most recognizable animated projects of the last decade, and he was reportedly at Annecy presenting his original project Ash Raider World — a reminder that his creative journey was still moving forward.
A heartbreaking loss for the animation community and everyone who connected with the worlds he helped bring to life. Rest in peace, Luis 🕊️
🕊️ Philece Sampler, beloved for voicing Mimi Tachikawa and Toph, left us too soon due to a heart attack on July 1, 2021. A TV star in the ‘70s and ‘80s, her legacy lives on in the hearts of fans across generations. #VoiceActing#Legacy
Pokémon lost two truly unforgettable voices in back-to-back years 🙏
Many fans may not realize how much Rachael Lillis and James Carter Cathcart helped shape the sound of the Pokémon anime, from the early Kanto adventures to some of Team Rocket’s most recognizable moments.
• Rachael Lillis was the original English voice behind Misty, Jessie, and Jigglypuff, helping define Pokémon’s earliest years for fans. Misty became one of Ash’s first traveling companions, Jessie brought Team Rocket’s dramatic comedy to life, and Jigglypuff became one of the franchise’s most memorable recurring Pokémon. She passed away on August 10, 2024.
• James Carter Cathcart, also known as Jimmy Zoppi, was known for voicing Gary Oak, Professor Oak, Team Rocket’s James, and Meowth in the English dub. Beyond his voice roles, he also worked as a script adaptor across hundreds of Pokémon episodes, helping shape the tone and humor of the English version. He passed away on July 8, 2025.
A heartbreaking detail: James passed away on July 8, the same date as Rachael Lillis’s birthday.
Their work became part of Pokémon history, from rivals and companions to villains, jokes, emotional moments, and childhood memories that fans still revisit today.
Thank you for the laughter, the memories, and the characters that still live on through every rewatch.
Rest in peace 🕊️
Hoje é o dia de celebrar o aniversário não de uma, mas das nossas duas coelhinhas favoritas: Usagi e Chibiusa! 🐰💖 Elas nos mostram que, seja no presente ou no futuro, o amor e a união da família são as forças mais poderosas do universo.
Deixe sua mensagem de parabéns! 👇💕
Remembering a true legend 🕊️
Philece Sampler was a television and voice actress whose work became part of multiple generations of anime, animation, and game fans.
From the warmth of Mimi Tachikawa in Digimon to the wisdom of older Toph Beifong in The Legend of Korra, her voice carried emotion, humor, strength, and personality across so many unforgettable characters.
Some of her memorable voice roles include:
• Mimi Tachikawa — Digimon Adventure
• Misao Makimachi — Rurouni Kenshin
• Older Toph Beifong — The Legend of Korra
• Son Goten — Dragon Ball Super
• Gotenks — Dragon Ball Super
• Suzie Q Joestar — JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders
• Koromon — Digimon Adventure
• Taokaka — BlazBlue: Alter Memory
• Rokuta Kamado — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
• Betty Ross — The Incredible Hulk
Sampler passed away on July 1, 2021, at 67 years old, but her legacy continues through the characters fans still remember, quote, rewatch, and love today.
Rest in peace, Philece Sampler 🕯️
💐 Today we celebrate the birthdays of our beloved Usagi and Chibiusa! 🥳 Happy birthday to Super Sailor Moon and Super Sailor Chibi Moon, two heroines who protect us with their light. 💖
#PrettyGuardianSailorMoon 🌙