Rest in peace to the woman behind Kikiโs Delivery Service ๐๏ธ
Akiko Hayashi, the legendary Japanese picture-book author and illustrator, passed away at the age of 81. While anime fans may know Kikiโs Delivery Service through Studio Ghibliโs 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 Mikiโs First Errand, Good Evening Mr. Moon, Aki and the Fox, and Thereโs a Hippo in My Bath! Her work captured small emotions with rare tenderness: a childโs 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 Kikiโs story through Ghibli.
Rest in peace, Akiko Hayashi ๐
ppl always debate who is the cutest and prettiest haikyuu character but whats there to debate when tsukki has not one- not two- but THREE of the prettiest official arts of all time like what is there to even discuss