Hiroyuki Omori, who worked at Warner Bros. Japan as the producer of several anime, has passed away. Warner Bros. Japan revealed the tragic news in an email to Anime News Network on Sunday, June 16, 2024. The company did not provide any additional details such as Omori’s age or the cause of death.
Source: Anime News Network
About Hiroyuki Omori
Hiroyuki Omori (大森啓幸) was born in Ikoma, Nara and studied at Doshisha University. He previously worked as a producer at NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan LLC (when it was formerly named “Pioneer LDC Corporation” and later “Geneon Entertainment Inc.”), before transferring to Warner Bros. Japan.
According to production notes released in 2021, Omori was approached by an anime-related company about making a TV anime for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Omori believed it to be a difficult task, considering Hirohiko Araki‘s unique art style which was different from modern trends in character design. He wondered if people who weren’t familiar with JoJo would be able to accept these designs. However, he decided to go ahead with the anime adaptation.
“There was the problem of what to do with the design, but the power of the work itself has not faded, and above all, I am a big JoJo fan myself, so I decided to take on the challenge despite the difficulties.” After getting Shueisha’s consent, he immediately started to choose a studio, eventually deciding on David Production. The first two seasons of the anime were greenlit in 2011. Omori continued on being the producer of Stardust Crusaders, Diamond is Unbreakable, Golden Wind, and Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan, as well as the planning producer of Stone Ocean.
He was also a producer or executive producer on other anime such as Hi Score Girl, High School of the Dead, When They Cry – Higurashi, Terraformars, and BASTARD!!.
We’re getting old. My shoulder hurts, and it’s really killing me. I’m wearing out steadily, for sure. You’re truly an old man when you start bragging about how ill you are.
Hiroyuki Omori, “Stay Connected with Anime in AnimeJapan 2021”
In Warner Bros. Japan’s “Stay Connected with Anime in AnimeJapan 2021” video, Omori revealed that alongside Kenichi Suzuki and Toshiyuki Kato, they were 42 or 43 when they began working on the JoJo anime, and that they’re now 53 or 54 (in 2021). Thus, Omori was likely to be around 56 or 57 in 2024.
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