Hiroki Ikeshita, the assistant director of the popular anime Shangri-La Frontier, passed away on November 6, as announced on the anime’s official website.

Anime Shangri-La Frontier Official Web Site (JP)

Tribute from the Shangri-La Frontier Team

The official statement expressed deep gratitude for Ikeshita's invaluable contributions to the series, saying:

“Assistant Director Hiroki Ikeshita of the TV anime Shangri-La Frontier passed away on Wednesday, November 6. We extend our heartfelt condolences and pray for his soul to rest in peace.”

Shangri-La Frontier, based on the hit manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine, follows the adventures of Rakuro Hizutome, a gamer with a peculiar love for subpar games, as he takes on the critically acclaimed virtual RPG of the same name. The manga has achieved immense success, with over 7.5 million copies sold and a record-breaking four crowns in reader polls.

A Stellar Career in Anime

Hiroki Ikeshita's career spanned a variety of influential roles across the anime industry. His directorial debut came with Shachou, Battle no Jikan Desu! (Shachibato!), and he lent his talents to iconic titles such as:

Major (Season 2): Animation Director
Fairy Tail: Animation Director
Bungou Stray Dogs and Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina: Episode Director
Ikeshita's dedication and creativity made a lasting impact on the projects he worked on, and his contributions will continue to inspire anime fans and creators worldwide.

Source : ORICON NEWS