Doraemon And Chibi Maruko-Chan Director Tsutomu Shibayama Dies At 84
The official website for the anime production company Ajiado announced on March 16, 2026, that former President and CEO Tsutomu Shibayama passed away on March 6, 2026, at the age of 84.
The cause of death for the veteran director and animator was confirmed as lung cancer.
Ajiado expressed deep gratitude for the support Shibayama received during his life and noted that a private funeral has already been conducted for close relatives.
Shibayama began his professional career at Toei Animation in 1963 before joining A Production in 1966, where he worked as an animation director on projects like The Gutsy Frog and Tensai Bakabon.
In 1978, he co-founded the studio Ajiado alongside colleagues Osamu Kobayashi and Michishiro Yamada.
He is perhaps best known for his extensive work on the Doraemon franchise, serving as the chief director for the television series from 1984 to 2005.
During this period, Shibayama also directed 22 consecutive Doraemon feature films, starting with Nobita and the Castle of the Undersea Devil in 1983 and concluding with Nobita in the Wan-Nyan Spacetime Odyssey in 2004.
His directorial portfolio included other high-profile series such as Chibi Maruko-chan from 1990 to 1992 and Nintama Rantaro from 1993 to 2012.
In recognition of his significant contributions to Japanese cinema, the Agency for Cultural Affairs presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
Ajiado intends to hold a public memorial service at a future date, with specific details regarding the time and location to be shared once they are confirmed.
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