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Japanese Anime Creators, Voice Actors React to Stan Lee's Passing

The world mourned the loss of one of comic book's revolutionaries on Monday. American comics pioneer Stan Lee passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Monday. He was 95. Lee was opened a whole new world of entertainment at Marvel Comics as the creative behind Iron Man, X-Men, Spider-Man, Black Panther, The Mighty Thor, The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, and Ant-Man. His timeless heroic characters have inspired people around the world and Japan is no exception.

Anime and manga industry creatives shared their memories and condolences in Lee's passing. Voice actor Junichi Suwabe wrote, "Stan Lee has passed away... I express my condolences."

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure animation director Kohei Ashiya wrote, "Thank you for all the dreams, hopes, and heroes, Mr. Stan Lee! I suppose you'll be looking over the heroes you birthed from heaven. Smiling at the cameos."

Hirona Murata, a voice actor and idol in Stan Lee and Hiroshi Nagahama's The Reflection anime series wrote, "Thank you for working alongside us and giving us hopes and dreams. We at 9nine will always treasure how we met you through THE REFLECTION anime."

Manga artist and former assistant to Shotaro Ishinomori, Masato Hayase wrote, "Ah, Stan Lee has passed away... I've hung up the Spider-Man illustration board I received from him in Ishinomori-sensei's room ... I pray for Stan Lee's happiness in the next world."

Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding video game director Hideo Kojima shared a picture from his studio Kojima Productions.

Silent Mobius and Nadesico manga artist Kia Asamiya wrote, "My heart sank at the news of Stan Lee's passing. I remember just like yesterday when I met him by coincidence at a Californian diner, and he encouraged me to do my best. This was before my work on Uncanny X-Men. Thank you. I express my condolences."

Saber Marionette J character designer Tsukasa Kotobuki shared artwork he drew of Stan Lee sitting on the shoulder of Leopardon from Toei's Japanese live-action Spider-Man television series.

Many of the Marvel Comics franchises Lee helped create have been adapted for television and film, including some anime. Madhouse produced anime adaptations of X-Men, Iron Man, Wolverine, and Blade. Toei Animation produced the Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers anime for the Japanese market. Spider-Man and X-Men manga have also inspired manga adaptations, and Spider-Man inspired a 1978 Toei tokusatsu series.

Famously, Lee had cameo appearances in many screen adaptations of Marvel comics.

Lee founded Pow! Entertainment alongside Gill Champion and Arthur Lieberman in 2001. The company has collaborated with Japanese and American publishers, as well as anime studios to produce content. It has collaborated with Shueisha and Viz Media to produce Hiroyuki Takei's Ultimo manga that ended in 2015. It collaborated with Bones and Wowmax Media to develop the Heroman anime and manga in 2010. Most recently, it collaborated with Studio DEEN to develop The Reflection anime project, which premiered last summer and Crunchyroll is streaming.

Lee is survived by his daughter J.C. and younger brother Larry Lieber, who is a Marvel writer and artist.

Update: Leopardon corrected. Thanks, robottimes and Emerje