Friday, January 4, 2019

Toshiro Aoki, Toho SFX Art Director, Passes Away

Toho SFX art director Toshiro Aoki in November 2016. Photo by Brett Homenick. 

Toho SFX art director Toshiro Aoki passed away on December 31, following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 82.

Mr. Aoki was born in Gunma Prefecture in 1936. Beginning his career at Toho as an art assistant in 1959, Mr. Aoki lent his considerable talents to productions like The Three Treasures (1959), Mothra (1961), Gorath (1962), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), Godzilla vs. the Thing (1964), among many other titles.


In the 1970s, Mr. Aoki followed in the footsteps of Yasuyuki Inoue and became SFX art director for films like Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972), Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973), Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974), and Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975). 


I was pleased to meet Mr. Aoki in November 2016 at a special event in Yokohama. I found him to be extremely friendly and always hoped I would have another chance to meet him and possibly interview him.

Rest in peace, Mr. Aoki.

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