Studio Khara has posted an open letter on their official website revealing that Rebuild of Evangelion Key Animation and Special Effects Director Shoichi Masuo has passed away on 24th July 2017 due to illness. He was 57.

© Studio KHARA

Besides his work on Evangelion and Rebuild of Evangelion, Shoichi Masuo also has Key Animation and Animation director credits in such seminal anime as Crimson Wolf, Inuyasha the Movie, Vandread, and Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water.

A number of colleagues in the animation industry — including fellow Evangelion Key Animator and Yuri!!! on Ice Character Designer / Chief Animation Director Tadashi Hiramatsu, paid their respects to Shoichi Masuo via Twitter.