Legendary voice actress Atsuko Tanaka has died at age 61.
News of the star’s passing comes from her son and fellow voice actor, Hikaru Tanaka, who made an announcement on X/Twitter. In a message (translated by Anime Corner), he says his mother “peacefully passed away” today, August 20, after battling an unnamed illness for more than a year. Hikaru did not disclose what the illness was but says his mother fought with “grace, humor, and strength.”
“To all the fans who loved Atsuko Tanaka, to everyone in the industry who worked with her during her lifetime, I would like to express my deepest gratitude on behalf of her,” Hikaru says.
いつもお世話になっている皆様へ pic.twitter.com/rfzWhMbsIl
— 田中 光（Hikaru Tanaka） (@HikaruTanaka_va) August 20, 2024
Atsuko has been prominently featured in a long list of shows, movies, and games in the last 30 years. She is perhaps best known for her portrayal as Kusanagi Motoko, the main character in Ghost in the Shell, but she’s also done voice work for projects like Devilman Crybaby, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Naruto: Shippuden, God Eater, and so much more. Atsuko even has credits in things as recent as Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, and the Sand Land video game.
She’s lent her talents to a number of video game franchises, such as Virtua Fighter, Yakuza, Final Fantasy, Fire Emblem, and Street Fighter. In Japanese versions of iconic games, she’s also played Lara Croft for a number of early Tomb Raider entries, Yennefer in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Bayonetta, and Trish in Devil May Cry 5.
“I feel truly blessed to have had such a proud mother,” Hikaru’s message continues. “Lastly, please do not forget that Atsuko Tanaka poured her heart and soul into the characters she loved and brought to life. And Atsuko Tanaka, the voice actress, herself.”
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
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