Anime Director and Animator Yūji Yanase died on August 22, the official website for his series The Insipid Prince's Furtive Grab for The Throne announced. He began working in the anime industry in 1988 as an in‑between animator on titles such as Akira, Kaze o Nuke! and Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Dorabian Nights, and served as key animator on Macross 7, The Legend of Zorro, Tenchi Universe and Tetsujin 28‑go FX, and as animation director on episodes of Saber Marionette J, Fancy Lala, Excel Saga, Hellsing, Chobits, Mezzo, Aria the Animation and Symphogear. He made his directorial debut in 2014 with Himegoto and later directed Onsen Yōsei Hakone‑chan, In Another World with My Smartphone, If It’s for My Daughter, I’d Even Defeat a Demon Lord, By the Grace of the Gods, In the Land of Leadale, My Unique Skill Makes Me OP even at Level 1, I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History, Apocalypse Bringer Mynoghra, The World's Strongest Rearguard - Labyrinth Country's Novice Seeker, and The Insipid Prince's Furtive Grab for The Throne, which premiered on July 6. He continued to work as a key animator, animation director and episode director on various productions. The announcement was made on the series' official website, and no further details about his passing were provided.