Voice actor Makio Inoue has passed away at the age of 80 following health complications after a chronic heart attack. It was announced by his talent agency Aoni Production this week that he died on November 29th. Inoue was best known for voicing the character Captain Harlock in several anime, as well as Lupin III‘s Goemon Ishikawa XIII having taken over the role from Chikao Ohtsuka in 1977. But his prolific career stretches far beyond those two roles, voicing Sleggar Law in Mobile Suit Gundam – The Movie Trilogy, Ryuu in Ryu, the Cave Boy and Baron Ghost in The Fantastic Adventures of Unico, among many others. He began voice acting in the 1960s with a few small roles in the Astroboy anime, and became a go-to name for gravelly, serious male characters, of which Captain Harlock can count himself one. He also expanded into video games, voicing Master Eraqus in Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts III, and Black Lotus in Bushido Blade. Inoue was a key and beloved name in classic anime titles, and he will be missed by many fans. We send our thoughts to his loved ones at this dificult time.

littleanimeblog.com