Remembering Jun Tamatani: A Pioneer in Anime and Gaming Design

A Notable Legacy

Designer and illustrator Jun Tamatani has sadly passed away, as reported by science fiction writer Hiroe Suga on her X account. Tamatani was a key figure in the early days of Gainax, having joined the company after its precursor, General Products, was established.

Early Contributions at General Products

General Products was founded by Toshio Okada and Yasuhiro Takeda to sell merchandise and create garage kits.
Revenue generated by General Products played a significant role in the founding of Gainax.

Work with Gainax

Tamatani was instrumental to Gainax's success:

Directed the Princess Maker Q, a puzzle game spinoff of the beloved Princess Maker series.
He also directed Neon Genesis Evangelion: Ayanami Raising Project and served as graphics director for Nadia - The Secret of Blue Water on PC-98 and Sharp X68000.
Contributed to background design on Petite Princess Yucie and special effects on Gunbuster vs Diebuster Aim for the Top! The GATTAI!! Movie and Wish Upon the Pleiades.

Recognized in Gaming

In the realm of gaming, Tama-tani is perhaps best known for:

Designing Erdrick's Sword and other weapons in the Dragon Quest series.
Creating costumes, weapons, and items for the Princess Maker games.
Sharing insights about his weapon design inspirations on his social media.

Jun Tamatani Image
Image via Jun Tamatani's X account

A Lasting Impact

Tamatani's creative vision and contributions to both anime and gaming have left an indelible mark. His work continues to inspire future generations of artists and designers in the industry.