It is with great sadness to report that legendary writer/director Satoshi Kon has passed away suddenly from cancer. He was 46.

Born in Kushiro, Hokkaido in 1963, Kon's talent and visionary artistry was evident from an early age. He attended the Musashino College of the Arts where he began his career as a manga artist before moving on to become editor of Young Magazine. He entered the anime industry in 1991 working with Katsuhiro Otomo on the acclaimed Roujin Z. Otomo fostered Kon's talents with work on the Memories anthology in 1995, before Kon's directorial debut - the breakthrough classic Perfect Blue (1997).

An impressive debut film in any genre, Perfect Blue established Kon as a young master of contemporary anime, blending fractured storylines with complex ideas on mental stability, conflicting reality and personal identity. His next feature, Millennium Actress (2001),  further explored Kon's complex storytelling techniques and his ruminations on the mindset of celebrity. The film brought more accolade and popularity with western audiences, winning Best Animated Film at the 2001 Fantasia Film Festival and tying for the Grand Prize with Miyazaki's Spirited Away at the 2001 Cultural Affairs Media Arts Festival. Tokyo Godfathers (2003) again impressed audiences and critics with it's unusual characters and the deep-rooted humanity within a dysfunctional setting.

In 2006 Kon released what would become his best known work, Paprika. Filled with more complex concepts and mediations on the make-up of the human psyche, Paprika became an instant classic, not only in anime circles, but within the realm of science-fiction and esoteric cinema. Dazzling in its grasp of psychology and intricate detail of the subconscious, the film inspired many within the film industry with fans claiming that it was the seed for films such as 2010's Inception. Paprika brought more awards than any of Kon's previous work and he was once again hailed as the master of contemporary anime.

Satoshi Kon also worked to establish better working conditions for animators and directors, helping found the Japan Animation Creators Association (JAniCA). The JAniCA continues to negotiate with animation studios to ensure the well-being of workers in the anime industry and push for unionised working conditions.

Kon died suddenly on August 23 at the age of 46. His two final projects, The Dreaming Machine and a follow-up to his 2004 series Paranoia Agent remain unfinished.

One can only wonder what incredible art and imagination he had yet to give the world. His legacy will continue to inspire for generations and we are all fortunate to have shared this planet with him.

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away."

                       - Philip K. Dick

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Don't forget that we're still taking pre-orders for season 9: PUPPET NINJA!

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Yes, it's official... Cannan is currently recieving the English dub treatment and this audio option will be available on our upcoming October release. And if that news doesn't have your fists pumping, how about this: we're gonna be the first people on the planet to put it out (sneaking it through almost a week before the USA). Available for pre-order right freakin' now!