Fumi Kitahara, a broadly revered animation publicist who helped steer award-winning campaigns for studios together with DreamWorks, Aardman, Laika, Netflix, and Disney, handed away on Monday because of problems from a uncommon type of blood most cancers, her household introduced. She was 56.
“Expensive Associates of Fumi-,” the household wrote, “We’re devastated to share that our expensive Fumi handed away this afternoon, February 24, after her lengthy battle with a uncommon blood most cancers. She was surrounded by the love of her household and shut pals.”
Signed “Simon, Max & the Kitahara Household,” the joint assertion continued, “We all know a lot of you may be as heartbroken as we’re in saying goodbye to her unforgettable character, her infectious smile, and her heat and loving coronary heart. That is an unimaginable loss for us, our household, and the animation group. Thanks for the love, help, and friendship you have got proven her through the years. She meant the world to so many.”
All through her greater than 30-year profession, Kitahara performed a significant function in publicizing among the most beloved animated movies of latest a long time. Her work included campaigns for a number of Shrek movies, Rooster Run, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Have been-Rabbit, Coraline, Tips on how to Practice Your Dragon, Kubo and the Two Strings, Over the Moon, and The Sea Beast. Moreover, she oversaw awards campaigns for Oscar-winning animated shorts comparable to The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse and Struggle Is Over! Impressed by the Music of John and Yoko.
Born on March 2, 1968, Kitahara earned a level in enterprise advertising and marketing from California State College, Northridge. She started her profession in 1992 at Walt Disney Studios, working beneath veteran publicist Howard Inexperienced. Throughout her time there, she contributed to publicity efforts for classics like The Lion King, Pocahontas, Toy Story, The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas, and the documentary Frank and Ollie.
In 1996, Kitahara joined DreamWorks SKG as Head of Animation Publicity, the place she constructed and led the division for 11 years. There, she was instrumental in launching campaigns for The Prince of Egypt, Shrek, and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Have been-Rabbit, amongst different titles.
After leaving DreamWorks in 2007, Kitahara based her personal boutique publicity agency, the PR Kitchen, the place she contributed to quite a few high-profile awards campaigns. She additionally pent 4 years with Google Highlight Tales, serving to to advertise titles comparable to Pearl, Duet, and Age of Sail; collaborated with Baobab Studios on initiatives together with Baba Yaga and Namoo; and labored on documentary movies comparable to Walt & El Grupo, Waking Sleeping Magnificence, and Tyrus.
A champion for girls within the business, Kitahara served as PR Chair for Ladies in Animation for over a decade and was a member of the Public Relations department of the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences. She’s survived by her husband, filmmaker Simon Otto; their son, Max; her mom, Teruko Kitahara; sister, Hiroko Kitahara Domes; and brother, Keiichi Kitahara. Info on a celebration of life shall be forthcoming.
