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"Galaxy Express 999" manga artist Leiji Matsumoto dies at 85

Leiji Matsumoto, a famed Japanese cartoonist known for his works "Galaxy Express 999" and "Space Battleship Yamato," has died of acute heart failure, his production studio said Monday. He was 85. The manga artist, who also created "Space Pirate Captain Harlock," died at a Tokyo hospital on Feb. 13, Studio Leijisha said. Many of his works were adapted into anime television series that became popular at home and abroad. "Space Battleship Yamato," a story depicting an uncharted cosmic voyage in the 22nd century aboard a spaceship modeled off the World War II Imperial Japanese Navy of the same name, was made into a TV series and broadcast from 1974 to 1975. Hailing from Fukuoka Prefecture in southwestern Japan, Matsumoto was one of the first manga artists whose manga and animation work attracted fans overseas.

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Manga artist Leiji Matsumoto dies at 85

Photo taken on Feb, 20, 2023, shows a manhole cover with an illustration of Maetel, a lead character in Japanese cartoonist Leiji Matsumoto's famous "Galaxy Express 999" comic series, in the Fukuoka prefectural city of Kitakyushu, his hometown in southwestern Japan. Matsumoto died of acute heart failure on Feb. 13, 2023, at age 85.

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Manga artist Leiji Matsumoto dies at 85

A man and a child sit near a statue of Maetel, a lead character in renowned Japanese cartoonist Leiji Matsumoto's famous "Galaxy Express 999" comic series, in front of JR Kokura Station in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture in southwestern Japan, on Feb. 20, 2023. Matsumoto died of acute heart failure on Feb. 13, 2023, at age 85, his production studio said.

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Manga artist Leiji Matsumoto dies at 85

In a photo taken December, 2009, Japanese cartoonist Leiji Matsumoto writes an autograph on a "ninja train" designed by himself at Uenoshi station in the Mie Prefecture city of Iga, known as home to one of the most famous ninja clans. Matsumoto, known for his works "Galaxy Express 999" and "Space Battleship Yamato," died of acute heart failure on Feb. 13, 2023, at age 85, his production studio said.

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Manga artist Leiji Matsumoto dies at 85

A man and a child sit near a statue of Maetel, a lead character in renowned Japanese cartoonist Leiji Matsumoto's famous "Galaxy Express 999" comic series, in front of JR Kokura Station in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture in southwestern Japan, on Feb. 20, 2023. Matsumoto died of acute heart failure on Feb. 13, 2023, at age 85, his production studio said.

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Manga artist Leiji Matsumoto dies at 85

File photo taken in 2010 shows Japanese cartoonist Leiji Matsumoto commenting on his receiving the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette the same year. Matsumoto, known for his works "Galaxy Express 999" and "Space Battleship Yamato," died of acute heart failure on Feb. 13, 2023, at age 85, his production studio said.

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Manga artist Leiji Matsumoto dies at 85

File photo taken in May 2016 shows Leiji Matsumoto, a Japanese cartoonist. Matsumoto, known for his works "Galaxy Express 999" and "Space Battleship Yamato," has died of acute heart failure, his production studio said Feb. 20, 2023. He was 85.

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Manga creator Matsumoto tells of Galaxy Express 999 train project

Leiji Matsumoto (C), creator of the manga Galaxy Express 999, talks about a project to run Seibu Railway Co.'s train themed on the world of the manga story at a press conference in Tokyo on July 7, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Life-size bronze statues of popular anime characters unveiled in Tokyo

Renowned Japanese cartoonists Leiji Matsumoto (2nd from L) and Rumiko Takahashi (3rd from L) join other guests for a commemorative photo in front of the newly unveiled Oizumi Anime Gate, featuring life-size bronze statues of popular animation characters such as Astro Boy, at its opening ceremony in Tokyo's Nerima district on April 4, 2015. Nerima prides itself on being the birthplace of Japan's anime production industry. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Life-size bronze statues of popular anime characters unveiled in Tokyo

Renowned cartoonist Leiji Matsumoto unveils a bronze statue of Maetel, a lead character in his famous "Galaxy Express 999" comic series, at a opening ceremony for the Oizumi Anime Gate at Oizumi Gakuen Station in Tokyo's Nerima district on April 4, 2015. Nerima prides itself on being the birthplace of Japan's anime production industry. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Kitakyushu Manga Museum

The Kitakyushu Manga Museum opens in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 3, 2012. The museum collects, preserves and exhibits a range of manga works and related materials, including those of artists from Kitakyushu, such as Leiji Matsumoto, known for his works like "Space Pirate Captain Harlock" and "Galaxy Express 999." (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Kitakyushu Manga Museum

The Kitakyushu Manga Museum opens in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Aug. 3, 2012. The museum collects, preserves and exhibits a range of manga works and related materials, including those of artists from Kitakyushu, such as Leiji Matsumoto, known for his works like "Space Pirate Captain Harlock" and "Galaxy Express 999." (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Leiji Matsumoto's return from Italy

Japanese cartoonist Leiji Matsumoto arrives at Narita airport near Tokyo on Dec. 5, 2019, after being treated for pneumonia in Turin, Italy since mid-November. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Leiji Matsumoto's return from Italy

Japanese cartoonist Leiji Matsumoto arrives at Narita airport near Tokyo on Dec. 5, 2019, after being treated for pneumonia in Turin, Italy since mid-November. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Leiji Matsumoto's return from Italy

Japanese cartoonist Leiji Matsumoto arrives at Narita airport near Tokyo on Dec. 5, 2019, after being treated for pneumonia in Turin, Italy since mid-November. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japan cartoonist Matsumoto

Undated file photo shows famous Japanese cartoonist Leiji Matsumoto. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo