Fumi Kitahara, Longtime Animation Publicity Executive for DreamWorks, Aardman and More, Dies at 56

by

Fumi Kitahara, a highly esteemed public relations professional known for her successful marketing campaigns at studios such as DreamWorks, Aardman, Laika, Netflix, and Disney, passed away on Monday due to complications from a rare form of blood cancer. She was 56 years old.

Kitahara played a role in promoting such movies as the initial three “Shrek” films, “Chicken Run,” “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Coraline,” “Kubo and the Two Strings,” “Over the Moon,” and “The Sea Beast.

She managed award-winning short film campaigns like “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse” which won an Oscar, as well as “War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko.”

OR

She was in charge of award campaigns for the Oscar-winning shorts “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse,” and “War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko.”

OR

She supervised the awards processes for the short films “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse” (Oscar-winning) and “War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko.”

All these options convey the same idea but in different ways.

Kitahara completed her education at California State University, Northridge in 1992. She then embarked on her professional journey at Walt Disney Studios, where she worked under Howard Green’s supervision from that year. During this period, they collaborated on multiple projects such as “The Lion King,” “Pocahontas,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Toy Story,” and “Frank and Ollie.” Besides these animated features, they also worked together on several live-action titles.

Kitahara graduated from Cal State Northridge in 1992 and began her career at Walt Disney Studios. She worked under Howard Green, contributing to projects like “The Lion King,” “Pocahontas,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Toy Story,” and “Frank and Ollie,” as well as some live-action films.

Or:

After graduating from Cal State Northridge in 1992, Kitahara started her job at Walt Disney Studios, working with Howard Green on various projects like “The Lion King,” “Pocahontas,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Toy Story,” and “Frank and Ollie.” She also worked together with him on some live-action movies.

1996 saw her become a part of DreamWorks SKG, where she spent the subsequent 11 years serving as the Head of Animation Publicity. Her tenure began with “The Prince of Egypt,” followed by spearheading promotional efforts for Academy Award-winning productions such as “Shrek” and “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.”

Bonnie Arnold, a seasoned producer, expressed her sentiments in a statement, “I’ve had the joy of collaborating with Fumi for over three decades, from our days at Disney/Pixar to DreamWorks and Locksmith projects…her infectious enthusiasm and dedication towards fostering connections and uplifting independent filmmakers within our industry are immeasurable. She was admired and cherished by many and her absence will be deeply felt within our community.

Following DreamWorks, she established her own boutique agency and was involved in the publicity and award campaigns for Guillermo Del Toro’s 2022 Oscar-winning film “Pinocchio,” as well as numerous other films that were nominated for Oscars. These included “Coraline,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” “The Pirates! Band of Misfits,” “ParaNorman,” “The Boxtrolls,” “Shaun the Sheep Movie,” “Kubo and the Two Strings,” “Mirai,” “Missing Link,” “Klaus,” “I Lost My Body,” “Over the Moon,” “Shaun the Sheep: Farmageddon,” “The Mitchells vs The Machines,” and “The Sea Beast.

At Aardman, we are incredibly devastated and heartbroken by the passing of our cherished friend and coworker Fumi. It’s challenging to express the void her absence will create; her endless energy, priceless encouragement, and her selfless nature and camaraderie will forever remain with us. Today, a radiant and extremely precious light has undeniably dimmed in the animation industry. This was shared by Nick Park, the Executive Director at Aardman Studios.

Fumi Kitahara spent four years at Google Spotlight Stories, contributing to movies like “Pearl,” “Sail,” and “Duet,” and collaborated with Baobab Studios. She was known for her endless enthusiasm, serving as an inspiring influence on artists and filmmakers throughout her career, from her time in Disney publicity with Howard Green onwards. While the accolades and acknowledgments that her considerable talent earned are noteworthy, it was the privilege of having Fumi Kitahara as a cherished friend that truly held the highest value, according to Keane.

For over ten years, she held the position of Chair for Public Relations (PR) within Women in Animation, and also belonged to the Public Relations department of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

Fumi has been a member of WIA’s Board of Directors for over ten years. Without her tireless efforts and exceptional contributions, WIA would not be in its current successful state. She was an excellent liaison with the media and represented our World Summit exceptionally well at Annecy,” commented Jinko Gotoh, Vice President of WIA and a fellow Academy member.

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but be moved by the creation of the Fumi Kitahara Membership and Scholarship Fund. This initiative is a heartfelt tribute to an individual who, through her tireless efforts over the years, uplifted many within our community – the Women in Animation (WIA).

Marge Dean, the President of WIA, beautifully encapsulated the significance of this fund: “We are establishing this fund to honor Fumi’s influence and impact. It will serve as a beacon for future generations in our industry, helping us preserve the remarkable legacy of kindness and generosity that Fumi so selflessly bestowed upon us all.”

This fund is not just about remembering Fumi; it’s about carrying forward her spirit, her dedication, and her unwavering generosity. We are all grateful for the difference she made in our lives and look forward to seeing how this fund will continue her impact for generations to come.

She leaves behind her spouse, Simon Otto – a renowned director known for “That Christmas” and the head of character animation in the “How to Train Your Dragon” series, as well as an animator; their child, Max, also survives. Additionally, her mother Teruko Kitahara, sister Hiroko Kitahara Domes, and brother Keiichi Kitahara are among the other survivors.

Plans for a celebration of life are in progress.

Read More

2025-02-26 01:47