Director and animator Tatsufumi Ito, who worked on "Senki Zesshou Symphogear (1st season)" and other works, passed away. He was 55 years old.

Tatsufumi Ito, who directed "Senki Zesshou Symphogear (1st season)" and has worked on numerous animations since the late 1980s, died of a brainstem hemorrhage on May 23, 2020.
(*Image from Senki Zesshou Symphogear AXZ (4th season))

The news of Mr. Ito's death was revealed when his wife, Mariko Ito, posted on his Twitter account around noon on July 1, 2020.

This is my wife Mariko Ito

May

23rd Tatsufumi Ito passed away due to brainstem hemorrhage (age 55)

It was so sudden that my feelings couldn't catch up with the news, but I am happy to report that things have gradually calmed down

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me and been a good friend! Thank you very much

- Tastufumi Itoh (Symphogear 1st season director) (@Tastufumi_Itoh) July 1, 2020

Many people in the industry, including composer Noriyasu Uematsu, a founding member of the Symphogear series, and game creator Akifumi Kaneko, who worked on the original story, were surprised by this report and expressed their condolences.

Director Ito was a
benefactor who created the foundation of Symphogear, and a comrade-in-arms with whom we were able to travel together for the first time in an original anime with no answers.
I sincerely pray for his soul rest in peace. #-

Noriyasu Agematsu ElementsGarden (@agematsu) July 1, 2020

It was a year and a half ago that we promised each other "Let's have dinner again.
I am sorry that we could not fulfill our promise due to our busy schedules.

At the wake and funeral, I gave many reports and expressed many thanks on behalf of Director Ito's fans.

I don't know if they heard me or not.
Because they didn't respond to anything. #-

Akifumi Kaneko @ Symphogear XV (@akanekotwitte10) July 1, 2020

Tatsufumi Ito began working as an animator in the late 1980s under the name Tatsufumi Tamagawa, and has been working under the surname Ito since 2008's "Casshern Sins. He has worked as an animator since the late 1980s under the name Tatsufumi Tamagawa. Dokkidoki" and "Senki Zesshou Symphogear (1st season)," and also worked as an animator, director, and storyboard artist for many other works.

We pray for his soul rest in peace.