Overview
- Ajia-do publicly disclosed the news on March 17 following a private family funeral and asked the public to refrain from flowers, monetary gifts, or condolence visits.
- Shibayama served as chief director of the Doraemon TV series from 1984 to 2005 and directed more than 20 feature films, concluding in 2004.
- He co-founded Ajia-do in 1978 and later served as the studio’s president and CEO.
- His wider credits include Chibi Maruko-chan, Nintama Rantaro, Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori, and the original 1989 Ranma 1/2.
- Coverage notes differing accounts of lifetime honors, with some outlets citing a 2018 Tokyo Anime Award Festival recognition and others a 2012 Agency for Cultural Affairs award.