Fumi Kitahara, a publicity executive for DreamWorks, Aardman and other animation studios, died Monday of complications due to a rare blood cancer. She was 56, just days away from turning 57 on March 2.
For DreamWorks, she helped publicize the first three “Shrek” films, as well as “How to Train Your Dragon.” At Aardman, she ran awards campaigns for “Chicken Run” and the Oscar-winning “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.”
She also helped promote Netflix animated films, including Oscar-nominated “Kubo and the Two Strings” and “The Sea Beast.”
Producer Bonnie Arnold said in a statement shared with the media, “I have had the pleasure of working with Fumi for over three decades, from our Disney/Pixar days, through DreamWorks and Locksmith projects… her positive energy and effort in making connections and supporting independent filmmakers within our industry are irreplaceable. She was known and beloved by all and will be sorely missed by our community.”
“We at Aardman are so very deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague Fumi. It’s hard to put into words just how much she will be missed; her years of unrelenting enthusiasm, invaluable support and her eternally generous spirit and friendship will always live on for us. A bright and very precious light has surely gone out in the animation world today,” said Aardman executive director Nick Park.
“Fumi was a life force of joy. From her early days working in Disney publicity with Howard Green and throughout the years, she has remained a constant source of encouragement for every artist and filmmaker who has ever been blessed to have her come alongside and help present their work to the world,” said director Glen Keane, whose Netflix film “Over the Moon” was nominated for Best Animated Feature.
“Beyond any Award or recognition that Fumi’s considerable talent helped shine a light upon, the greatest prize was simply to count Fumi Kitahara as a dear friend,” Keane added.
Kitahara graduated from Cal State Northridge with a degree in business marketing and got her start in the animation world in 1992 at The Walt Disney Studios in the office of Howard Green, working with him on such landmark films as “The Lion King” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Toy Story.”
In 1996, she joined DreamWorks SKG in 1996 as Head of Animation Publicity until 2007, when she left to form her own boutique publicity firm, the pr kitchen.
Kitahara is survived by her husband, Simon Otto and their son Max, her mother Teruko Kitahara; sister, Hiroko Kitahara Domes; and brother Keiichi Kitahara, according to Animation Magazine.
Otto directed “That Christmas,” and served as head of character animation on the “How to Train Your Dragon trilogy.”
Plans are in the works for a celebration of life.
