Nascimento: 31 de Março de 1950 (47 years)
Falecimento: 21 de Janeiro de 1998
Gosen, Niigata Prefecture - Japão
Yoshifumi Kondō (近藤 喜文, Kondō Yoshifumi, March 31, 1950 - January 21, 1998) was a Japanese animator who worked for Studio Ghibli in his last years. He was born in Gosen, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. He worked as an animation director on Anne of Green Gables, Sherlock Hound, Kiki's Delivery Service, Only Yesterday and Princess Mononoke. Kondō directed the animated film Whisper of the Heart, and was expected to become one of the top directors at Studio Ghibli, along with Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.
Kondō died of an aneurysm in 1998. His death is said to have been caused by work excess, and seems to be the main reason for Hayao Miyazaki's announcement of retirement in 1998. Although in the end Miyazaki didn't retire, Kondō's death seems to have influenced Miyazaki to work at a more relaxed pace.