The beloved Shonen Jump anime, Jojo Bizarre Adventure, experienced the loss of another legend in the anime industry. Jojo’s lead producer, Hiroyuki Oomori, had his passing announced on June 16th, 2024. Warner Bros. Japan first informed the Anime News Network the following day. Oomori has brought Hirohiko Araki’s Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure to life with its high-stakes action drama and 6-part story since 2012. Soon, thousands of fans shared about his other works after hearing about his passing. Here is the legacy of Hiroyuki Oomori.
Hiroyuki Oomori’s Early Producer Years
Hiroyuki Oomori began his career as an anime producer at Evangelion’s studio, GAtNAX, in 2001. He led production for the comedic sci-fi romance Mahromantic, with the plot revolving around the dying battle android Mahoro. She spends the remainder of her days with a high school student, Suguru, to learn how to live as a human. Then, in 2006, Oomori’s talent was recognized for the visual novel adaptation of the When They Cry series with Studio DEEN. Higurashi (Part One) was memorable for its new spin on horror and gore in the high school harem genre. Studio DEEN would recruit him again for their next project, Umineko.
Oomori soon gained high praise for adapting the 2010 apocalyptic action horror High School of the Dead. With animation studio Madhouse, he captivated the genius Daisuke and Shoji Sato’s perspective on how the end of the world could influence the decisions of growing youth. The anime was notable for its action scenes and smart character cast.
Enter Jojo Bizarre Adventure
In 2011, Hiroyuki Oomori transferred to work as a full-time executive producer for Warner Bros. Japan. When the showrunners asked him what he would love to see animated, Oomori suggested his favorite Shonen Jump manga series, Jojo Bizarre Adventure. He believed Hirohiko Araki’s art style and dramatic storytelling would look stunning as an anime.
Due to Araki’s cast having toned men with extreme beauty, Warner Bros. Japan became unsure if an animation studio could take on the responsibility but allowed Oomori to face the challenge. Once he was granted permission by Shonen Jump publisher Shueisha, he chose David Productions to bring the manga to life. Jojo Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood aired as Part One on October 6th, 2012.
For its first nine episodes, critics found Jojo’s 2012 animation better than its original 1983 OVA series. It would later gain popularity when the story reached The Stardust Crusaders (Part Three) in 2015. It also gave birth to the meme “Za Warudo” of Dio using his stand to manipulate time.
Oomori’s Legacy Beyond Jojo
Oomuri would go on to produce more action-oriented horror that he was recruited for through his partnership with Warner Bros. Japan. Joining Jojo Bizarre Adventure was the extraterrestrial sci-fi horror Terraformers, a show about Japan’s wanted criminals sent on a mission to Mars to defeat the cockroach martians. The anime would terrorize viewers everywhere, seeing these criminals on the verge of fighting for millions of yen while buff cockroaches annihilate them to protect their home planet.
Later in 2020, Oomori stepped down as a show producer and became a planning assistant for the harem fantasy manga Is It Wrong To Pick Up Girls In A Dungeon? The anime is about the Greenhorne Adventurer, Bell, who picks up random girls from the eternal dungeon maze. The last anime Oomori produced outside of Jojo was Bastards!!! Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy.
Oomori’s Curtain Call
In the past year, Warner Bros. Japan has requested Oomori for what will be his final anime production. For HBO Max’s upcoming anime line-up, he was the executive producer for DC’s chaotic team from hell, Suicide Squad ISEKAI. The synopsis is that A.R.G.U.S. agent Amanda Waller is sending Gotham’s infamous criminals into a mysterious gate to another world. The first three episodes will air on June 27th of this year.
With Hiroyuki Oomori’s passing, the anime will become a mini-series with only 10 episodes in its first season. From the start of his career to his final days, Oomori has produced 28 anime titles. To his watchers, they will remember him as the man who revived Jojo Bizarre Adventure.
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