Mutsumi Inomata, a renowned character designer in the Tales of video game series, passed away at the age of 63, leaving behind a creative legacy that has defined the series’ aesthetic. Throughout her career, Inomata worked on a dozen RPG titles for Bandai Namco, including Tales of Destiny, Tales of Eternia, Tales of Graces, and Tales of Berseria, among others.
In addition to her work on Tales of, Inomata also made her mark in other franchises, such as Tekken, where she contributed alternative character designs in several installments. Beyond the realm of video games, she participated in the animation of films and series like Windaria, City Hunter, and Future GPX Cyber Formula.
Inomata’s passing was confirmed by her official Twitter account, managed by her sister, on March 10th. Despite the sad news, it was mentioned that Inomata left behind unfinished sketches, suggesting that she was still working on new characters until her final days.
The news of her passing has deeply touched the Tales of fandom and the Japanese animation community at large. On social media, there has been an outpouring of condolences and gratitude for her contribution to the entertainment industry. Her sister has announced that Inomata’s Twitter account will remain open, inviting followers to leave messages in honor of the designer.
ファン、関係者の皆さまへ
— いのまたむつみ (@inomatanekomata) March 18, 2024
いのまたむつみの妹です。 pic.twitter.com/yp6BCTzXcS