Namco pixel artist Hiroshi Ono passes away at age 64

Namco pixel artist Hiroshi Ono has passed away at age 64, according to his official Twitter account. He died on October 16.

#Mrドットマン #小野浩 #クラウドファンディング を応援していただいた皆様へ
ご報告です。 pic.twitter.com/2CPRU0pi5Z

— Mr.ドットマン@中の人はチームドットマンスタッフ (@MrDotman_info) October 18, 2021

Known as Mr. Dotman and the God of Pixel Art, he was the original pixel-art designer for Namco’s classic and popular arcade games, such as Galaga, Dig Dug, Xevious and many others. He joined Namco in 1979 and left the company in 2013 years after Namco merged with Bandai. He continued working as a freelancer after leaving Bandai Namco.

He can also be remembered for his involvement in the making of the cabinet and marquee design for Pac-Man.

His work can also be seen in the creation of logos and cabinet art seen in other Namco arcade games.

A crowdfunding campaign for the making of a film about his life was announced earlier this month. The campaign’s web page also announced then that Ono had been hospitalized since the start of the month. The campaign reached its goal and the project will continue.

Yuzo Koshiro, composer for Streets of Rage, expressed his feelings and paid tribute to Ono.

“My 15 (year-old) daughter found this and said with a smile a while back, “I love the red cat. So cute!” I was impressed his pixel arts didn’t only inspire my generation strongly but also stood the test of time. I know they will all miss you too…
R.I.P. Hiroshi Ono-san aka Mr. Dotman.”

My 15 daughter found this and said with a smile a while back, "I love the red cat. So cute! " I was impressed his pixel arts didn't only inspire my generation strongly but also stood the test of time. I know they will all miss you too…
R.I.P. Hiroshi Ono-san aka Mr. Dotman. pic.twitter.com/a1LORxc8rN

— Yuzo Koshiro (@yuzokoshiro) October 18, 2021

[Source/Fuente]: VideoGamesChronicle.com: Legendary Namco pixel artist Hiroshi ‘Mr Dotman’ Ono has died – [Archive].