Atsuko Tanaka, 61, died on August 20, 2024 after succumbing to an unknown illness. Best known for providing the Japanese voices for Bayonetta, Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft, and Ghost in the Shell’s Motoko Kusanagi, Tanaka has worked on countless video games, films, and anime throughout her career—bringing characters to life with honor and passion.
Her son, Hikaru Tanaka, shared the news on X, thanking those who supported his mother and asking them not to forget her and her life’s work. In accordance with her wish, Hikaru did not reveal what illness his mother was suffering from, but praised her for bravely fighting against it for over a year.
Fans of Nintendo games may also know her as Female Avatar from Xenoblade Chronicles X and Flavia from Fire Emblem Awakening. Additionally, she provided the voices for several Final Fantasy characters, Chun-Li and Poison in Street Fighter III, and Caster from Fate/Stay Night and Fate/Hollow Ataraxia.
Readers who wish to pay tribute to her and her career can take a look here see a list of all the works to which she gave her talent.
