Danica Davidson
December 4, 2024 
There is sad news in the anime world as Anime News Network is reporting that industry veteran Jan Scott-Frazier has passed away at age 59. Frazier had been having health issues, leading to three GoFundMe campaigns to help her out.
In 2022, Neon Genesis Evangelion VA Amanda Winn Lee launched a GoFundMe campaign, indicating that Frazier needed a new kidney but had been ejected from the donor’s list. Another GoFundMe was dedicated to helping her afford assisted living; because of her health issues, she could no longer take care of herself. The last and most recent GoFundMe was about a month ago, after Frazier said someone stole from her and she needed help paying rent.
Before these health issues began, Frazier was a trailblazer in the anime world. For more than a decade she worked in anime in Japan, even becoming the first non-Japanese person to have a job in the production department of an anime studio.
Along with Kimagure Orange Road creator Izumi Matsumoto, she created the GENESIS Digital Publishing Company and was therefore behind the very first digital manga with Comic ON.
In 1995, all her previous experiences led her to being the president of Production I.G. USA. She continued to work as a producer, as well as a director. Other jobs include translating, technical directing, production assisting, background artist, 3D animator, and an in-between checker. She additionally created the nonprofit Voices For to help others. In other words, she was a Renaissance woman in the world of anime, and she joined anime during a time where very few non-Japanese people were involved.
Frazier showed a lot of gratitude from fans who helped her through her GoFundMe campaigns, writing at one point, “Wow! A huge thank you to everyone who has donated so far. You’re making my life possible.”
Source: ANN
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
