Rest In Peace, Origa

Earlier today, Anime News Network alerted its readers that Russian-born singer Olga Vitalevna Yakovleva, better known as Origa, has died Saturday after a battle with lung cancer.

Origa was very popular in Japan, and known worldwide for singing the opening songs of the two Ghost in the Shell: StandAlone Complex series, and the soundtrack of the Solid State Society film that followed. Music has always been an important part of the Ghost in the Shell adaptations, and Origa's haunting voice was a signature part of the anime television series. Composer Yoko Kanno had her perform songs in Russian, Latin, Japanese and English throughout their collaboration on the soundtracks.

Below you can see the opening clips of Ghost in the Shell: StandAlone Complex, Ghost in the Shell: Second Gig and Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society. You can judge for yourself just how much her voice was a thread, binding that part of the franchise together.

She was only 44 years old. She will be missed. Rest In Peace, Origa.