Began work on his final film Yume Miru Kikai in 2008, despite his failing health, producer Masao Maruyama promised the film would be finished. After his death in 2010 the film was put on hold but resumed that year with Yoshimi Itazu assuming director duties, based on the completed storyboards. Financial difficulties however forced the film to be put on hold again with 600 shots out of 1500 had been animated at that point.
