The official social media account of Joji "Screaming Mad George" Tani has revealed that he sadly passed away earlier this year at the age of 69.

Tani has multiple claims to fame, first coming to the attention of people in Japan via his work as a punk musician. His later career was in movies as a visual artist, and he contributed effects to films like John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China, the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led Predator and Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. He would also have a hand in designing the masks worn by heavy metal band Slipknot during the release of their second and third albums.

Tani even tried his hand at video game development, working with developer Mathilda on the 1998 PS1 title ParanoiaScape. It is considered to be one of the oddest video games ever made.

As our very own Jack Yarwood explained when the game was fan-translated last year:

"ParanoiaScape is based on Tani's original concept and finds the player exploring a hellish landscape in first-person, with two skeletal imps carrying a pair of bone paddles (which the player controls) floating in front of them. These paddles, similar to those in pinball, are used for deflecting incoming projectiles, which, in this case, take the form of attacks from the various demons you will encounter. Tani was also responsible for the creature designs seen in the game, as well as the music, and even makes a cameo in the game, giving the player feedback."

Our thoughts are with Tani's family and friends at this difficult time.