Veteran Animator Kenichirō Katsura Passes Away at 59

The anime and gaming communities are mourning the loss of veteran animator and character designer Kenichirō Katsura, who passed away on September 30, 2026, at the age of 59.

The heartbreaking news was officially confirmed by his wife, fellow animator Satoko Miyachi, who shared a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, October 5.

Katsura passed away while undergoing medical treatment for an illness. While his family confirmed the date of his passing, they have chosen to keep the specific illness, time, and exact location of his death private. He is survived by his wife, Satoko Miyachi.

His Legacy:

Born in 1966 in Fukushima, Japan, Katsura built an expansive and influential career across both television anime and video games, frequently taking on pivotal roles such as character designer and chief animation director. His extensive portfolio spans several decades and includes a diverse range of beloved franchises like -

1) Macross 7

2) Synduality: Noir:

3) Knight's & Magic:

4) That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

5) Aquaplus Collaborations: Katsura was highly celebrated for his long-standing work with game developer Aquaplus, providing his talents to hit visual novels and their subsequent anime adaptations, including ToHeart2, Comic Party, Utawarerumono, and WHITE ALBUM2.

Following the announcement, Aquaplus released a statement expressing their deep gratitude for his immense contributions to their works.

MovieWrld extends its deepest condolences to Satoko Miyachi, Katsura's family, and his colleagues during this difficult time. His incredible artistry and character designs will continue to be celebrated by fans a

round the world.