The anime community is grieving the loss of veteran animator and character designer Kenichirō Katsura, who passed away on September 30 at the age of 59. His wife, animator Satoko Miyachi, shared the news on social media, noting that he had been receiving medical treatment for an illness. A private funeral service has since been conducted for his immediate family.
Katsura leaves behind a substantial legacy, having contributed to the industry for decades across a wide variety of genres. His work was foundational to the Macross 7 franchise, where he handled character design duties for both Macross 7 Plus and the feature film The Galaxy's Calling Me!. In more recent years, he took on the role of chief animation director for both seasons of Synduality: Noir, as well as for the Grisaia series and the anime adaptation of Knight's & Magic.
His technical versatility allowed him to move seamlessly between roles, from serving as a key animator on classic titles like the 1989 Ranma ½ series to providing animation direction for the 2026 Gintama film. His influence extended to numerous other projects, including That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, BLUE LOCK, and Encouragement of Climb.
In her statement, Miyachi extended her appreciation to the fans, studios, and colleagues who supported Katsura throughout his career. While his passing is a significant loss for the animation community, his extensive body of work continues to be a staple of the medium.
