Kyoto Animation president and CEO Hideaki Hatta dies at 76
Hideaki Hatta, the president and chief executive officer of Kyoto Animation, has passed away at the age of 76.
The animation company announced that Hatta died on Feb. 16 in a statement on its website.
"We extend our deepest gratitude for the kindness and support shown to him throughout his life and respectfully provide this statement with sincere appreciation," Kyoto Animation said.
"Since our founding in 1985, for more than four decades, he served as President with the guiding principle of 'all-hands-on-deck,' striving to build an entertainment company that values people and is grounded in sincere animation production," they continued.
Hatta's eldest son, Shinichiro, has now succeeded him as president and CEO of the company to continue the work and values he carried on.
"We remain committed to creating work that can be enjoyed by people all over the world, carrying forward the spirit in our 'all-hands-on-deck' principle," they said.
Hatta's cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Hatta co-founded Kyoto Animation together with his wife Yoko, and they have since grown into one of Japan’s most successful studios.
Throughout the years, the company has produced several well-loved anime films and series, including The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Clannad, Free!, and A Silent Voice.
In 2019, the company was hit by a devastating arson attack that killed 36 people and destroyed most of the materials and computers in one of their studios. The suspect was eventually caught and was sentenced to death in January 2024.
Despite the incident, Kyoto Animation has since bounced back and resumed production while honoring the lives lost in the attack.
