Hideaki Hatta, the longtime president and co-founder of Kyoto Animation, died on February 16, 2026, due to illness. He was 76.

The studio announced his passing in an official statement, expressing deep gratitude for the support shown to him during his lifetime. Funeral services were held privately with family members, and the company requested that flowers, condolence money, and visits be respectfully declined.

Hatta had led Kyoto Animation for more than four decades since its formal establishment in 1985. Originally founded in 1981 by his wife, Youko Hatta, as a subcontracting business specializing in animation finishing (coloring), the company evolved under his leadership into one of Japan's most respected and globally recognized animation studios.

Guided by the motto "Yotte takatte tsukuru," loosely translated as "all-hands-on-deck," Hatta championed a production philosophy centered on collaboration, stable employment, and creative integrity. Unlike many studios that relied heavily on freelance labor, Kyoto Animation employed artists as full-time staff, fostering young talent with steady salaries and in-house training while maintaining its production base in Kyoto rather than Tokyo.

Beginning in the 2000s, the studio produced a string of acclaimed works, including Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya), K-On!, and Hibike! Euphonium (Sound! Euphonium). Its meticulous craftsmanship and expressive character animation earned widespread praise, giving rise to the industry term "KyoAni Quality."

Leadership Through Tragedy
Hatta's tenure was marked most profoundly by the July 2019 arson attack on Kyoto Animation's Studio 1 in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, in which 36 employees were killed and many others injured. At the time, approximately 40% of the studio's 176 employees were affected by the incident.

In the aftermath, Hatta assumed primary responsibility for the company's response and rebuilding efforts. He oversaw support measures for victims and their families, managed the studio's recovery, and gradually resumed production activities. In 2020, Kyoto Animation restarted new employee recruitment, signaling a long-term commitment to rebuilding.

By 2025, the studio had reached a major milestone: the broadcast of its first completely new television anime developed after the attack. At a memorial ceremony marking six years since the tragedy, Hatta pledged that the company would continue advancing "together with the aspirations of the 36" who were lost. He later reaffirmed the studio's determination to create works "we can be proud of," uniting both veteran staff and those who joined after the attack.

Succession
Following Hatta's death, his son, Shinichirou Hatta, was appointed president. In its statement, Kyoto Animation reiterated its commitment to carrying forward Hatta's ideals, continuing to "create works together" that can be enjoyed by audiences around the world.

Hideaki Hatta is remembered not only as a studio executive but as a leader who reshaped the labor model of Japan's animation industry, demonstrated resilience in the face of unprecedented tragedy, and upheld a belief that animation is, above all, a collective act of dedication and care.

Source: Yomiuri Shimbun, Kyoto Shimbun