Hatta had served as president and CEO of Kyoto Animation until the time of his passing.
Kyoto Animation has announced the passing of its co-founder, president, and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Hideaki Hatta today on their official website. He was 76 years old.
Hatta served as president of Kyoto Animation since its founding in 1981, alongside his wife and co-founder Yoko Hatta, who is still the vice president of the production company. Kyoto Animation divulged that Hatta had passed away on 16 February, 2026, after a bout of undisclosed illness. The wake and funeral was shortly held in the privacy of family members.
Hatta's successor, Shinichiro Hatta, was also announced to take on the role of president and CEO of Kyoto Animation, continuing the legacy of his predecessor.
Hideaki Hatta is remembered for his numerous contributions to Japanese animation
Hideaki Hatta has long since stood as the pillar of Kyoto Animation, providing the world with unforgettable anime titles, as well as its high production values. Hatta led the company to great heights, and provided company employees in-house training and salaries, factors that are quite uncommon in Japanese animation production companies.
Hatta also stood strong with his employees during the devastating Kyoto Animation arson attack in 2019, which killed 36 people and injured 34 others. At the wake of the destruction, Hatta strived to rebuild his production company from the ground up. His tirelessness and dedication is fondly remembered by those who worked with him.
The official announcement regarding his passing reads:
We regret to announce the passing of our company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Hideaki Hatta, on February 16, 2026, at the age of 76.
We extend our deepest gratitude for the kindness and support shown to him throughout his life and respectfully provide this statement with sincere appreciation.
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.
Shinichiro Hatta has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer effective immediately to continue the work and values carried on by Hideaki Hatta. 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.
In addition, the wake and funeral service were held privately among family members. No floral tributes, monetary contributions, or visits will be accepted under any circumstances. We thank you for your understanding.