Anime director Tatsuya Nagamine, known for major works such as the One Piece films and the Precure movie series, passed away on August 20 at the age of 53. His family announced the news on his official X account November 14.

According to the announcement, “Thank you always for your support. We are Nagamine Tatsuya’s family. He had been undergoing medical treatment since last year, but he passed away on August 20 at the age of 53.”

The statement continued, noting that the funeral was held privately among close relatives. “Yesterday, on November 13, Toei Animation hosted a private memorial gathering. We thank everyone who attended. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone at Toei Animation for arranging such an event with great care.”

His family also reflected on his character: “To us, he was a gentle, warm, and incredibly supportive husband and father. He continued fighting his illness with determination, doing everything he possibly could. We believe he stayed motivated by the thought of returning home and returning to work.”
They added heartfelt words: “We are deeply saddened and full of regret. But we are proud of him for always putting his whole heart into his work, parenting, and daily life. We imagine he is now resting above the clouds, reunited with senior colleagues and creators, perhaps talking about making something together again.”

The message concluded with gratitude: “To everyone who supported him, we extend our deepest thanks. We would be grateful if you would continue to enjoy and cherish the works he contributed to. The sky over Nerima, home to the Oizumi Studio where he spent more than half of his life, is clear today.”

Nagamine directed numerous acclaimed titles, including Yes! Precure 5: Kagami no Kuni no Miracle Daibouken, Yes! Precure 5 GoGo!: Okashi no Kuni no Happy Birthday, ONE PIECE FILM Z, and Dragon Ball Super: Broly.

Source : ORICON NEWS