One Piece director Tatsuya Nagamine passes away at 53

Tatsuya Nagamine dies at 53

Tatsuya Nagamine, a director whose inventiveness and kind nature impacted coworkers, fans, and innumerable viewers worldwide, is being mourned by the anime community.

His family shared the heartbreaking news on his official X account on 14 November, announcing that he had passed away on 20 August at just 53 years old.

For many who admired his work, the confirmation brought a wave of sadness, as Nagamine had long been seen as one of Toei Animation’s most dependable and imaginative talents.

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.”

His relatives went on to explain that his funeral had been held quietly, surrounded only by close family. “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.”

The family also chose to share more personal reflections, revealing the warmth behind the acclaimed director’s professional successes. “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.”

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They continued, “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 closed with a final expression of 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’s legacy stretches across some of Toei’s most beloved titles, including Yes! Precure 5, ONE PIECE FILM Z, and Dragon Ball Super: Broly.