Kenichiro Katsura, character designer of Macross 7 and Knight's & Magic, dies at 59
The animator died on September 30 while being treated for an illness, his wife Satoko Miyaji announced. His career ran from Macross 7 through Aquaplus adaptations to SYNDUALITY Noir.
The animator who turned Haruhiko Mikimoto's concept art into the on-screen look of Macross 7 has died. Kenichiro Katsura passed away on September 30, aged 59, while undergoing treatment for an illness. His wife, the animator Satoko Miyaji, shared the news on October 5 and said a private funeral had already been held with only close relatives present.
In her written statement, Miyaji thanked the fans, studios and staff who had worked with or supported him. She asked anyone fond of his drawing to quietly name a favorite character, illustration or animated scene of his, saying she believed it would reach him and make him happy, and encouraged people to rewatch his work when they find the time.
From Macross to Aquaplus
Katsura's best-known assignment came early. He adapted the characters for animation on Macross 7, which began broadcasting in 1994, and did the same for the 1995 theatrical feature Macross 7: The Galaxy Is Calling Me! He was also active in games, handling character designs and animation direction for entries in Sonia's VIPER line such as VIPER-CTR and VIPER-RSR.
In the 2000s he became a fixture on adaptations of Aquaplus titles. He designed the cast of Comic Party Revolution, shared design and animation director duties on the ToHeart2 OVAs with Masahide Yanagisawa and Yasuhisa Kato, and led the Utawarerumono OVAs as director, designer and animation director. He also contributed key animation to the game White Album 2. Aquaplus has posted its own message of condolence and thanks.
Working into the 2020s
Later credits include chief animation director on The Fruit of Grisaia and on the That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime franchise. On Knight's & Magic, broadcast in 2017, he drew the character designs and supervised the animation as chief animation director, a pairing he repeated on SYNDUALITY Noir, which aired in two parts across 2023 and 2024 and shares its world with the game SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada. Both shows' production committees posted condolences on October 5.
