Legendary Anime Director Tatsuya Nagamine Dies: Creator Behind One Piece, Dragon Ball Mourned

News surfaced today that Tatsuya Nagamine, a renowned director known for his significant contributions to anime, has died earlier this summer. At the age of just over 50, Nagamine left behind a legacy with his work on numerous series for Toei Animation, such as ONE PIECE, Dragon Ball, Digimon, Precure, and Saint Seiya.

The details of Nagamine’s death were shared by composer Kohei Tanaka and screenwriter and producer Osamu Suzuki on their X social media accounts on November 13, as per a report by animenewsnetwork. It was revealed that a recent gathering was organized at Toei Animation Studio in Tokyo to commemorate the esteemed director.

Many of Nagamine’s colleagues expressed their memories and respects on X. Composer Kohei Tanaka, who attended the memorial, remarked that Nagamine was “a pivotal figure in the anime ONE PIECE,” and extolled his remarkable contributions. “The lively meetings we had are unforgettable… I long to hear his rapid-fire way of speaking just once more,” he said. Tatsuya Nagamine was instrumental in directing over 230 episodes of ONE PIECE, particularly during the Wano Country arc, and he also directed ONE PIECE Z, the spin-off ONE PIECE log: Fish-Man island Saga, among other specials.

Rest in peace to the legendary director Tatsuya Nagamine. Without him, Wano wouldn’t have been nearly as special as it is, and I couldn’t be more grateful for all his work pic.twitter.com/ENkybNdAlG

— unonumero56 (@unonumero_56) November 13, 2025

Screenwriter Hiroshi Yamaguchi also attended the memorial and shared on X his experiences working with Nagamine on Dragon Ball Super, stating, “He was always there to calm my nerves with reassurances of ‘It’s fine, it’s fine,’ even when doubts clouded my mind about the script. I had hoped for another opportunity to collaborate, and it saddens me deeply that it will no longer be possible. He was taken from us far too soon at 52.”

Osamu Suzuki, who missed the memorial due to a conflicting event, provided a vivid description of his collaboration with Nagamine on the film ONE PIECE FILM Z. Initially, Suzuki’s script proposal was discarded, but Nagamine later came up with what would become the final script, focusing on a former marine admiral named Z. “At the beginning, he didn’t even crack a smile. I found him quite stern,” Suzuki recalled. “There were moments I felt like giving up.” But after completing the script, Nagamine entered the meeting room, bowed deeply, and sincerely thanked Suzuki for his hard work, moving him almost to tears. Suzuki added, “Nagamine was a person who devoted his entire being to his craft, not just his soul but his very life.”

Journalist Kaori Kabuta reminisced about her interview with Tatsuya Nagamine regarding ONE PIECE FILM Z and the Wano Country arc of the anime. She noted, “His commitment to his work brought a unique visual flair to the arc. His passionate discussions about his projects were truly memorable.”

Verity Townsend is a freelance writer based in Japan, formerly an editor, contributor, and translator for the gaming news site Automaton West. She has written extensively about Japanese culture and films for various publications.