Satoshi Mori, the founder of Gift-o’-Animation and an anime director who worked on popular series like Cardfight!! Vanguard, Code Geass, and One-Punch Man, has passed away at 41 years old.
Japanese news source Oricon News reported that Mori passed away on February 20, 2026, after a period of illness. His family released a statement saying:
Satoshi Mori died peacefully on February 20, 2026, after a period of illness. We are deeply grateful for all the kindness and support he received throughout his life.
Mori founded and previously led Gift-o’-Animation. He was most famous for directing the anime series Cardfight!! Vanguard, and was responsible for guiding the franchise through several seasons and installments.
I’ve been a big fan of Mori’s work for years! It’s amazing to see all the incredible anime he’s been a part of. I loved his key animation on Code Geass, and it was cool to see him contribute to Sword Art Online 2 with storyboards and animation. Plus, he even worked on One-Punch Man – he’s clearly a super talented animator!
To everyone who has supported Ken Mori, his family would like to share the sad news of his passing. He peacefully passed away on February 20, 2026, after a period of illness. We are deeply grateful for all of your warm support and kindness throughout his life.
— モリ 賢 (@ibotaga) February 24, 2026
He contributed to popular anime series like Made in Abyss, where he directed animation and served as a key animator. He also worked on The Rising of the Shield Hero, handling monster designs and helping with episode production.
The official Vanguard account paid tribute, stating:
I was so shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of Satoshi Mori. As the director of ‘Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress/will+Dress,’ he put his heart and soul into the series, and his passion really shone through in every episode. I’m incredibly grateful for all his hard work and dedication, and I sincerely hope he rests in peace. It’s a huge loss for all of us fans.
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2026-03-02 15:20