Anime veteran Kunihiko Hamada has revealed he is no longer employed by Madhouse after a decades-long stint at the studio.
Hamada, perhaps best known for his work as animation director on the likes of Chihayafuru and perennial GamesRadar+ favorite Monster, took to Twitter to express his dissatisfaction at the sudden career news.
"No attempts to retain me, just ended abruptly," Hamada wrote. "35 years with Madhouse. Over 20 years as an employee, severance pay: 0 yen."
Happily for the animator and character designer – whose work also includes time spent on One-Punch Man and '90s cult classic Cardcaptor Sakura – he found new employment almost immediately.
"Already employed at a different company. Starting fresh with a new mindset, studying diligently like a newbie while poring over Shibayama-san's works collection," Hamada said.
It appears, then, that Hamada has gone to work at animation studio Aijado – or at least is being influenced by its former president Tsutomu Shibayama, who passed away earlier this year.
Elsewhere in the anime world, fans can look forward to Makoto Shinkai's next movie.
The Your Name and Suzume director updated fans on social media last month about his untitled new project.
"The entire staff is working hard every day on my new film," Shnikai wrote on Twitter. "I'm confident it's going to be a great film, so please hang in there just a little longer until the announcement!”
For more, check out all the new anime scheduled for 2026. Then dive into our collection of the best anime shows you should be watching right now – including Monster.
