A Japanese anime director and mangaka from Kushiro, Hokkaidō and a member of the Japan Animation Creators Association (JAniCA). He was a graduate of the Graphic Design department of the Musashino Art University. His directing career includes Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers, Paranoia Agent and Paprika.

Kon began work on a feature film to be titled The Dream Machine, but in May 2010, he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. He passed away on August 24, 2010 at the age of 46. He completed storyboards and the script for The Dream Machine and left directorial tapes to Studio Madhouse to finish the film, but the film was never completed because according to Madhouse's founder Maruyama Masao, there are no directors in the Japanese animation industry that could match Kon's level of ability.

For tributes to Kon made by other artists after his death, see Kon Satoshi (director).