Popular companies

1. A-1 Pictures

   A-1 Pictures Inc. is a Japanese animation studio founded by ex-Sunrise producer Mikihiro Iwata, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan)’s anime production firm Aniplex.

   The studio was established by SMEJ’s animation production division, Aniplex, on May 9, 2005, to animate its anime series and productions. In 2006, it co-produced the original production Zenmai Zamurai, and in October of the same year, established a studio in Asagaya. In the following year, 2007, the studio produced its first series, Ōkiku Furikabutte.

   Originally established to oversee the production of only a few of Aniplex’s family-oriented series, the studio has since grown and expanded as a full-fledged studio involved in the production of a wide range of media and anime productions and other activities, which it has overseen.

   The studio has also expanded its international presence, participating in the noted international convention, Anime Expo 2007 (AX 2007), held in Long Beach, California, and having its own panel there.

2. J.C.Staff

   J.C.Staff Co., Ltd., is a Japanese anime studio founded in January 1986 by Tomoyuki Miyata, who previously worked at Tatsunoko Production. The studio’s first release was Yōtōden in 1987. They have produced several well-known anime series, such as Slayers, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Excel Saga, Shingetsutan Tsukihime, Shakugan no Shana, A Certain Magical Index, A Certain Scientific Railgun, Honey and Clover, Alien Nine, Azumanga Daioh, Toradora!, Zero No Tsukaima, Ikki Tousen, Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo, and Betrayal Knows My Name. Since 2005, the majority of their works have been directed by Takashi Watanabe, Ken’ichi Kasai and Yoshiaki Iwasaki.

3. Madhouse

   MADHOUSE Inc. is a Japanese animation studio, founded in 1972 by ex–Mushi Pro animators, including Masao Maruyama, Osamu Dezaki, Rintaro, and Yoshiaki Kawajiri.

   Madhouse has created and helped to produce many well-known shows, OVAs and films, starting with TV anime series Ace o Nerae! (produced by Tokyo Movie) in 1973, and including Wicked City, Ninja Scroll, Perfect Blue, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Trigun, Di Gi Charat, Black Lagoon, Death Note, Paprika, Wolf Children and the first season of One-Punch Man. Unlike other studios founded at this time such as AIC and J.C.Staff, their strength was and is primarily in TV shows and theatrical features. Expanding from the initial Mushi Pro staff, Madhouse recruited such important directors as Morio Asaka, Masayuki Kojima, and Satoshi Kon during the 1990s. Their staff roster expanded in the 2000s to include Mamoru Hosoda, Takeshi Koike, and Mitsuo Iso, as well as many younger television directors. The studio was also responsible for the first Beyblade anime series as well as the Dragon Drive anime, and the 2011 anime adaptation of Hunter × Hunter.

   The studio often collaborates with known manga artists, including Naoki Urasawa and Clamp. Madhouse produced adaptations of Urasawa’s YAWARA!, Master Keaton and Monster, with Masayuki Kojima helming the later two. The company has animated a number of CLAMP’s titles, including Tokyo Babylon, two versions of X (a theatrical movie and a TV series), Cardcaptor Sakura, Chobits, and CLAMP in Wonderland.

4. Bones

   Bones Inc. is a Japanese anime studio. It has produced numerous series, including RahXephon, Wolf’s Rain, Scrapped Princess, Eureka Seven, Angelic Layer, Darker than Black, Soul Eater, Ouran High School Host Club and two adaptions of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga along with Star Driver, Gosick, Space Dandy and My Hero Academia. Its headquarters is located in Igusa, Suginami, Tokyo.

5. Kyoto Animation

   Kyoto Animation Co., Ltd., abbreviated KyoAni, is a Japanese animation studio located in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It was established in 1981 by former Mushi Pro staff. Presided by Hideaki Hatta, the company is also affiliated with the studio Animation Do. As of 2017, Kyoto Animation has headed production for 24 anime series and several films.

6. Studio Pierrot

   Pierrot Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio, founded in 1979 by former employees of Tatsunoko Production and Mushi Production. Its headquarters is located in Mitaka, Tokyo. Studio Pierrot is renowned for several worldwide popular anime series, such as Bleach, Naruto, Yu Yu Hakusho, Tokyo Ghoul, Beelzebub, Great Teacher Onizuka and several others.

7. Production I.G

   Production I.G, Inc. is a Japanese anime studio and production enterprise, founded on December 15, 1987, by Mitsuhisa Ishikawa and headquartered in Musashino, Tokyo, Japan.

   Production I.G has been involved in the creation of numerous anime television series, OVAs, theatrical films, and is further involved in video game design and development, as well as music publishing and management. Among its prominent works are Guilty Crown, Psycho-Pass, Eden of the East, and the Ghost in the Shell series. It is known in the video game industry for developing intros, cut-scenes, and artwork for games such as the Namco Tales Studio’s title, Tales of Symphonia.

   The letters I and G derive from the names of the company founders, Mitsuhisa Ishikawa and popular character designer Takayuki Goto. The company is a member of The Association of Japanese Animations (AJA), an association of over 50 Japanese anime studios.

8. Studio Deen

   Studio Deen Co., Ltd. (sometimes typeset as “Studio DEEN”) is a Japanese animation studio, founded in 1975 by Sunrise animators.

9. Toei Animation

   Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio primarily owned by Toei Company.

   The studio was founded by animators Kenzō Masaoka and Zenjirō Yamamoto in 1948 as Japan Animated Films. In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and it was renamed Toei Doga Co., Ltd., doing business as Toei Animation Co., Ltd. outside Japan. In 1998, the Japanese name was renamed to Toei Animation. It has created a number of TV series and movies and adapted Japanese comics as animated series, many popular worldwide. Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, Leiji Matsumoto and Yoichi Kotabe have worked with the company. Toei is a shareholder in the Japanese anime satellite television network Animax with other anime studios and production companies, such as Sunrise, TMS Entertainment and Nihon Ad Systems Inc. The company is headquartered in the Ohizumi Studio in Nerima, Tokyo.

10. Silver Link.

    SILVER LINK., Inc. is a Japanese animation studio. It was founded by animation producer Hayato Kaneko in December 2007 and is based in Tokyo. The majority of Silver Link’s solo productions have been directed by Shin Ōnuma, who was previously an assistant director alongside Akiyuki Shinbo at Shaft.