Today we’re going to take a look at some of the studios responsible for anime. At one point, I’d intended to do a series within the challenge giving larger studio profiles, but I’ve got more ideas than time so this will have to suffice for now. Rather than try to summarize 10 or 15 studios in one go, we’re going to start by taking a look at a handful of studios that many modern studios branch off from.
Key Frames #4: Anime Studios
Toei Animation
Founded: 1948
Age: 70
Major Works: One Piece, Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, Mazinger Z
History: Founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films by veteran animators like Kenzō Masaoka and Sanae Yamamoto, the studio was purchased by the Toei Company in 1956 though it wouldn’t gain the name Toei Animation until 1998. Toei was a revolutionary studio in the ’50s and ’60s, with many successful movies and television shows. Toei was responsible for bringing the mecha and magical girl genres to life. Animators from Toei would branch out and create their own studios over the decades, making the studio a sort of grandfather to many of today’s big names.
Mushi Production
Founded: 1961
Defunct: 1973
Major Works: Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, Princess Knight
History: Founded by Osamu Tezuka after his contract with Toei ran out, Mushi Pro was a major presence during the original studio’s decade-long run. Astro Boy was the first anime to air on American television. Cleopatra was the first Japanese X-rated animated film. Mushi Pro was mostly responsible for bringing Tezuka’s work to television, but Tezuka himself stepped down to found another studio in 1968. Mushi Pro was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1973, but a new version of the studio opened in 1977. While this new studio is still running, it has never shared the same level of influence. After the original Mushi Pro collapsed in ’73, many of its animators went on to found their own studios.
TMS Entertainment
Founded: 1946
Age: 72
Major Works: Lupin III, The Rose of Versailles, Case Closed
History: TMS was founded as Tokyo Movie Shinsa in 1946, but it didn’t get into the world of animation until 1964. While less storied than Toei or Mushi Pro, TMS was still home to influential animators. Hayao Miyazaki made his directorial debut on The Castle of Cagliostro at TMS.
Tatsunoko Production
Founded: 1962
Age: 56
Major Works: Mach GoGoGo (Speed Racer), Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, Casshan
History: The brothers Tatsuo, Kenji and Toyoharu Yoshida founded Tatsunoko Production in 1962. The name means both “Tatsu’s child” and “sea dragon.” The double meaning lead to the sea horse in the company’s logo. Many of Tatsunoko’s shows have appeared on American television in some form or another, notably they provided the three shows that were hybridized into Robotech. Like TMS, Mushi Pro and Toei, their animators would go on to found many influential studios.
Gainax
Founded: 1984
Age: 34
Major Works: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, FLCL
History: Gainax began in the early ’80s as Daicon Film. At that time the studio was simply a group of college students producing animations for the Daicon sci-fi convention. In 1985, the studio changed its name to Gainax. Its first commercial work was 1987’s Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise, which was the most expensive anime film ever made at the time of its release. In 1995, Gainax reinvigorated the anime industry when it released Hideaki Anno’s Neon Genesis Evangelion. Still a major studio, Gainax has also seen animators branch off and create new studios like the older companies in this list.
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