Every Anime Studio Explained in 17 Minutes

Summary

This video offers a deep dive into various prominent anime studios, highlighting their histories, notable works, and unique characteristics. From the pioneering days of Studio Toei to the modern innovations of Studio Orange, the script covers a wide range of studios, including Madhouse, Studio Ghibli, Mappa, Kyoto Animation, and more. It touches on their production styles, industry influence, working conditions, and iconic anime like *Dragon Ball*, *One Piece*, *Attack on Titan*, and *Demon Slayer*. The video also highlights both the successes and struggles of these studios, including overwork issues and creative challenges, giving viewers insight into the world of anime production.

Takeaways

• 😀 Toei Animation, founded in 1948, is one of the oldest and most influential studios, known for iconic series like 'Dragon Ball' and 'One Piece', though its production quality can vary.
• 😀 Madhouse is renowned for critically acclaimed anime like 'Perfect Blue' and 'One Punch Man'. Despite its success, the studio faces criticism for overworking staff, as seen in a 2019 case involving extreme overtime.
• 😀 Studio Ghibli is the most globally recognized anime studio, famous for timeless films like 'Spirited Away' and 'Princess Mononoke', with a focus on hand-drawn animation and European influences.
• 😀 Wit Studio, known for 'Attack on Titan' and 'Vinland Saga', is celebrated for dynamic camera angles and intense action sequences, but its staff faces tough working conditions.
• 😀 Sunrise revolutionized anime production, creating the *Gundam* franchise and *Code Geass*. Despite its large scale, the studio's output quality can fluctuate due to decentralized production teams.
• 😀 Gainax, best known for *Neon Genesis Evangelion*, was celebrated for experimental storytelling, particularly with unconventional endings, but the studio's history is marked by unpredictability.
• 😀 Studio Trigger, founded by ex-Gainax staff, is known for high-energy, exaggerated animations in shows like *Kill la Kill* and *Cyberpunk: Edge Runners*, pushing creative boundaries.
• 😀 MAPPA is known for taking on major anime projects such as *Jujutsu Kaisen* and *Chainsaw Man*, but it has been criticized for harsh working conditions, with animators facing long hours to meet deadlines.
• 😀 Kyoto Animation is a gold standard for employee welfare, offering better working conditions and producing high-quality, emotional anime like *Clannad* and *Violet Evergarden*.
• 😀 ufotable, recognized for its high-quality animation in shows like *Fate* and *Demon Slayer*, has set new standards by blending CGI and 2D animation seamlessly for stunning visual effects.
• 😀 Studio Bones is famous for its powerful action sequences, especially in shows like *My Hero Academia* and *Mob Psycho 100*, and is known for its polished animation, particularly in fight scenes.
• 😀 Studio Orange stands at the forefront of 3D animation in anime, with works like *Land of the Lustrous* and *Beastars*, known for its fluid and lifelike 3D animation that integrates seamlessly with traditional techniques.

Q & A

What role did Toei Animation play in shaping anime trends?

Toei Animation helped popularize major anime trends such as magical girls with 'Sailor Moon' and super mecha with 'Mazinger Z'.

Why is the quality of Toei Animation’s work considered inconsistent?

The quality of Toei Animation's work can vary due to the large number of different teams working on various projects, which can lead to uneven results.

What is one of the notable positive aspects of working at Toei Animation?

A notable positive aspect of working at Toei Animation is that their workers are unionized, ensuring better treatment compared to other anime studios.

What caused the decline of Madhouse's output in 2010?

In 2010, Madhouse faced a major split and lost key staff members, including their founder Masao Maruyama, who went on to create MAPPA, which affected Madhouse's future productions.

Why is Studio Ghibli so widely regarded in the anime industry?

Studio Ghibli is known for its high-quality animation, memorable music by Joe Hisaishi, and the hand-drawn approach to its films, which contribute to the studio's iconic status in the anime world.

What sets Wit Studio apart in terms of animation style?

Wit Studio is renowned for its dynamic camera angles and action sequences, especially seen in 'Attack on Titan', where the pacing and action direction were influenced by director Tetsuro Araki.

What was the impact of Sunrise on anime production?

Sunrise revolutionized anime production by introducing the role of producers who invest in anime projects together, which helped reduce risk and contributed to the success of franchises like 'Gundam' and 'Cowboy Bebop'.

How does Studio KyoAni differ from other anime studios in terms of work culture?

Studio KyoAni is known for its positive work culture, offering salaried positions with benefits like maternity leave, and providing career development programs for young animators, making it an attractive place to work in the anime industry.

What controversy affected the reputation of A1 Pictures?

A1 Pictures faced significant criticism after an employee tragically died due to overwork, having worked more than 600 hours in a month for three years, which raised awareness about the poor working conditions in the anime industry.

How does Studio Orange stand out in the field of 3D animation?

Studio Orange is notable for its innovative use of 3D animation, blending it seamlessly with traditional 2D animation, as seen in their highly praised works like 'Land of the Lustrous' and 'Trigun Stampede'.