The Japanese animated film industry is a reservoir of premium art and some of the most incredible productions ever made by human hands. As such, fans are naturally wondering which are the best of the best among anime studios that specialize in movies.
This list contains some of the best companies dedicated to the production of animated films based in Nihon. From a titan and beacon for modern animators and artists to one of the best places to work in the Japanese animation industry. These animation powerhouses are legendary for their passion and the quality of their work.
5
Toei Animation
The forerunner of modern Japanese animation and heavyweight champion.
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Founding Date: January 23, 1948
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Founders: Kenzō Masaoka, Sanae Yamamoto (as animated films from Japan)
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Highest Rated Movie: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Co-produced with Studio Ghibli – IMDb Rating 8.0)
Historically speaking, Toei Animation is the oldest and largest production powerhouse of Japanese animation, originally founded as Japan Animated Films, later purchased by Toei and renamed Tōei Dōga Kabushiki-gaisha (Toei Animation Corporation/Ltd.) . Founded after the Second World War, it became a refuge for several talented artists who were desperately trying to raise their careers, on the brink of collapse due to the post-war crisis. Together with Mushi Production, he became a beacon for all the burgeoning talent that constituted the second generation of Japanese animation.
Throughout its history, many titans of the Japanese animation industry have landed and then spread their wings from this home of the entertainment industry, including: Hayao Miyazaki, Yōichi Kotabe, Yasuji Mori, Isao Takahata and the legendary Leiji Matsumoto, creator of Captain Harlock. Studios produced animated films for some of the most iconic IPs, including dragon ball, sailor moon, digimoninter alia. In 2023, the studio was the target of one of the most notorious cyberattacks in Japanese history, resulting in the near-stopping of some of its major anime productions, including one piece.
4
Studio Ghibli
His style is legendary, his direction is incomparable
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Founding Date: June 15, 1985
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Founders: Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki, Isao Takahata, Yasuyoshi Tokuma
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Best rated movie: Spirited Away (8.6 according to IMDb)
Perhaps one of the most iconic Japanese animation studios, Ghibli was founded with the purpose of bringing “freshness to the animated industry,” or at least, that’s what legend Hayao Miyazaki himself has said (and boy, he sure did). they achieved). !). Its unique use of color and detailed backgrounds has set the standard for modern animation throughout the industry, and its signature art style is the result of years of strong direction by some of the most famous animators and artists.
To this day, there’s no way one can’t recognize Studio Ghibli’s signature style (unless you live in a cave and haven’t touched a piece of modern technology in over 50 years) and wield that uniqueness with pride and in loud voice. Curiously, its first production (Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind) is also the reason why the studios were established, after a successful collaboration with the legendary Toei Animation. However, their most iconic films to this day remain Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away, which are some of the highest-rated animated films of all time and two good examples of Ghibli’s power as a creative collective.
3
Pierrot
High contrast and cool visuals are its signature moves
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Founding Date: May 1, 1979
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Founder: Yuji Nunokawa
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Best rated movie: Maroko (7.8 according to IMDb)
Pierrot was founded in Mitaka, the western metropolitan area of Tokyo, by former members of Tatsunoko Production, including Yuji Nunokawa himself, who had barely debuted with two stellar productions, Robotan and Time Bokan, when he decided it was time to found his own. studies. It wasn’t long until he discovered that he had hit the nail on the head, as it was the best possible time to create an animation studio, with the industry flourishing and demand through the roof, enough to spread his wings and fly.
From its founding date until today, it has created dozens of films, including the acclaimed Maroko, the memorable Osomatsu-kun and of course, a ton of Naruto and Bleach films, which have been its main source of income during the last decade. Currently, they have immersed themselves in original web animations (ONA) and rebranded their Osomatsu IP to suit a new target audience. They were also responsible for outsourcing the animation of The Legend Of Korra series (2012-2014).
2
Asylum
AkA, the animation powerhouse, with dozens of fantastic titles
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Founding Date: October 1972
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Founders: Hayashi Shigeyuki, Osamu Dezaki, Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Masao Maruyama
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Highest Rated Movie: Perfect Blue (8.0 according to IMDb)
Madhouse Inc. is famous among anime fans for its excellent work on the Overlord series, but the truth is that it is also an incredible film studio, founded for that particular purpose and already part of the third generation of animation studios. Japanese. His Opus Magna to date remains Perfect Blue, a controversial wake-up call about the horrors of the entertainment industry in Japan in the 90s, which was widely criticized for telling murky truths that no one dared to say. Its director, Satoshi Kon, is characterized by addressing violence while presenting fast-paced and complex plots that generate a high impact on the audience.
They have also participated in various high-caliber productions such as Paprika (2006), also directed by Satoshi Kon, and the 1987 hit: Wicked City, precursors of the neo-noir genre, and an entire animated piece that combines supernatural events with Investigation, a trend that would become a characteristic genre in the years to come. In other words: Madhouse is one of the strongest animation studios with a great repertoire of films to watch.
1
Kyoto animation
Experts in breaking your heart into millions of pieces
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Founding Date: July 12, 1985
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Founders: Hideaki Hatta and Yoko Hatta
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Highest Rated Movie: Violet Evergarden The Movie (8.3 according to IMDb)
Founded by one of the anime industry’s power couples, Hatta Hideaki and Yoko, Kyoto Animation was set up to be an animated film production office as well as a light novel publisher. Over the nearly four decades since they began production, they have been involved in some of the animated industry’s most notorious romance films, including the bittersweet and heartbreaking Clannad: After Story, and the more recent and highly regarded Violet Evergarden: The Movie.
It goes without saying that Violet Evergarden is a masterpiece (the movie, the series, and the light novels too), and since Netflix owns the streaming rights to the show, it often overshadows the fact that Kyoto Animation worked tooth and nail to manage this incredible piece of animation. Not only is the art style impeccable, but the lighting, facial animations, draping, world building, and storytelling are wonderful. It’s simply proof that Kyoto Animation holds the torch as one of the best in the industry. Additionally, they have been recognized by several artists’ associations as one of the safest and most diverse places to work. And in a precarious and often controversial industry like Japanese animation, that speaks louder than any award.