Nippon Animation

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Nippon Animation
TypeAnimation film studio
IndustryMedia and Entertainment
Founded1962; 59 years ago (1962) (as Zuiyo Eizo)
June 1975; 46 years ago (June 1975) (as Nippon Animation)
HeadquartersKoganei, Tokyo, Japan
ProductsAnimated feature films (Anime)
Number of employees
100+
Websitewww.nippon-animation.co.jp/

Nippon Animation (日本アニメーション, Nippon Animēshon) is a Japanese animation studio.[1] The company is headquartered in Tokyo, with chief offices in the Ginza district of Chūō and production facilities in Tama City.

Nippon Animation is known for producing numerous anime series based on works of Western literature such as Anne of Green Gables and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, co-founders of Studio Ghibli, directed several episodes in the World Masterpiece Theater series.

Company history[]

What is now Nippon Animation is descended from Zuiyo Eizo (Zuiyo Enterprises), an animation studio that produced several popular series in the early and mid-1970s, including 1974's Heidi, Girl of the Alps, an adaptation of Johanna Spyri's popular children's book Heidi.[2] The Heidi anime was enormously popular in Japan (and later in Europe, and the feature-length edit of the TV series saw a U.S. VHS release in 1985). Zuiyo Eizo soon found itself in financial trouble because of the high production costs of a series (presumably Maya the Bee) it was attempting to sell to the European market.

In 1975, Zuiyo Eizo was split into two entities: Zuiyo, which absorbed the debt and the rights to the Heidi anime, and Nippon Animation, which was essentially Zuiyo Eizo's production staff (including Miyazaki and Takahata). Officially, Nippon Animation Co., Ltd. was established on 3 June 1975 by company president . The newly rechristened Nippon Animation found success right away with Maya the Bee and A Dog of Flanders (both of which began as Zuiyo Eizo productions), which became the first entry in the World Masterpiece Theater series to be produced under the Nippon Animation name. Hayao Miyazaki left Nippon Animation in 1979 in the middle of the production of Anne of Green Gables to make the Lupin III feature The Castle of Cagliostro.

Body of work[]

In addition to the World Masterpiece Theater series, Nippon Animation has also produced many other series based on Western works of literature, as well as original works and adaptations of Japanese manga. Especially, until Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (1992), its peak of productions based on Western works of literature. Many of these are included in the list of the studio's works below.

Of the studio's productions not based on Western literature, the most popular is undoubtedly Chibi Maruko-chan (1990), based on the popular manga by Momoko Sakura. At its peak, this slice-of-life anime about an unusually intelligent elementary-school-aged girl and her family and friends managed an audience rating of nearly 40%, making it one of the highest-rated anime series ever (and the highest-rated anime program in Japanese history at the time).

Works adapted from Western literature[]

World Masterpiece Theater series[]

Main article: World Masterpiece Theater

Other TV series[]

  • Vicky the Viking (小さなバイキング ビッケ?, Chiisana Viking Bikke) – 1974 (began as Zuiyo Eizo production)
  • Maya the Honey Bee (みつばちマーヤの冒険, Mitsubachi Māya no Bōken) – 1975 (began as Zuiyo Eizo production)
  • Laura, The Prairie Girl (草原の少女ローラ, Sōgen no shōjo Rōra (Laura, Girl of the Prairies)) – 1975
  • Arabian Nights: Sinbad's Adventures (Arabian Naitsu: Shinbaddo No Bôken) – 1975
  • The Adventures of Piccolino (Pikorīno no Bōken) – 1976
  • Little Lulu and Her Little Friends (Little Lulu to Chicchai Nakama) – 1976
  • Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac (Kuma no Ko Jacky) – 1977
  • Future Boy Conan (Mirai Shonen Conan) – 1978, a Hayao Miyazaki work
  • Bannertail: The Story of Gray Squirrel (Seton Dobutsuki Risu no Banner) – 1979
  • Ruy, the Little Cid (Little El Cid no Bouken) – 1980, co-production with BRB Internacional
  • Heart (Cuore): An Italian Schoolboy's Journal (Ai no Gakko Cuore Monogatari) – 1981
  • Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds (Wanwan Sanjushi, The Three Musketeers) – 1981; co-production with BRB Internacional (Madrid, Spain)
  • The New Adventures of Maya the Bee (Shin Mitsubachi Maaya no Boken) – 1982
  • Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Fushigi no Kuni no Arisu) – 1983
  • Around the World with Willy Fog (Anime 80 Sekai Isshu) – 1983 (In Spain), 1987 (In Japan); co-production with BRB Internacional
  • Manga Aesop's Fables – 1983
  • Bosco Adventure (Bosco Daiboken) – 1986
  • Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics (Grimm Meisaku Gekijo/Shin Grimm Meisaku Gekijo) – 1987–1989
  • Jungle Book Shōnen Mowgli (2 October 1989 – 29 October 1990)
  • Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (Kaze no Naka no Shojo Kinptasu no Jeannie) – 1992

TV specials[]

Other works[]

TV series[]

  • Dokaben (6 October 1976 – 26 December 1979)
  • Attack on Tomorrow (4 April 1977 – 5 September 1977)
  • Blocker Gundan 4 Machine Blaster – 1977 (co-production with Ashi Productions)
  • Ginguiser (Chogattai Majutsu Robot Ginguiser) (co-production with Ashi Productions) – 1977
  • I'm Teppei (Ore wa Teppei) – 1977
  • Charlotte (Wakakusa no Charlotte) – 1977
  • The Casebook of Charlotte Holmes (Angie Girl, Jouo Heika no Petite Angie) – 1977
  • Poetry of the Baseball Enthusiasts (Yakyū-kyō no Uta) (23 December 1977 – 26 March 1979)
  • Haikara-san ga Tōru (Smart-san, Mademoiselle Anne) – 1978
  • Highschool Baseball Ninja (Ikkyu-san) – 1978
  • Misha the Bear Cub (Koguma no Misha) – 1979
  • Seton Dobutsuki Risu no Banner – 1979
  • Sanpei the Fisherman (Fisherman Sanpei) – 1980
  • Football in Action (Fútbol en acción) – 1981
  • The Many Dream Journeys of Meme – 1983
  • Noozles (Fushigi na Koara Burinkii, Blinky and Printy) – 1984
  • Elves of the Forest (Mori no Tonto Tachi) – 1984 (co-production with Shaft)
  • Bumpety Boo (Hey! Bumboo) – 1985
  • Spaceship Sagittarius (Uchuusen Sagittarius) – 1986
  • Animated Classics of Japanese Literature (Seishun Anime Zenshū) (25 April 1986 – 26 December 1986 )
  • Topo Gigio – 1988
  • Dagon in the Land of Weeds – 1988
  • Chibi Maruko-chan – 1990
  • Pygmalio – 1990
  • Top Striker (Moero! Top Striker) – 1991
  • Christopher Columbus – 1992 co-production with Mondo TV
  • Mikan's Picture Diary (Mikan Enikki) – 1992
  • Papuwa-kun (Nangoku Shonen Papuwa-kun) – 1992
  • Bow: Modern Dog Tales (Heisei Inu Monogatari Bau) (14 October 1993 – 22 September 1994)
  • Dragon League – 1993
  • Muka Muka Paradise – 1993
  • Miracle Girls – 1993 (as Japan Taps)
  • Mahojin Guru Guru – 1994
  • Pig Girl of Love and Courage: Tonde Burin – 1994
  • Yamato Takeru – 1994
  • Romeo's Blue Skies – 1995
  • Mama Loves the Poyopoyo-Saurus – 1995
  • Grander Musashi – 1997
  • Duck Caen – 1997
  • Cooking Master Boy (Chūka Ichiban!) – 1997
  • Coji-Coji (Sakura Momoko Gekijo: Koji-Koji) – 1997; from the creator of Chibi Maruko-chan, Momoko Sakura
  • Ten-Ten-Kun (Hanasaki Tenshi Ten-Ten-kun) – 1998
  • Inventor Boy Kanipan (Hatsumei Boy Kanipan) – 1998
  • Xenon Football Sign – 1999
  • Shuukan! Story Land – 1999
  • Hunter × Hunter – 1999
  • Corrector Yui – 1999
  • Bikkuriman 2000 – 1999
  • Taiga Adventure (Mirai Shonen Conan II: Taiga no Daiboken) – 1999; a remake of Future Boy Conan directed by Hayao Miyazaki's former assistant, Keiji Hayakawa, but featuring a new cast of characters
  • Marcelino Pan y Vino – 2000 (Japan-Spain co-production; title is Spanish for "Marcelino, bread and wine")
  • Mahōjin Guru Guru – April 2000, TV Tokyo
  • Princess Comet (Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san) – 2001; based on a manga by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, creator of Tetsujin 28-go and Sally, the Witch
  • Popee the Performer – 2001
  • Dennou Boukenki Webdiver – 2001 (co-production with Radix)
  • Daigunder – 2002 (co-production with Brains Base)
  • Hungry Heart: Wild Striker – 2002–2003, Animax
  • Papuwa – September 2003, TV Tokyo
  • Sore Ike! Zukkoke Sannin Gumi – April 2004, TV Tokyo
  • Fantastic Children – October 2004, TV Tokyo
  • Mix Master – 2005 (Japan-Korea co-production with Sunwoo Entertainment and KBS)
  • Pokapoka Mori no Rascal – 2006, Sequel of Araiguma Rascal
  • Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge – 2006
  • Antique Bakery – 2008
  • Hyakko – 2008
  • Hakushon Daimaō 2020 – 2020 (co-production with Tatsunoko Production)
  • Let's Make a Mug Too – 2021
  • Love All Play – 2022 (co-production with OLM)

Films[]

  • Future Boy Conan (Mirai Shōnen Konan) (15 September 1979)
  • Yakyū-kyō no Uta: Kita no Ōkami Minami no Tora (15 September 1979)
  • 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (19 July 1980)
  • Future Boy Conan: The Revival of the Giant Machine (Mirai Shōnen Konan: Tokubetsu Hen-Kyodaiki Gigant no Fukkatsu) (11 March 1984)
  • Locke the Superman (Chōjin Rokku) (14 April 1984)
  • Chibi Maruko-chan (15 December 1990)
  • Chibi Maruko-chan: Watashi no Suki na Uta (19 December 1992)
  • Tottoi (22 August 1992)
  • Heisei Inu Monogatari Bau: Genshi Inu Monogatari Bau (20 August 1994) – short film
  • Mahōjin Guru Guru – (20 April 1996) – short film
  • Violinist of Hameln (20 April 1996) – short film
  • The Dog of Flanders: The Movie (15 March 1997)
  • Marco: 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (2 April 1999)
  • The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2014) (Real production by Studio Ghibli, Nippon Animation was the animation cooperation with BONES, Tatsunoko Production and )
  • Tensai Bakavon: Yomigaeru Flanders no Inu (23 May 2015)[3][4]
  • Sinbad: Sora Tobu Hime to Himitsu no Shima – 2015
  • Chibi Maruko-chan: A Boy from Italy – 2015
  • Haikara-san ga Tōru Zenpen – Benio, Hana no 17-sai – 2017
  • Haikara-san ga Tōru Kōhen – Tokyo Dai Roman – 2018

TV specials[]

Original video animations[]

Nippon Animedia[]

It is a department of Nippon Animation that had a partnership with famous toy company Takara on some anime.[citation needed]

  • Beyblade – 2001 (co-production with Madhouse)
  • Beyblade: V-Force – 2002 (co-production with Madhouse)
  • Beyblade: Fierce Battle – 2002
  • Beyblade G Revolution – 2003 (co-production with Madhouse)
  • B-Legend! Battle Bedaman – 2004
  • Battle B-Daman: Fire Spirits – 2005
  • Crash B-Daman – 2006
  • Zero Duel Masters – 2007

References[]

  1. ^ "Nippon Animation Co.,Ltd". CELSYS. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  2. ^ Clements, Jonathan; McCarthy, Helen (9 February 2015). The Anime Encyclopedia, 3rd Revised Edition: A Century of Japanese Animation. Stone Bridge Press. ISBN 9781611729092. Retrieved 6 March 2019 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Schilling, Mark (23 January 2015). "Nippon Animation Sets Sail With Top Crew on 'Sinbad'". Variety.com. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  4. ^ Milligan, Mercedes (23 January 2015). "Nippon Animation Announces 'Sinbad'". Animationmagazine.net. Retrieved 6 March 2019.

External links[]

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