Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation Co., Ltd. (Japanese: 株式会社京都アニメーション, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Kyōto Animēshon), abbreviated KyoAni (京アニ, Kyōani), is a Japanese animation studio and light novel publisher 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 studio Animation Do. As of 2015, Kyoto Animation has produced 21 anime series and numerous films. Unlike most animation studios, Kyoto Animation's animators are salaried employees rather than freelance workers. Therefore, Kyoto Animation animators are able to focus more on the quality of each frame rather than on meeting frame production quotas.[6]
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Native name | 株式会社京都アニメーション |
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Romanized name | Kabushiki-gaisha Kyōto Animēshon |
Kabushiki gaisha | |
Industry | Japanese animation Print media publisher (mainly light novels) |
Founded | 1981 |
Headquarters | Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan[1] |
Key people | Hideaki Hatta, president[2] Yoko Hatta, vice-president[3] |
Number of employees | 137[4] (18 October 2019) ![]() |
Subsidiaries | Animation Do[5] |
Website | www![]() |
History
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The company was co-founded by married couple Yoko Hatta and Hideaki Hatta in 1981. She was employed by Mushi Production until she became independent from the studio when she moved to Kyoto after marrying Hideaki Hatta. Hideaki served as the president, and Yoko as the vice-president.[7] It became a limited company in 1985 and a corporation in 1999.[8] The logo originates from the kyō kanji (京), the first character of Kyoto.[9] Early in its history, it was involved in the production of Kiddy Grade, InuYasha, Tenchi Universe,[8] Nurse Witch Komugi, and Generator Gawl. Kyoto Animation also produced the vocal opening and ending sequences for four installments of Konami's long-running baseball game series Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū (Power Pro).
Since 2009, Kyoto Animation has hosted the annual Kyoto Animation Award to find new stories, later publishing them in their KA Esuma Bunko imprint. Winning submissions have a chance of being adapted into an anime.[10] Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions, Free!, Beyond the Boundary and Myriad Colors Phantom World were based on novels that received an honorable mention in this competition.[10][11][12] In 2014, the novel Violet Evergarden became the first work and so far the only one to win a grand prize in any of the three categories.[13] According to Dani Cavallaro, Kyoto Animation has become recognized for its high production values and "sensitivity to the wonders and quandaries of ordinary life".[14][15]
In May 2020, the company announced that they would put their work on hiatus throughout the month due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]
2019 arson attack
Shortly after 10:30 AM JST on July 18, 2019, a fire broke out at Kyoto Animation's first studio, reportedly caused by 41-year-old Shinji Aoba pouring gasoline inside the building;[17] he later admitted to committing the arson.[18] Of the approximately 71 people in the building at the time, 36 people have been confirmed deceased,[19][20] and 34 others (including the suspect) had various degrees of injury, requiring treatment in local hospitals.[21]
Animation Do
An affiliate company, Animation Do Co., Ltd. (株式会社アニメーションドゥウ, Kabushiki-gaisha Animēshon Dū), was established to assist production at Kyoto Animation.[5] Originally established as Kyoto Animation's Osaka office, it was incorporated as a limited company in 2000, then a corporation in 2010. Both companies are run by Hideaki Hatta and are run jointly as one. They produce up-and-coming works under the Animation Do label with Kyoto Animation as their main contractor and works where they work as one company alongside Kyoto Animation. They work on most Kyoto Animation projects and many of them have joint signatures.
Works
In the list below, only the productions for which Kyoto Animation was a lead producer are listed.
Anime television series
Year | Title | Director(s) | Original run start | Original run end | Eps. | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2003 | Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu | Yasuhiro Takemoto | August 25, 2003 | November 18, 2003 | 12 | Adapted from the Full Metal Panic! light novel series, and sequel to the 2002 version created by Gonzo. |
2005 | Air | Tatsuya Ishihara | January 6, 2005 | March 31, 2005 | 13 | Adaptation of Key's visual novel. |
Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid | Yasuhiro Takemoto | July 13, 2005 | October 19, 2005 | 13 | Adaptation of the light novel series by Shoji Gatoh. | |
Air in Summer | Tatsuya Ishihara | August 28, 2005 | September 4, 2005 | 2 | Adaptation of Key's visual novel. | |
2006 | The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya | Tatsuya Ishihara | April 2, 2006 | July 2, 2006 | 14 | Adaptation of the light novel series by Nagaru Tanigawa. |
Kanon | Tatsuya Ishihara | October 5, 2006 | March 15, 2007 | 24 | This series is the second anime adaptation of a visual novel of the same name by Key. The first was created by Toei Animation in 2002. | |
2007 | Lucky Star | Yutaka Yamamoto (1–4) Yasuhiro Takemoto (5–24) |
April 8, 2007 | September 16, 2007 | 24 | Adaptation of the manga by Kagami Yoshimizu. |
Clannad | Tatsuya Ishihara | October 4, 2007 | March 27, 2008 | 23 | Adaptation of the visual novel by Key. | |
2008 | Clannad After Story | Tatsuya Ishihara | October 3, 2008 | March 26, 2009 | 24 | Sequel to Clannad. |
2009 | Sora o Miageru Shōjo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai | Yoshiji Kigami | January 14, 2009 | March 11, 2009 | 9 | A television series remake and sequel of Munto. |
K-On! | Naoko Yamada | April 3, 2009 | June 26, 2009 | 13 | Adaptation of the manga by Kakifly. | |
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya | Tatsuya Ishihara | April 3, 2009 | October 9, 2009 | 28 | Rebroadcast of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya with new episodes. | |
2010 | K-On!! | Naoko Yamada | April 7, 2010 | September 28, 2010 | 26 | Sequel to K-On!. |
2011 | Nichijou | Tatsuya Ishihara | April 3, 2011 | September 25, 2011 | 26 | Adaptation of the manga by Keiichi Arawi. |
2012 | Hyouka | Yasuhiro Takemoto | April 22, 2012 | September 16, 2012 | 22 | Adaptation of the novels by Honobu Yonezawa. |
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions | Tatsuya Ishihara | October 4, 2012 | December 19, 2012 | 12 | Adaptation of the light novels by Torako. | |
2013 | Tamako Market | Naoko Yamada | January 10, 2013 | March 28, 2013 | 12 | An original story from the team who worked on K-On!. |
Free! Iwatobi Swim Club | Hiroko Utsumi | July 4, 2013 | September 26, 2013 | 12 | Sequel to the light novel High Speed! by Kōji Ōji.[11] Collaboration with Animation Do. | |
Beyond the Boundary | Taichi Ishidate | October 2, 2013 | December 18, 2013 | 12 | Adaptation of light novel series by Nagomu Torii.[12] | |
2014 | Love, Chunibyo and Other Delusions! -Heart Throb- | Tatsuya Ishihara | January 8, 2014 | March 26, 2014 | 12 | Sequel to Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions. |
Free! Eternal Summer | Hiroko Utsumi | July 2, 2014 | September 24, 2014 | 13 | Sequel to Free!. Collaboration with Animation Do. | |
Amagi Brilliant Park | Yasuhiro Takemoto | October 6, 2014 | December 25, 2014 | 13 | Adaptation of the light novel series by Shoji Gatoh. | |
2015 | Sound! Euphonium | Tatsuya Ishihara | April 8, 2015 | July 1, 2015 | 13 | Adaptation of the novel by Ayano Takeda. |
2016 | Myriad Colors Phantom World | Tatsuya Ishihara | January 7, 2016 | March 31, 2016 | 13 | Adaptation of the light novel by Sōichirō Hatano. |
Sound! Euphonium 2 | Tatsuya Ishihara | October 6, 2016 | December 28, 2016 | 13 | Sequel to Sound! Euphonium. | |
2017 | Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid | Yasuhiro Takemoto | January 11, 2017 | April 6, 2017 | 13 | Adaptation of the manga by Coolkyousinnjya.[22] |
2018 | Violet Evergarden | Taichi Ishidate | January 11, 2018 | April 5, 2018 | 13 | Adaptation of the light novel by Kana Akatsuki. |
Free! Dive to the Future | Eisaku Kawanami | July 11, 2018 | September 26, 2018 | 12 | Sequel to Free! Eternal Summer. Collaboration with Animation Do. | |
Tsurune | Takuya Yamamura | October 22, 2018 | January 21, 2019 | 13 | Adaptation of the light novel by Kotoko Ayano.[23] | |
2021 | Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid S | TBA | 2021 | TBA | TBA | Sequel to Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid.[24] |
TBA | 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA | Adaptation of the light novel by Hiro Yuki.[25] |
Anime films
Year | Title | Director(s) | Release date | Dur. | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Tenjōbito to Akutobito Saigo no Tatakai | Yoshiji Kigami | April 18, 2009 | 83m | Film version of the television series Sora o Miageru Shōjo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai. |
2010 | The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya | Tatsuya Ishihara (chief) Yasuhiro Takemoto |
February 6, 2010 | 162m | Continuation of the Haruhi Suzumiya series by Nagaru Tanigawa. |
2011 | K-On! Movie | Naoko Yamada | December 3, 2011 | 110m | Continuation of the animated series based on the manga by Kakifly. |
2013 | Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions: Rikka Version | Tatsuya Ishihara | September 14, 2013 | 96m | Summary of the first season of Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions. |
2014 | Tamako Love Story | Naoko Yamada | April 26, 2014 | 83m | Continuation of Tamako Market. |
2015 | Beyond the Boundary -I'll Be Here- Past | Taichi Ishidate | March 14, 2015 | 82m | Summary of Beyond the Boundary. |
Beyond the Boundary -I'll Be Here- Future | Taichi Ishidate | April 25, 2015 | 90m | Continuation of Beyond the Boundary. | |
High Speed! Free! Starting Days | Yasuhiro Takemoto[26] | December 5, 2015 | 110m | A prequel film based on the second volume of the original light novel, High Speed. | |
2016 | Sound! Euphonium: The Movie - Welcome to the Kitauji High School Concert Band | Tatsuya Ishihara | April 23, 2016 | 104m | A summary of the first season of Sound! Euphonium. |
A Silent Voice | Naoko Yamada | September 17, 2016 | 130m | Adaptation of the manga by Yoshitoki Ōima. | |
2017 | Free! Timeless Medley: The Bond | Eisaku Kawanami | April 22, 2017 | 94m | A summary of the second season of Free! focusing on Haruka. |
Free! Timeless Medley: The Promise | Eisaku Kawanami | July 1, 2017 | 99m | A summary of the second season of Free! focusing on Rin. | |
Sound! Euphonium: Todoketai Melody | Taichi Ogawa | September 30, 2017 | 115m | A summary of the second season of Sound! Euphonium. | |
Free! Take Your Marks | Eisaku Kawanami | October 28, 2017 | 105m | Continuation of Free!. | |
2018 | Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Take on Me | Tatsuya Ishihara | January 6, 2018 | 90m | Continuation of Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions. |
Liz and the Blue Bird | Naoko Yamada | April 21, 2018 | 90m | Side story of Sound! Euphonium. | |
2019 | Sound! Euphonium The Movie - Our Promise: A Brand New Day | Tatsuya Ishihara | April 19, 2019 | 101m | Continuation of Sound! Euphonium. |
Free! -Road to the World- Dream | Eisaku Kawanami | July 5, 2019 | 99m | A summary of the third season of Free!. | |
Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memories Doll | Haruka Fujita | September 6, 2019 | 93m | Spin-off of Violet Evergarden. | |
2020 | Violet Evergarden the Movie | Taichi Ishidate | September 18, 2020 | TBA | Continuation of Violet Evergarden. |
2021 | Untitled Free! film | TBA | 2021 | TBA | Continuation of Free!. |
Original video animations
Year | Title | Director(s) | Release start | Release end | Eps. | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Nurse Witch Komugi | Yasuhiro Takemoto Yoshitomo Yonetani |
August 23, 2002 | April 2, 2004 | 5 | Spin-off of The SoulTaker; co-production with Tatsunoko Production |
2003 | Munto | Yoshiji Kigami | March 18, 2003 | 1 | Original work | |
2005 | Munto 2: Beyond the Walls of Time | Yoshiji Kigami | April 29, 2005 | 1 | Sequel to Munto | |
2008 | Lucky Star: Original na Visual to Animation | Yasuhiro Takemoto | September 26, 2008 | 1 | Side story of Lucky Star | |
2011 | Nichijou: Nichijou no 0-wa | Tatsuya Ishihara | March 12, 2011 | 1 | Prequel to Nichijou | |
2013 | Hyōka: Motsubeki Mono wa | Yasuhiro Takemoto | January 12, 2013 | 1 | Midquel to Hyōka |
Original net animations
Year | Title | Director(s) | Release start | Release end | Eps. | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya | Yasuhiro Takemoto | February 14, 2009 | May 15, 2009 | 25 | Adaptation of the manga based on the Haruhi Suzumiya series. |
Nyorōn Churuya-san | Yasuhiro Takemoto | February 14, 2009 | May 15, 2009 | 13 | Adaptation of the manga based on the Haruhi Suzumiya series. |
Game openings and endings
- Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū series
KA Esuma Bunko imprint light novels
- Oyashiki to Coppelia (2011)
- Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions (2011–2017)
- Beyond the Boundary (2012-2013)
- High Speed! (2013–2014)
- Myriad Colors Phantom World (2013–2016)
- Violet Evergarden (2015–2018)
- Robot Heart Update ~Santa Claus no Tomodachi~ (2015–2017)
- Manzai Senka! (2016)
- Tsurune (2016–present)
- Kono Hoshizora ni wa Kimi ga Tarinai! (2017)
- 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku (2018)
- Sakura no Furu Machi (2020)
References
- 拠点案内 [Office Locations]. KyotoAnimation.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 4, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
- 会社概要 [Company Profile]. KyotoAnimation.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 21, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
- "Outline". KyotoAnimation.co.jp. 2004. Archived from the original on February 22, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
- https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20191018-OYT1T50287/.
- 会社情報 [Company Information]. AnimationDo.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
- "A Silent Voice shows why Kyoto Animation is one of the top animation studios". The Verge. October 20, 2017. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
- Cavallaro 2012, p. 3, 11.
- Cavallaro 2012, p. 3.
- Cavallaro 2012, p. 8.
- Cavallaro 2012, p. 10.
- "Kyoto Animation Unveils Swimming Team TV Anime Free! for July". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 28, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
- "Kyoto Animation: Kyōkai no Kanata Anime Is in the Works". Anime News Network. April 3, 2013. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
- "KyoAni Award-Winning Novel Violet Evergarden to Ship on December 25". Anime News Network. October 1, 2015. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- Cavallaro 2012, p. 1, 3.
- "Japan Arson Attack: Why Studio Kyoto Animation Is Widely Respected in the Anime World". The Holleywood Reporter. July 18, 2019. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
- "Kyoto Animation Extends Work Hiatus Due to COVID-19 Through May". Anime News Network. May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- "At least 33 people dead, dozens injured in suspected arson at Kyoto anime studio". July 18, 2019. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
- Wiseman, Bruce Haring,Andreas; Haring, Bruce; Wiseman, Andreas (2019-07-20). "Kyoto Animation Arson Fire Suspect Claims Plagiarism Caused Him To Act – Police Say He's Mentally Ill". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2019-07-22. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
- "33 dead after explosion at Kyoto Animation studio, dozens injured". The Mainichi. 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
- "アニメ会社放火 男性1人死亡 死者34人に 警察". NHK News (in Japanese). 2019-07-19. Archived from the original on 2019-07-19. Retrieved 2019-07-19.
- Blair, Gavin (July 18, 2019). "Kyoto Animation studio fire: at least 33 dead after arson attack in Japan". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
- "Kyoto Animation Makes Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid TV Anime for January Debut". Anime News Network. October 24, 2016. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- "Kotoko Ayano's Tsurune Novel Gets TV Anime at Kyoto Animation". Anime News Network. October 23, 2017. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
- "Kyoto Animation Produces Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid Anime Season 2 for 2021 Debut". Anime News Network. August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- "KyoAni Reveals Anime Adaptation of 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku Novel". Anime News Network. July 27, 2018. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
- "High Speed! -Free! Starting Days- Film's Staff Unveiled". Anime News Network. April 24, 2015. Archived from the original on June 24, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
Bibliography
- Cavallaro, Dani (2012). Kyoto Animation: A Critical Study and Filmography. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-7068-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Further reading
- Creamer, Nick (December 2, 2015). "What Makes Kyoto Animation So Special?". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kyoto Animation. |
- Official website
(in Japanese) - Animation Do official website (in Japanese)
- Kyoto Animation at Anime News Network's encyclopedia