Top 20 Best Anime Studios With Amazing Animation

(Last Updated On: May 23, 2021)

Today we are going to talk about the greatest anime studios of all time, shows animated by them are part of every kid’s childhood & each of their work has been an inspiration for many young creators. An animation studio is a company that produces animated media for audiences.

These animation studios are mostly Japanese & they have created a league of their own with sophisticated and out-of-the-world animation. Animation studios have always been an integral part of anime production. With this list, we will dive deep into their origins and discuss some of their most impressive as well as recognized works. This list doesn’t rank the anime studios, it just names the best ones.

1. Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation is one of the most respected animation studios of all time. Kyoto Animation Co., Ltd. often abbreviated KyoAni (京 ア ニ, Kyōani), is a Japanese animation studio and light novel publisher located in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. Kyoto Animation was co-founded in 1981 by married couple Yoko and Hideaki Hatta; became a corporation in 1985 and a corporation in 1999.

Famous Works of Kyoto Animation

• Kanon
• Chuunibyou
• Amagi Brilliant Park
• Lucky Star
• Full Metal Panic
• A Silent Voice
• K-ON

Although their style has evolved over time, the characters in Kyoto Animation are always easily recognizable. The studio maintains a distinct, high-quality style by keeping a team of salaried entertainers on staff (rather than relying on freelancers).

2. Madhouse

Madhouse Inc. is a Japanese animation studio founded in 1972 by former Mushi Pro animators, including Masao Maruyama, Osamu Dezaki, Rintaro, and Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Madhouse is widely known because of its spectacular animation efforts.

Famous Works of Madhouse

• No Game No Life
• Death Note
• Parasyte
• Monster
• Claymore
• Hunter x Hunter
• One-Punch Man
• The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
• Sunday Without God

On February 8, 2011, Nippon TV became Madhouse’s main shareholder (replacing Index Corporation), through the allocation of new shares by a third party. NTV bought 128,667 new shares (¥ 7,772 each) issued by Madhouse for ¥ 999,999,924 in total (about $ 12.4 million), raising its stake in the company from 10.4% to 84.5%. Index Corporation’s stake in Madhouse fell from 60.91% to 10.54%.

3. Studio Bones

Bones is known for its spectacular designs. Bones was founded by the staff members of Sunrise Masahiko Minami, Hiroshi Ōsaka, and Toshihiro Kawamoto in October 1998. One of his first projects was to collaborate with Sunrise on Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, a feature film based on the anime series Cowboy Bebop.

In 2007, the studio suffered the loss of co-founder Hiroshi Ōsaka, known for his work as a character designer in series such as Mobile Suit Victory Gundam, Mobile Fighter G Gundam, and The Mars Daybreak. He had been fighting cancer and died of the disease on September 24, 2007. He was 44.

Famous Works of Studio Bones

• Noragami.
• Mob Psycho 100.
• Eureka Seven.
• Bungou Stray Dogs.
• Full Metal Alchemist
• Darker Than Black.
• My Hero Academia
• Snow White With The Red Hair

Since Ōsaka’s death, there have been two new additions to the studio’s board of directors: Makoto Watanabe and Takahiro Komori. Komori is well known as a character designer and animator who has been with the studio since its inception. His previous work as a designer consists of Angelic Layer, Scrapped Princess, and Darker than Black.

4. J.C STAFF

J.C. Staff Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio founded in January 1986 by Tomoyuki Miyata, who previously worked at Tatsunoko Production. The first studio release was Yōtōden in 1987. The animation studio is known for many of its great anime productions in the past.

Famous Works of J.C STAFF

• Food Wars
• Prison School
• Flying Witch.
• A Certain Scientific Railgun.
• Maid Sama.
• Ghost Hunt.
• Shimoneta.
• Alice To Zouroku.
• Golden Time.

The animation studio had been creating anime with variety of genres.

5. Ufotable

Ufotable, Inc. is a Japanese animation studio founded in October 2000 by former staff of the TMS Entertainment Telecom Animation Film subsidiary and located in Nakano, Tokyo. A unique hallmark seen in many of his works is a clay sequence. The studio is famous for its own uniqueness among anime fans.

Famous Works of Ufotable

• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
• Fate/Zero
• The Garden of Sinners
• God Eater
• Futakoi Alternative
• Tales of Zestiria the X

In March 2019, it was reported that a raid was carried out at the Ufotable offices for alleged tax evasion. The following month, it was reported that Ufotable owed 400 million yen in taxes. In June 2020, both the firm and the company’s founder and president, Hikaru Kondo, were charged with violating the Corporation Tax Law and the Consumption Tax Law by failing to pay 139 million yen (approximately 1.28 million US dollars) in taxes. The studio released a public statement apologizing for its actions.

6. Wit Studio

WIT STUDIO, Inc. is a Japanese animation studio founded on June 1, 2012 by Producers of Production I.G as a subsidiary of IG Port. It is based in Musashino, Tokyo, with Production I.G producer George Wada as president and Tetsuya Nakatake, also Production I.G. producer, as studio director. The studio gained notoriety for producing the first three seasons of Attack on Titan.

Famous Works of Wit Studio

• Attack On Titan
• Great Pretender
• Vinland Saga
• The Ancient Magus’ Bride
• After the Rain
• Seraph of the End

This anime studio have less shows but the quality of theses were very good. Wit Studio was funded with an initial investment of 30 million yen in equity from IG Port, Wada and Nakatakan, who reportedly own 66.6%, 21.6% and 10.0% of the studio’s share capital , respectively.

7. MAPPA

MAPPA Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio. It was founded on June 14, 2011 by Masao Maruyama, founder and former producer of Madhouse. “MAPPA” is an acronym for Maruyama Animation Produce Project Association. In April 2016, Maruyama resigned from his position at the studio and founded a new studio, Studio M2.

Famous Works of MAPPA

• God of Highschool
• Jujutsu Kaisen
• Dororo
• Yuri!! on Ice
• Kakegurui ××

MAPPA studio has been in the news since they animated the final season of Attack on Titan & Jujutsu Kaisen. They are also animating the upcoming Chainsaw Man anime adaptation.

8. A-1 Pictures

A-1 Pictures Inc. is a Japanese animation studio founded by former Sunrise producer Mikihiro Iwata, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan’s anime production company Aniplex. The studio was established by SMEJ’s animation production division, Aniplex, on May 9, 2005, to animate its anime series and productions. In 2006, he co-produced the original Zenmai Zamurai production, and in October of the same year, he established a studio in Asagaya. The following year, 2007, the studio produced its first series, Ōkiku Furikabutte.

Famous Works of A-1 Pictures

• Fairy Tail
• Sword Art Online
• Erased.
• Blue Exorcist.
• GATE.
• Magi: Labyrinth Of Magic.
• Magi: Kingdom of Magic.
• Working!!

Originally established to oversee the production of just a few of Aniplex’s family-oriented series, the studio has grown and expanded as a full studio involved in the production of a wide range of anime and media productions and other activities, which has supervised. The studio has also expanded its international presence, participating in the prominent Anime Expo 2007 (AX 2007) international convention, held in Long Beach, California, and having its own panel there.

9. Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli Inc. is a Japanese animation film studio based in Koganei, Tokyo. The studio is best known for its animated films and has also produced several short films, television commercials, and a television movie. The anime studio is one the most reputed in the field of animation around the world founded on June 15, 1985, the studio was led by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki.

Famous Works of Studio Ghibli

• My Neighbor Totoro
• Spirited Away
• Howl’s Moving Castle
• Grave of the Fireflies
• Princess Mononoke

5 of the Studio Ghibli films are among the top 10 highest-grossing anime films made in Japan, with Spirited Away number two, grossing more than $ 380 million worldwide. Many of his works have won the Animage Anime Grand Prix award, and four have won the Japanese Academy of Animation of the Year Award. Five of the Studio Ghibli films have received Oscar nominations. Spirited Away won the Golden Bear in 2002 and the Academy Award for Best Animated Film in 2003.

10. Toei Animation

Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio controlled primarily by its namesake Toei Company. It has created a number of television series and movies and has adapted Japanese comics as animated series, many of which are popular around the world. It is well known for animating massive anime series like Dragon Ball and One Piece.

Famous Works of Toei Animation

• Dragon Ball
• One Piece
• Sailor Moon
• Digimon
•  Dr. Slump
• Butt Detective

The studio was founded by animators Kenzō Masaoka and Zenjirō Yamamoto in 1948 as Japan Animated Films. In 1956, Toei bought the studio and was renamed Toei Doga Co., Ltd., doing business as Toei Animation Co., Ltd. outside of Japan. In 1998, the Japanese name was renamed Toei Animation.

11. Studio Pierrot

Pierrot Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio established in May 1979 by former employees of Tatsunoko Production and Mushi Production. Its headquarters are in Mitaka, Tokyo. Pierrot is known for several popular anime series around the world, such as Naruto, Bleach.

Famous Works of Studio Pierrot

• Bleach
• Naruto
• Black Clover
• Yu Yu Hakusho
• Tokyo Ghoul
• GTO

The studio is one of the most respected animation studio almost like Toei Animation.

12. Sunrise

Sunrise Inc. is a Japanese animation studio founded in September 1972 and is based in Suginami, Tokyo. Its old name was Nippon Sunrise and, before that, Sunrise Studio. According to an interview with members of Sunrise, the studio was founded by former members of Mushi Production in 1972 as Sunrise Studio, Limited. Rather than having anime production revolve around a single creator (like Mushi, spearheaded by Osamu Tezuka), Sunrise decided that production should focus on producers.

Famous Works of Sunrise

•  Gundam
• Cowboy Bebop
• Space Runaway Ideon
• Armored Trooper Votoms
• Yoroiden Samurai Troopers
• City Hunter 
• Inuyasha
• Outlaw Star
• Yakitate!!

The mainstream anime market (such as manga adaptations, sports shows, and adaptations of popular children’s stories) was already dominated by existing companies, so Sunrise decided to focus on robot anime, known to be more difficult to animate but could be used. to sell toy

13. Production I.G

Production I.G, Inc. is a Japanese anime production studio and company, founded on December 15, 1987 by Mitsuhisa Ishikawa and based in Musashino, Tokyo, Japan. The letters I and G are derived from the names of the company’s founders: producer Mitsuhisa Ishikawa and character designer Takayuki Goto.

Famous Works of Production I.G

• Guilty Crown 
• Psycho-Pass 
• Eden of the East
• Ghost In The Shell 
• Haikyuu!!

Production I.G is closer to several divisions working under the same name (as with Sunrise) than to being a single studio. These different studios are known as different “sections” in reference to the studio’s Ghost in the Shell franchise. Around 2011, Section 6 director George Wada and animation producer Tetsuya Nakatake approached Ishikawa with the intention of founding a new studio under Production IG to allow for more creative freedoms and faster production processes than are available. on IG. On June 1, 2012, Wit Studio was founded, marking the first project of the Attack on Titan studio, which I.G helped produce.

14. White Fox

White Fox Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio founded in April 2007 by Gaku Iwasa. The studio’s most successful productions include adaptations of Steins; Gate and Re: Zero – Starting Life in Another World. Their first production was the anime series Tears to Tiara.

Famous Works of White Fox

• Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World
• Steins;Gate 0
• Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest
• Goblin Slayer
• Akame ga Kill!

15. Studio Deen

Studio Deen Co. Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio founded in 1975 by Sunrise producer Hiroshi Hasegawa and former Sunrise animators. The studio has three subsidiaries: Danny Donghua, a Chinese outsourcing studio; Megumi (め 組), a digital works outsourcing studio; and Umidori, a 3DCG outsourcing studio.

Famous Works of Studio Deen

• Sakamoto Desu Ga.
• Rurouni Kenshin.
• Kono Subarashii
• Sakura Trick.
• Ranma 1/2
• Vampire Knight
• Fruits Basket
• Nurarihyon No Mago

The “Deen” in the company’s name is taken from Brave Raideen, a Sunrise anime in which the studio’s founders finished the animation work.

16. Studio Trigger

Studio Trigger was founded by former Gainax employee Hiroyuki Imaishi following his success with Gurren Lagann (2007). This led to the creation of Studio Trigger, with the visual humor and style of Gurren Lagann defining the studio’s work, and Trigger was seen as a successor to Gainax. But similar to Kyoto Animation, they don’t release dozens of shows for the sake of it.

Famous Works of Studio Trigger

• Little Witch Academia
• Kill la Kill
• BNA: Brand New Animal
• SSSS.Gridman
• Darling in the Franxx

In 2018, Studio Trigger created a Patreon with the aim of acquiring the necessary financing for projects and merchandising. They offer a $ 1 and $ 5 option for users and currently have over 2,000 backers on the platform, raising over $ 6,000 per month.

17. SHAFT Studios

Shaft, also known as Studio Shaft, is a Japanese animation studio based in Suginami, Tokyo, and founded in 1975. Since 2004, the studio’s productions have been heavily influenced by director Akiyuki Shinbo, whose visual and cinematographic style avant-garde are presented in works.

Famous Works of SHAFT Studios

• Madoka Magica
• Denpa Onna
• Nisekoi
• Monogatari
• Katteni Kaizō

Shaft’s animation work on the trilogy has been praised for being exceptionally experimental with 2D and CG effects, which some critics described as not always mixing well, but having been called “beautiful” nonetheless.

18. P.A.Works

P.A. Works, Inc. is a Japanese animation studio founded on November 10, 2000, in Nanto, Toyama. The president and founder of the company, Kenji Horikawa, once worked for Tatsunoko Production, Production I.G, and Bee Train Production, before forming P.A. Works Corporation. The studio changed its name to P.A. Works in 2002. The main office is located in Toyama prefecture, where digital photography and drawings and office production and direction are done.

Famous Works of SHAFT Studios

• Charlotte 
• Angel Beats
• Another
• The Eccentric Family
• Shirobako
• Hanasaku Iroha

The company is also involved with video games, in addition to collaborating in the past with Production I.G and Bee Train for anime. In January 2008, P.A. Works produced True Tears, its first anime series as the main animation studio involved in the production process. On April 20, 2018, P.A. Works announced a new e-book label called P.A.Books, with the first release being a novel adaptation of its first anime, True Tears.

19. Brain’s Base

Brain’s Base Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio founded in 1996 by former employees of Tokyo Movie Shinsha. They’ve been kicking it out of the park with amazing anime for decades.

Famous Works of Brain’s Base

• Durarara!!
• My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU
• Blood Lad
• Kiss Him, Not Me

20. CloverWorks

CloverWorks Inc. is a Japanese animation studio that was renamed Kōenji Studio from A-1 Pictures. It is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan’s anime production company, Aniplex. Slow Start changed the credited studio after the original run ended, while Darling in the Franxx changed the credited studio during production.

Famous Works of Clover Works

• Fairy Tail
• Horimiya
• Wonder Egg Priority
• The Promised Neverland
• Slow Start

So these are the top 20 best anime studio in the world. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section. According to you which of these is best anime studio? Which anime animation is your favorite? Do you agree with this list? In comments.

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