The anime universe is expansive and offers many different tales with compelling characters, engaging plots, and epic moments. While some anime come and go, many deliver outstanding and memorable experiences. These experiences wouldn’t be as grand or memorable if not for the effort various Japanese animation studios put into each project.
For our ongoing series of articles depicting the best anime, we’d like to highlight the best anime studios of all time. From Mappa to Ghibli, they’re all worth recognizing for their amazing contributions over the years.
Of course, if we’ve missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment below and we’ll add them when we can!
Mappa
Studio Mappa is a Japanese animation studio that saw a massive rise in popularity over the years. It was founded by Masao Maruyama, a co-founder of Studio Madhouse. This studio is made up of a talented team of animators, writers, and directors who are dedicated to delivering incredible adaptations of popular manga like Attack On Titan, Chainsaw Man, and Jujutsu Kaisen.
The anime Studio Mappa tackle often has captivating tales with diverse casts. They apply fluid animation with breathtaking visuals, giving audiences something immersive to watch. Studio Mappa also takes pride in pushing the boundaries of what the anime medium is capable of.
While the studio tends to use CGI to significant or little effect, it’s a great studio that’s managed to pull off marvelous effort.
Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation is a beloved anime studio known for working on successful hits like Clannad, Violet Evergarden, and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. It was founded in the early 80s and has a long history of creating emotionally resonant anime that captures the hearts of viewers from across the globe.
Kyoto Animation is cherished for working on projects that stay true to character development and storytelling. Unlike other studios, Kyoto Animation like adapting works that emphasize heartfelt character moments and resonant storylines.
Most Kyoto Animation anime are praised for their high attention to detail. From intricately detailed backgrounds to the characters’ facial expressions, the studio’s artists make it their mission to create a visually spectacular and immersive experience for viewers.
In addition to focusing on shows that’ll tug at viewers’ heartstrings like A Silent Voice, Kyoto Animation’s worth acknowledging as one of the best studios today.
Shaft
Madhouse
Studio Madhouse may not get as much attention as it used to, but it was a powerhouse in the anime industry at one point. Ever since it was founded in the early 70s, the studio left its mark through a wide range of productions and collaborations with other studios.
One of Madhouse’s best strengths is its versatility. They’ve adapted many works that can be heartwarming or gut-wrenching. They can handle just about any genre you can throw at them and deliver animation of the highest quality. Madhouse never cuts corners, which is evident in some of its popular adaptations for series like No Game No Life, Hunter X Hunter, and Death Note. They know how to carefully craft the settings and characters in their adaptations.
Overall, Studio Madhouse is a great anime studio that may have lost its fanbase along the way but should be adored for the work it put out over the years.
Ghibli
Studio Ghibli is an anime studio many people know about, even if they’re not anime enthusiasts. This studio was founded in the 80s and has produced many iconic and beloved anime films from Grave of the Fireflies to Spirited Away.
Hayao Miyazaki, the founder of Studio Ghibli, is a popular director known for his imaginative and emotionally resonant films. His influence on the industry is immeasurable, and his unique storytelling style and approach to animation helped Ghibli become as beloved as it is today. Furthermore, each film they produce has intricate and beautiful visuals that’ll get viewers pumped for its fantastical worlds. They hold a high standard for the quality of their films. It’s evident in their characters’ designs and world-building.
While most Ghibli works serve as visual spectacles, others tend to tackle difficult or complex themes and topics. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is a great example of its handling of environmentalism. That said, Studio Ghibli is worth noting as one of the best anime studios of all time.
Gainax
Studio Gainax is one of the most influential studios of all time. They’ve made many groundbreaking hits from Neon Genesis Evangelion to Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt.
The studio was founded in the early 80s by a group of students who had a strong passion for animation and wanted to push the boundaries of what the medium could do. You can see it clearly in Gainax’s work in Neon Genesis Evangelion. Unlike most mecha anime at the time, this series chose to give the audience deeper insight into the internal issues that often plague the lives of human beings. This approach helped make the show the classic it is today.
Gainax employed many unconventional tricks in their works from bizarre camera angles and experimental visual effects. This made their tales feel breathtaking and thrilling to watch. Many of Studio Gainax’s works have great music that complements their multiple shows’ narrative and visuals well.
From their commitment to mature storytelling to their stunning animation style, Studio Gainax’s legacy continues to inspire and motivate multiple studios today.
Sunrise
Studio Sunrise is another fabulous studio known for its sci-fi works Cowboy Bebop, Code Geass, and Gundam. This studio was founded in the early 70s and is known for producing anime in many genres, not just sci-fi. This studio’s known for working on and creating anime with high-quality visuals and phenomenal storytelling.
They’ve collaborated with many phenomenal creators from Yoshiyuki Tomino to Shinchiro Watanabe. Each person they’ve employed brings a fresh perspective and unique vision to their productions.
Studio Sunrise has taken many risks with its stories too. Some of their mecha anime dig into complex and mature themes like politics, morality, and identity. Code Geass is a noteworthy example of this. While the show features some thrilling mecha battles, audiences will enjoy it more for its protagonist’s wit and the multiple mind games he indulges himself in.
Production I.G.
Production I.G. is a glorious anime studio. Their best adaptations include Ghost In The Shell, Haikyu, and Psycho-Pass. This studio is dedicated to delivering cutting-edge animation with each adaptation and original story.
Their adaptations feature vivid colors, intricate details, and realistic movements. These factors unite to I’ve viewers’ eyes a visual treat. This studio’s also known for being versatile. Like others on this list, Production I.G.’s tackled projects for a variety of different genres from sci-fi to sports. Each story offers incredible characters who undergo phenomenal arcs that make them fun to follow.
In addition to collaborating with well-acclaimed directors and musicians, Production I.G. is a great studio that’s worth acknowledging here.
Ufotable
Studio Ufotable is an anime studio that’s making the rounds as of late like Mappa. Fate/Zero and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba are some of their finest projects. While some projects tend to slip in quality occasionally, Ufotable knows how to make their shows pop with their innovative use of technology and digital effects.
Another aspect that makes Ufotable well-loved in the community is its commitment to creating and adapting thought-provoking or compelling narratives. Many of the anime they animate explore concepts like identity, morality, and the human psyche in a mature manner. From Saber to Tanjiro, fans will adore Ufotable’s work in bringing these memorable characters to life. I
n addition to working with talented composers and pushing the boundaries with its use of CGI, Ufotable is a powerhouse in this industry.
Bones
Studio Bones is a fabulous studio. They’ve worked on many beloved adaptations from Fullmetal Alchemist to Mob Psycho 100. They’ve adapted stories from multiple genres. Most of their projects have top-quality animation and come off as pure eye candy. This is thanks to Bones’s use of color and dynamic movement.
Furthermore, the stories they adapt have engaging and thought-provoking concepts. From self-growth to death, Bones isn’t afraid to tackle stories that can be insanely dark or entirely comedic. Their works often have catchy and meaningful soundtracks that add value and depth to their show’s emotional sequences too.
While this anime studio has slipped up in the past, they’re still a studio worthy of praise.
So, there we have it, our picks for the best anime studios through the years!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!