Tatsunoko Production

Tatsunoko Production
Kabushiki gaisha
Industry Animation studio, planning and production
Founded October 19, 1962 (1962-10-19)[1]
Founder Tatsuo Yoshida
Kenji Yoshida
Ippei Kuri
Headquarters Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
Products Anime
Owner Nippon Television (54.3%)
Takara Tomy (20.0%)
Horipro (13.5%)
Production I.G (11.2%)
Number of employees
59 (April 1, 2015)
Divisions I.G Tatsunoko 1987–1993
Website tatsunoko.co.jp

Tatsunoko Production Company (株式会社タツノコプロ Kabushiki gaisha Tatsunoko Puro), previously known as Kabushiki gaisha Tatsunoko Purodakushon (株式会社竜の子プロダクション) and often shortened to Tatsunoko Pro (竜の子プロ or タツノコプロ Tatsunoko Puro), is a Japanese animation company. It was founded in October 1962 by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida and his brothers, Kenji and Toyoharu (pen name "Ippei Kuri").[2] The studio's name has a double meaning in Japanese: "Tatsu's child" (Tatsu is a nickname for Tatsuo) and "sea dragon", the inspiration for its seahorse logo.[2][3] Tatsunoko's headquarters are in Kokubunji, Tokyo.[1]

History

The studio's first production was the 1965 TV series Space Ace. Since then many figures in the anime industry have worked with Tatsunoko, including Mizuho Nishikubo, Hiroshi Sasagawa, Koichi Mashimo, Katsuhisa Yamada, Hideaki Anno (Tatsunoko provided animation work on the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series), and Kazuo Yamazaki. Sasagawa is notable for bringing his fondness for comedy animation to the forefront in Tatsunoko series such as the Time Bokan (1975) franchise.[4] The company later licensed Macross to Harmony Gold, who then produced Robotech.

Takara acquired Tatsunoko on June 3, 2005 after purchasing an 88-percent stake and made the company a subsidiary.[5] Production I.G was established in 1987 as I.G. Tatsunoko, a branch for the production of Zillion led by Mitsuhisa Ishikawa.[6][7][8]

In 2009, Tatsunoko announced that it would collaborate with Marvel Comics on a joint television project and other ventures.[9] IG Port announced on June 2, 2010 that its subsidiary, Production I.G, had purchased an 11.2-percent stake in Tatsunoko. Production I.G president Mitsuhisa Ishikawa became a part-time director of the studio.[10]

Talent agency Horipro announced on February 23, 2013 that it had acquired a 13.5-percent stake in Tatsunoko.[11] At Anime Expo 2013, Sentai Filmworks announced a deal to license and release some of Tatsunoko's titles, including Gatchaman and Casshan.[12] Nippon Television announced on January 29, 2014 that it had purchased a 54.3-percent stake in Tatsunoko and adopted the company as its subsidiary.[13][14][15]

Works

Saban's Adventures of Pinocchio (1972)
The Flying House (1982)

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

Anime studios made by former animators

References

  1. 1 2 "Tatsunoko Pro". Tatsunoko.co.jp. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  2. 1 2 "GATCHAMAN! The story of Tatsuo Yoshida and his greatest creation". Comic Book Resources. 2008-05-11.
  3. "'Speed Racer': drawing on an anime legend". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  4. AWN. "Anime Reviews: Stand Alone with Bokan & The Third | AWN | Animation World Network". Mag.awn.com. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  5. "Takara acquires animation studio". The Japan Times. 2005-07-03. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  6. "石川社長が20年を語る 「プロダクション I.G 創立20周年記念展」開催中" (in Japanese). mycom.co.jp. 2007-12-28. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  7. "第25回 株式会社プロダクション I.G代表取締役社長 石川光久-その2-悔しさから独立、フリーに" (in Japanese). CodeZine. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  8. "Studio 2 Part 01: Kazuchika Kise and the birth of Studio 2". Production I.G. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  9. "Report: Tatsunoko, Marvel Aim for Joint TV Anime in 3 Years – News". Anime News Network. 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  10. "Production I.G to Acquire 11.2% Stake in Tatsunoko". AnimeNewsNetwork. 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
  11. "HoriPro Agency Acquires Stake in Anime Studio Tatsunoko – News". Anime News Network. 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  12. "Sentai Filmworks Signs Deal with Tatsunoko Production (Updated) - News". Anime News Network. 2013-07-04. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
  13. "NTV Buys 54.3% Stake in Anime Studio Tatsunoko Production". Anime News Network. 2014-01-29. Retrieved 2014-01-29.
  14. "Tomy to sell Tatsunoko Production to TV station". Nikkei. 2014-01-29. Retrieved 2015-01-09.
  15. "Nippon TV Acquires Shares of TATSUNOKO PRODUCTION Co., Ltd.". Nippon Television. 2014-01-29. Retrieved 2014-02-14.

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