Nippon Animation (日本アニメーション, Nippon Animēshon) is a Japanese animation studio. The company is headquartered in Tokyo, with chief offices in the Ginza district of Chūō and production facilities in Tama City.
Nippon Animation is famous for producing numerous anime series based on works of literature such as Anne of Green Gables and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, co-founders of the famous Studio Ghibli, directed several episodes in the World Masterpiece Theater series.
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. 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 (not Zuiyo Eizo), 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 in June 1975 by company president Koichi Motohashi. 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. 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).
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)) - 1975Arabian Nights: Sinbad's Adventures (Arabian Naitsu: Shinbaddo No Bôken) - 1975The Adventures of Piccolino (Pikorīno no Bōken) - 1976Little Lulu and Her Little Friends (Little Lulu to Chicchai Nakama) - 1976Monarch: The Big Bear of Tallac (Kuma no Ko Jacky) - 1977Future Boy Conan (Mirai Shonen Conan) - 1978, a Hayao Miyazaki workBannertail: The Story of Gray Squirrel (Seton Dobutsuki Risu no Banner) - 1979Heart (Cuore): An Italian Schoolboy's Journal (Ai no Gakko Cuore Monogatari) - 1981Dogtanian 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) - 1982Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Fushigi no Kuni no Arisu) - 1983Around the World with Willy Fog (Anime 80 Sekai Isshu) - 1983 (In Spain), 1987 (In Japan); co-production with BRB InternacionalManga Aesop's Fables - 1983Ruy the Little Cid (Little El Cid no Bouken) - 1984 co-production with BRB InternacionalBosco Adventure (Bosco Daiboken) - 1986Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics (Grimm Meisaku Gekijo/Shin Grimm Meisaku Gekijo) - 1987-1989Jungle Book Shōnen Mowgli - 1989Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (Kaze no Naka no Shojo Kinptasu no Jeannie) - 1992Anne's Diary: The Story of Anne Frank (Anne no Nikki: Anne Frank Monogatari) - 1979Manxmouse (Tondemo Nezumi Daikatsuyaku) - 1979Back to the Forest (Nodoka Mori no Dobutsu Daisakusen, English titles: Peter of Placid Forest, Back to the Forest) - 1980The Story of Fifteen Boys (Hitomi no Naka no Shonen Jugo Shonen Hyoryuki, Two Years' Vacation) - 1987Dokaben - 1976Attack on Tomorrow - 1976Blocker Gundan 4 Machine Blaster (Ashita e Ataku) - 1977Ginguiser (Chogattai Majutsu Robot Ginguiser) - 1977I'm Teppei (Ore wa Teppei) - 1977Charlotte (Wakakusa no Charlotte) - 1977The Casebook of Charlotte Holmes (Angie Girl, Jouo Heika no Petite Angie) - 1977Song of the Baseball Enthusiasts (Yakukyou no Uta) - 1977Haikara-san ga Tōru (Smart-san, Mademoiselle Anne) - 1978Misha the Bear Cub (Koguma no Misha) - 1979Seton Dobutsuki Risu no Banner - 1979Sanpei the Fisherman (Tsurikichi Sampei) - 1980Football in Action (Fútbol en acción) - 1981The Many Dream Journeys of Meme - 1983Noozles (Fushigi na Koara Burinkii, Blinky and Printy) - 1984Bumpety Boo (Hey! Bumboo) - 1985Spaceship Sagittarius (Uchuusen Sagittarius) - 1986Animated Classics of Japanese Literature (Seishun Anime Zenshu) - 1986Topo Gigio - 1988Dagon in the Land of Weeds - 1988Chibi Maruko-chan - 1990Pygmalio - 1990Top Striker (Moero! Top Striker) - 1991Christopher Columbus - 1992 co-production with Mondo TVMikan's Picture Diary (Mikan Enikki) - 1992Papuwa-kun (Nangoku Shonen Papuwa-kun) - 1992Bow: Modern Dog Tales (Heisei Inu Monogatari Bow) - 1993Dragon League - 1993Muka Muka Paradise - 1993Miracle Girls - 1993 (as Japan Taps)Captain Tsubasa J - 1994Mahojin Guru Guru - 1994Pig Girl of Love and Courage: Tonde Burin - 1994Yamato Takeru - 1994Mama Loves the Poyopoyo-Saurus - 1995Grander Musashi - 1997Duck Caen - 1997Cooking Master Boy (Chūka Ichiban!) - 1997Coji-Coji (Sakura Momoko Gekijo: Koji-Koji) - 1997; from the creator of Chibi Maruko-chan, Momoko SakuraTen-Ten-Kun (Hanasaki Tenshi Ten-Ten-kun) - 1998Inventor Boy Kanipan (Hatsumei Boy Kanipan) - 1998Xenon Football Sign - 1999Shuukan! Story Land - 1999Hunter × Hunter - 1999Corrector Yui - 1999Bikkuriman 2000 - 1999Taiga 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 charactersMarcelino Pan y Vino - 2000 (Japan-Spain co-production; title is Spanish for "Marcelino, bread and wine")Mahōjin Guru Guru - April 2000, TV TokyoPrincess Comet (Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san) - 2001; based on a manga by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, creator of Tetsujin 28-go and Sally, the WitchDennou Boukenki Webdiver - 2001 (co-production with Radix)Daigunder - 2002 (co-production with Brains Base)Hungry Heart: Wild Striker - 2002-2003, AnimaxPapuwa - September 2003, TV TokyoSore Ike! Zukkoke Sannin Gumi - April 2004, TV TokyoFantastic Children - October 2004, TV TokyoMix Master - 2005 (Japan-Korea co-production with Sunwoo Entertainment and KBS)Pokapoka Mori no Rasukaru - 2006Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge - 2006Antique Bakery - 2008Hyakko - 2008TV specials, movies and OVAs
King Fang (Oyuki Yama no Yuusha Haou) - TV special, 1978Our Hit and Run - TV special, 1979Maegami Taro - TV special, 1979Locke the Superman (Chojin Rokku) - movie, 1984; OVA sequels, 1989, 1991 and 2000Future Boy Conan (Mirai Shonen Conan Tokubetsu Hen-Kyodaiki Gigant no Fukkatsu) (movie) - 1984Sango-shō Densetsu: Aoi Umi no Elfie - TV special, 1986; seemingly inspired heavily by Hayao Miyazaki's NausicaaChibi Maruko-chan (movie) - 1990Tottoi (The Secret of the Seal) - 1992, movieBow (movie) - 1993Mahojin Guru Guru (movie) - 1996Hunter x Hunter (OVA) - 2002Hunter x Hunter: Greed Island (OVA) - 2003Pink Crayons (OVA) - 2004Hunter x Hunter: G.I. Final (OVA) - 2004Miyori no Mori - TV movie, 2007The Tale of Princess Kaguya (movie) (2014) (Real production by Studio Ghibli, Nippon Animation was the animation cooperation with BONES, Tatsunoko Production and Studio 4°C)Tensai Bakavon: Yomigaeru Flanders no Inu - movie, 2015Sinbad: Sora Tobu Hime to Himitsu no Shima - movie, 2015Chibi Maruko-chan: Italia Kara Kita Shōnen - film, 2015It is a department of Nippon Animation that had a partnership with famous toy company Takara on some anime.
Beyblade - 2001 (co-production with Madhouse)Beyblade: V-Force - 2002 (co-production with Madhouse)Beyblade the Movie: Fierce Battle - 2002Beyblade G Revolution - 2003 (co-production with Madhouse)B-Legend! Battle Bedaman - 2004Battle B-Daman: Fire Spirits - 2005Crash B-Daman - 2006Zero Duel Masters - 2007
