Shaft, Inc. (株式会社シャフト, Kabushikigaisha Shafuto) is a Japanese animation studio founded on September 1, 1975 by Hiroshi Wakao. In 2005 they began working exclusively with the director Akiyuki Shinbo, who is best known for his unique use of gags, references, and avant garde cinematography notably in Pani Poni Dash!, Maria Holic, Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei, Hidamari Sketch, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and Bakemonogatari.
Shaft was founded on September 1, 1975 by Hiroshi Wakao, who previously worked at Mushi Pro. The company was founded to paint the animation but later worked on animation production as a subcontractor. They were able to produce their own first original series, Yume kara, Samenai (夢から、さめない, Yume kara, Samenai) in 1987.
In 2000, after Shaft cooperated with Gainax to produce a DVD special of remastered Gunbuster, they were in joint production with Gainax to produce Mahoromatic, This Ugly and Beautiful World, and He is My Master. After Hiroshi Wakao's retirement in 2004, Kubota Mitsutoshi has become Shaft's representative director. Their painting group has also been downsized in order to strengthen their digital group. Since the joint works with Gainax, Shaft focused their efforts on adaptations of acclaimed manga and light novels until 2011 when they released their first original anime series in a decade, Puella Magi Madoka Magica.
Since 2004, Akiyuki Shinbō, Tatsuya Oishi and Shin Ōnuma have participated in most of Shaft's productions, starting with Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase. The studio is unique due to their use of gags and references to other anime through writing on a classroom chalkboard or any available empty space in the background. The studio is also known for the use of various animation styles in a single series, changes in art style, a characteristic head tilt, abstract background designs, and use of unusual music for the opening sequences of their shows.
Juuni Senshi Bakuretsu Eto Ranger (TV, April 1995)
Dotto Koni-chan (TV, November 2000)
Mahoromatic series (joint production with Gainax)
Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden (TV, September 2001)
Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful (TV, September 2002)
Mahoromatic: Summer Special (OVA, August 2003)
G-On Riders (TV, July 2002, joint production with TNK)
Popotan (TV, July 2003)
This Ugly Yet Beautiful World (TV, April 2004, joint production with Gainax)
Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase (TV, October 2004)
He is My Master (TV, April 2005, joint production with Gainax)
Pani Poni Dash! (TV, July 2005)
Rec (TV, February 2006)
Negima! Magister Negi Magi series
Negima!? (TV, October 2006)
Mahō Sensei Negima! Haru (OVA, October 2006)
Mahō Sensei Negima! Natsu (OVA, November 2006)
Mahō Sensei Negima!: Shiroki Tsubasa Ala Alba (OVA, August 2008)
Mahō Sensei Negima!: Mou Hitotsu No Sekai (OVA, September 2009)
Mahō Sensei Negima! Anime Final (Movie, August 2011)
Hidamari Sketch series
Hidamari Sketch (TV, January 2007)
Hidamari Sketch Special (TV, October 2007)
Hidamari Sketch × 365 (TV, July 2008)
Hidamari Sketch × 365 Special (TV, October 2009)
Hidamari Sketch × Hoshimittsu (TV, January 2010)
Hidamari Sketch × Hoshimittsu Special (TV, October 2010)
Hidamari Sketch x SP (TV, October 2011)
Hidamari Sketch x Honeycomb (TV, October 2012)
Hidamari Sketch: Sae & Hiro's Graduation Arc (OVA, November 2013)
Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei series
Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei (TV, July 2007)
Zoku Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei (TV, January 2008)
Goku Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei (OVA, October 2008)
Zan Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei (TV, July 2009)
Zan Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei Bangaichi (OVA, November 2009)
Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two. series
Ef: A Tale of Memories. (TV, October 2007)
Ef: A Tale of Melodies. (TV, October 2008)
Maria Holic series
Maria Holic (TV, January 2009)
Maria Holic: Alive (TV, April 2011)
Natsu no Arashi! series
Natsu no Arashi! (TV, April 2009)
Natsu no Arashi! Akinai chū (TV, October 2009)
Monogatari series
Bakemonogatari (TV, July 2009)
Nisemonogatari (TV, January 2012)
Nekomonogatari (Black) (TV, December 2012)
Monogatari Series Second Season (TV, July 2013)
Hanamonogatari (TV, August 2014)
Tsukimonogatari (TV, December 2014)
Owarimonogatari (TV, October 2015)
Koyomimonogatari (ONA, January 2016)
Kizumonogatari Part I: Tekketsu (Movie, January 2016)
Kizumonogatari Part II: Nekketsu (Movie, August 2016)
Kizumonogatari Part III: Reiketsu (Movie, January 2017)
Owarimonogatari Second Season (TV, July 2017)
Dance in the Vampire Bund (TV, January 2010)
Arakawa Under the Bridge series
Arakawa Under the Bridge (TV, April 2010)
Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge (TV, October 2010)
Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru (TV, October 2010)
Puella Magi Madoka Magica series
Puella Magi Madoka Magica (TV, January 2011)
Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part I: The Beginning Story (Movie, October 2012)
Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part II: The Eternal Story (Movie, October 2012)
Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: The Rebellion Story (Movie, October 2013)
Puella Magi Madoka Magica Concept Movie (December 2015)
Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko (TV, April 2011)
Katte ni Kaizō (OVA, May 2011 - October 2011)
Sasami-san@Ganbaranai (TV, January 2013)
Nisekoi series
Nisekoi (TV, January 2014)
Nisekoi: (TV, April 2015)
Mekakucity Actors (TV, April 2014)
Gourmet Girl Graffiti (TV, January 2015)
March Comes in Like a Lion series
March Comes in Like a Lion (TV, October 2016)
March Comes in Like a Lion: Second Season (TV, October 2017)
Zaregoto series
Kubikiri Cycle (OVA, October 2016-June 2017)
Fate/Extra Last Encore (TV, 2018)
Yume kara, Samenai (OVA, 1987)
Arcade Gamer Fubuki (OVA, 2002)
Kino no Tabi: Byouki no Kuni -For You- (Movie, 2007)
Shina Dark (Music Clip DVD, 2008)
Kid Icarus: Uprising -Palutena's Revolting Dinner- (ONA, March 2012)
Magical Suite Prism Nana (2012-2013)
Fate/Extra CCC (Animation Opening Movie, January 2013)
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U (Palutena Character Trailer, June 2014)
Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling (animation production shared with Wang Film Productions and Hanho Heung-Up)
Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors (animation production shared with Sunrise and other studios)
ALF Tales (animation production shared with MOOK DLE)
