Tatsunoko Production

Template:NihongoTemplate:Efn is a Japanese animation studio headquartered at the Musaino YS Building in Nakacho, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan that was founded on October 19, 1962 by manga author Tatsuo Yoshida and his brothers Kenji Yoshida and Ippei Kuri, originally as a manga studio before entering into animation production three years later as the studio produced its first television series, an original work titled Space Ace and since then, the studio later produced several numerous anime series, such as Speed Racer, Gatchaman, The Genie Family, the Time Bokan series, Samurai Pizza Cats, Casshan, The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee, Superbook among others and holds numerous original rights and character copyrights for its original works in Japan and abroad.<ref name="yomiuri20221003"/><ref name="postseven20220921">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ntv20140129"/>

The studio is responsible for the planning and production of anime films and television series, as well as character licensing.<ref name="ntv20140129">Template:Cite web</ref>

The company is one of Japan's leading anime studios in terms of the breadth and richness of its content, ranging from hard action heroes to comedies, science fiction, anthropomorphic animals, and domestic dramas.<ref name="gigazineinfinitforce">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="yomiuri20221003">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="citrus62052">Template:Cite web</ref>

Although the company later began producing works set in Japan, it has basically aimed from its inception to produce works that can be used anywhere in the world in a stateless manner.<ref name="yomiuri20221003"/>

In the genealogy of animation studios in the history of Japanese animation, Tatsunoko is known as the studio that created many derivative studios along with Toei Animation, Mushi Production, and Tokyo Movie (currently TMS Entertainment).<ref name="animetudes">https://animetudes.com/2022/01/22/the-history-of-tatsunoko-1-early-days/%7Cwebsite= AniméTudes</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the past, Tatsunoko had a production system in which almost all processes, from planning to scriptwriting, drawing, cinematography, and editing, were completed in-house. The company continued to use this system for a long time after Toei Animation and Mushi Production, which had a similar production system, became unsustainable due to streamlining and bankruptcy.<ref name="gigazineinfinitforce"/><ref name="kyoto-seika_oshii">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Efn

Initially, founder Tatsuo Yoshida tried to establish his studio's own style with realistic drawings that accurately depicted muscles and skeletons.<ref name="postseven20220921"/><ref name="akiba47556">Template:Cite web</ref> At that time, it was common knowledge that animation was to be abbreviated or deformed, and that pictures were to be simplified as much as possible to show movement.<ref name="akiba47556"/><ref name="mynavisasagawa">Template:Cite web</ref> Even Mushi Production and Disney used to draw the car so that when it starts, it first contracts like rubber and then jumps out like a bullet due to the recoil, and when it stops, it contracts once due to braking and then extends and returns to its original state.<ref name="akiba47556"/><ref name="mynavisasagawa"/> However, Tatsuo Yoshida insisted on realistic animation and produced Mach GoGoGo.<ref name="gigazineinfinitforce"/><ref name="animeanime42378">Template:Cite web</ref> For the scene where the car spins, he rented a driving school and had the driver actually demonstrate the spin with the car, and had the animators draw the scene without deforming it by referring to the demonstration.<ref name="akiba47556"/><ref name="mynavisasagawa"/><ref name="akiba33316">Template:Cite web</ref> It was so well received that it became the studio's origin and led to subsequent realistic, hard-action works.<ref name="yomiuri20221003"/> However, Yoshida's drawings, with their many lines, precision, and sharpness, were unsuitable for animation, which required many drawings of the same picture, and were difficult for other animators to imitate.<ref name="yomiuri20221003"/><ref name="akiba33316"/> Most animators refused to participate in the production, and the company's schedule was on the verge of collapse. However, the company was able to get through the busy season when a comedy with a simple design happened to enter the production rotation.<ref name="akiba47556"/> This allowed the company to learn how to run a studio that alternated between serious action animation with detailed drawings and comedy animation with simple drawings using deformation, resulting in a wide range of styles.<ref name="postseven20220921"/>

After 43 years running as an independent studio, an 88% stake of the studio was purchased by Takara on June 30, 2005 a year prior to its merger with Template:Ill to form Takara Tomy.<ref name=Takara>Template:Cite web</ref> Nippon Television Holdings, the parent company of Japanese television broadcaster Nippon Television purchased the studio in a share swap with Tomy in 2014.<ref name="ntv20140129"/>

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.<ref name="cbr">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="japantimes20080703">Template:Cite news</ref>

History

The studio was founded in October 1962 by mangaka and anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, and his two younger brothers, Kenji, who managed Tatsuo, and Toyoharu (better known by his pen name "Ippei Kuri"), a manga artist, at Tatsuo's own house.<ref name="cbr"/><ref name="yomiuri20221003"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It initially began as a production company specializing in manga to manage the copyrights of Tatsuo Yoshida's manga and his assistants.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, at that time, the broadcast of Astro Boy, Japan's first domestically produced anime television series produced by Osamu Tezuka's Mushi Production, had just begun, and the manga artist community was abuzz.<ref name="gigazineinfinitforce"/> Tatsuo Yoshida became interested in anime production after hearing from Hiroshi Sasagawa, a manga artist who had worked as Tezuka's assistant,Template:Efn and Tatsunoko set out to produce anime.<ref name="yomiuri20221003"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tatsuo saw that more and more people were buying televisions in the early 1960s and predicted that they would demand higher quality anime program in the future, so he decided to provide it to them.<ref name="cbr"/> Just around that time, Toei Animation, having heard of Tatsuo's hopes, invited Tatsunoko to produce an anime TV series.<ref name="dotasahi112906">Template:Cite web</ref> It was a good deal for Tatsunoko, which was entrusted with the original story, script, and direction, while Toei worked on the subsequent inbetweening, finishing, cinematography, etc., and Toei trained animators over a three-month period, with Tatsunoko staff, including Tatsuo and Sasagawa, also able to participate in training.<ref name="akiba47556"/> However, the negotiations broke down due to copyright issues, so Tatsunoko decided to produce an original work on its own. They bought a plot of land in Kokubunji, cleared out a wooded area, and built a prefab house, which became an improvised animation studio.<ref name="akiba47556"/><ref name="mynavisasagawa"/>Template:Efn As for animators, Tatsunoko had three manga artists, Tatsuo, Kuri, and Sasagawa, and about 10 assistants to Tatsuo, so they were confident that they could manage, but most of them refused, saying that they wanted to be manga artists, not to make animation. Having no choice, Tatsunoko placed an advertisement in the newspaper looking for animators and trained 50 amateurs from all over the country based on their training experience at Toei.<ref name="gigazineinfinitforce"/><ref name="akiba47556"/><ref name="dotasahi112906"/> In addition, art director Mitsuki Nakamura from Toei Animation and screenwriter Jinzō Toriumi from Nikkatsu transferred to the company to provide immediate assistance.<ref name="mynavisasagawa"/>Template:Efn Tatsunoko didn't have any experience yet, so they produced a 15-minute pilot and pitched it to TV stations.<ref name="akiba47556"/>

In 1965, Tatsunoko's first TV anime series, Space Ace, began broadcasting.<ref name="yomiuri20221003"/><ref name="dotasahi112906"/> The series became popular and successful. Tatsuo was so pleased with the success that he immediately began work on the next series.<ref name="citrus62052"/><ref name="dotasahi112906"/>

In 1967, Tatsunoko's second TV animation series Mach GoGoGo began broadcasting.<ref name="mynavisasagawa"/> Not only was it repeatedly reran in Japan, but it was also exported overseas. In the United States in particular, it was dubbed into English and broadcast under the title Speed Racer and became very popular, paving the way for syndication around the world.<ref name="japantimes20080703"/><ref name="mynavisasagawa"/> This was Tatsunoko's first full-color production.<ref name="cbr"/><ref name="asagei271789">Template:Cite web</ref> At the time, color TVs were not widely available in Japan, and most households watched TV programs in black and white, but Tatsunoko dared to produce this series in full color, assuming from the start that it would be broadcast in the United States.<ref name="asagei271789"/> This was due to Tatsuo's desire to move pictures like American comic books and create American-style animation, as well as for financial reasons.<ref name="animeanime42378"/> The funds from commercial TV stations and sponsors were not enough to cover the production costs, so Tatsunoko decided that the only way to complete the series was to sell it in the United States. They chose car racing as their theme because their target the U.S. was a car society.<ref name="asagei271789"/> However, due to sloppy work by the Japanese intermediaries, Tatsunoko profited little from its worldwide success and received no tribute beyond a mention in the credits of a later live-action film.<ref name="japantimes20080703"/>

In 1972, Science Ninja Team Gatchaman began broadcasting. Tatsuo demanded thorough realism in the works he led. Although the results were excellent, the animators were reluctant to take on the next series because of the increased number of animation cells and the time and effort required to draw them. Tatsunoko therefore recruited and trained new animators and introduced them to this series.<ref name="dotasahi112906"/> The series was a huge hit and related merchandise sold well. Thanks to the copyright income, Tatsunoko was finally on track to recoup its production costs and make a profit. Therefore, from then on, Tatsunoko began to actively introduce mecha in its works for toy manufacturers.<ref name="akiba47556"/> Outside of Japan, independent TV program packager Sandy Frank has acquired the rights to syndicate Gatchaman worldwide except in Asia. He altered the series by cutting action scenes to meet U.S. broadcast codes, changing the dialogue to take advantage of the popularity of the then hit Star Wars and changing the setting of the work to outer space, and also changed the title to Battle of the Planets. The series was broadcast in the U.S. and around the world, and he profited considerably from its merchandising. However, Tatsunoko did not profit from the series because they gave him the overseas copyrights.<ref name="cbr"/>

In 1975, Time Bokan, the first of the Time Bokan series, began broadcasting. This series, which added an element of comedy to the action that had already become Tatsunoko's signature, lasted for eight years and became a new Tatsunoko masterpiece.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

At that time, Hiroshi Sasagawa, who excelled at comedies, and Hisayuki Toriumi, who had a hard, serious style, supported Tatsunoko's heyday in the 1970s as the two signatures.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Also during this period, Tatsunoko was trying to bring up university-educated directors in-house, following the example of Toei Doga, instead of hiring directors from outside the company. Those were Mizuho Nishikubo, Kōichi Mashimo, Hidehito Ueda, and Mamoru Oshii.<ref name="kyoto-seika_oshii"/><ref name="gigazine20190411">Template:Cite web</ref>

On September 5, 1977, Tatsuo Yoshida died of liver cancer. Kenji Yoshida was appointed as the second president and would stay on for the studio's later years.<ref name="cbr"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Around that time, Tatsunoko's production site was on the verge of collapse due to busyness and lack of funds, and there was a steady flow of personnel out of the company, particularly members from the pioneering period.<ref name="kyoto-seika_oshii"/>Template:SfnTemplate:Efn

In 1978, Tatsunoko Anime Technology Research Institute, an animator training institution, was established.

In 1982, Tatsunoko produced Super Dimension Fortress Macross, the first in the Super Dimension series. Macross was a project by Studio Nue that was adopted by Template:Ill, an advertising agency, which secured broadcast slots for sponsors and commercial broadcasters. However, Nue was not capable of producing animation, so Artland, which was headed by director Noboru Ishiguro, was assigned to produce the series. However, Artland, a subcontractor, was deemed insufficiently capable, and Tatsunoko took over as the prime contractor, placing orders with Artland and its own subsidiary, Anime Friend.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later, however, Bigwest produced a sequel, Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II: Lovers Again, without Tatsunoko or Studio Nue, and in response, Tatsunoko signed a contract with Harmony Gold USA without the consent of Bigwest and Nue, resulting in a dispute over intellectual property rights.<ref name="magmix224546">Template:Cite web</ref> In Japan, Tatsunoko sued Bigwest and Studio Nue over copyright and won, but conversely lost a lawsuit filed by them over character and mecha design. As a result of the trial, it was decided that Tatsunoko Productions would retain ownership of the film of the work, but that the designs would be shared by Bigwest and Studio Nue. Meanwhile, overseas, Harmony Gold USA, which had obtained the license, adapted and broadcast several Tatsunoko works as a single epic Robotech series depicting different eras and generations in the same world. Bigwest and Harmony Gold had different claims over the rights to the Macross and Robotech series for many years, and Macross was not developed for business worldwide and Robotech in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, in 2021, the two companies announced an agreement regarding worldwide rights to the Macross and Robotech series from that point forward.<ref name="macross18862">Template:Cite news</ref> This will allow the Macross series to be developed globally and confirms that Bigwest does not object to the release of a live-action Robotech movie in Japan.<ref name="macross18862"/> In addition, an exclusive worldwide license outside of Japan to use Macross characters and mecha in the Robotech series approved by Tatsunoko for Harmony Gold through 2021 has been ratified.<ref name="macross18862"/>Template:Efn

In 1987, Kenji Yoshida retired from Tatsunoko Production, and Ippei Kuri became the third president. Kenji established a new production company, Yū Entertainment.

In December of the same year, Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, together with the Tatsunoko Production Branch Office, which consisted mainly of staff who had participated in Zillion, became independent and established IG Tatsunoko Ltd. (now Production I.G).<ref name="natalie559014_1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="animeanime47064_1">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Efn

In 1990, Tatsunoko Anime Technology Research Institute led by Koji Sugii became independent and participated in the establishment of Animation 21.

In 1995, Kenji Yoshida returned to Tatsunoko Production and became its first chairman.

Since the 1990s, Tatsunoko has brought back former key staff members, including Hiroshi Sasagawa, who had left the company, and has been producing mainly remakes of older works.

On June 3, 2005, major toy manufacturer Takara acquired a 88% stake in the studio from the Yoshida family, making the company a consolidated subsidiary of Takara.<ref name=Takara/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following this, Kenji Yoshida and Ippei Kuri resigned from their posts, and the entire Yoshida family, including executives, left the studio.

In the same year, Tatsuo Yoshida was posthumously awarded the Special Achievement Award as one of the 20 People Who Made Japanese Animation at the Tokyo Anime Award held at the Tokyo International Anime Fair.

In 2010, Production I.G. acquired 11.2% of Tatsunoko's outstanding shares. Additionally, Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, president of Production I.G and IG Port, becomes non-executive director of Tatsunoko Production.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2013, Horipro acquired 13.5% of the shares, making it the second largest shareholder (at the time) after Takara Tomy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the same year, the company changed its name from Template:Nihongo (written in kanji) to Template:Nihongo (written in katakana). At the same time, the head office was relocated from Kokubunji City, Tokyo to Musashino City, and the dispersed corporate functions were consolidated.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

At Anime Expo 2013, Sentai Filmworks announced a deal to license and release some of Tatsunoko's titles, including the Gatchaman series and Casshan in North America.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2014, Nippon Television Holdings acquired 54.3% of the outstanding shares held by Takara Tomy and made Tatsunoko Production a subsidiary, structured as a sales swap. Takara Tomy continued to hold a 20% stake in the company and maintained the partnership.<ref name="ntv20140129"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2019, Tatsunoko founded a new label, Bakken Record.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the same year, four people associated with Tatsunoko received the Achievement Award at the Tokyo Anime Award: Kunio Okawara, Akiyoshi Sakai, Hisayuki Toriumi, and Tsuneo Ninomiya.<ref name="gigazine20190411"/>

Representative directors

• Tatsuo Yoshida (1962–1977)
• Kenji Yoshida (1977–1987)
• Ippei Kuri (1987–2005)
• Kouki Narushima (2005–2010)
• Keita Satou (2010–2012)
• Shuuichirou Tanaka (2012–2014)<ref>タツノコプロ 新社長に田中修一郎氏 タカラトミー発表 アニメ!アニメ!ビズ 2012年2月27日</ref>
• Yuuzou Kuwahara (2014–2019)
• Daisuke Kadoya (2019–2022)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Kyou Itou (2022–present)<ref name="company_202206">Template:Cite web</ref>

Major people from Tatsunoko

• Yoshitaka Amano (Character designer, illustrator)
• Kenji Horikawa (Producer, founder of Bee Train Production & P.A. Works)
• Mitsuhisa Ishikawa (Producer, founder of Production I.G)
• Takao Koyama (Scriptwriter)
• Koichi Mashimo (Anime director, founder of Bee Train Production)
• Mitsuki Nakamura (Art director, mecha designer, founder of Design Office Mekaman)
• Koji Nanke (Animation artist)
• Toshihiko Nishikubo (Mizuho Nishikubo) (Animation artist, animation director)
• Yuji Nunokawa (Producer, founder of Pierrot)
• Shigekazu Ochiai (Anime producer)
• Kunio Okawara (Mecha designer, founder of Design Office Mekaman)
• Mamoru Oshii (Anime director, film director)
• Hiroshi Sasagawa (Anime director)
• Akemi Takada (Character designer, illustrator)
• Tomoyuki Miyata (Producer, founder of J.C.Staff)
• Hisayuki Toriumi (Anime director, scriptwriter, novelist, founder of Pierrot)
• Jinzo Toriumi (Scriptwriter)
• Hidehito Ueda (Anime director)

Main productions

1960s

Title	Series director	Broadcast network(s)	Year(s)	Notes
Space Ace (Uchuu Ace)	Hiroshi Sasagawa	Fuji TV	May 8, 1965 – April 28, 1966	Tatsunoko's first ever animated TV serial; adapted from the original manga by Tatsuo Yoshida that was serialized in Shueisha's Shonen Book magazine
Mach GoGoGo (Speed Racer) (original)		Fuji TV	April 2, 1967 – March 31, 1968	Tatsunoko's first animated TV serial to be produced in color; adapted from the original manga by Tatsuo Yoshida that was serialized in Shueisha's Shonen Book magazine
Oraa Guzura Dado (original)		Fuji TV	October 7, 1967 – September 25, 1968
Dokachin the Primitive Boy (or simply, "Dokachin")	Seitarō Hara, Hiroshi Sasagawa	Fuji TV	October 2, 1968 – March 26, 1969
Kurenai Sanshiro	Ippei Kuri	Fuji TV	April 2 – September 24, 1969	Adapted from two manga serials by Tatsuo Yoshida that were serialized in Shueisha's Shonen Book from 1961 to 1962, and Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday and Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump from 1968 to 1969
Hakushon Daimaō	Hiroshi Sasagawa	Fuji TV	October 5, 1969 – September 27, 1970	Adapted into Bob in a Bottle by Saban Entertainment in 1992

1970s

Title	Series director	Broadcast network(s)	Year(s)	Notes
Honeybee Hutch (Mitsubachi Monogatari Minashigo Hacchi and La Abeja Hutch)	Ippei Kuri	Fuji TV	April 7, 1970 – September 8, 1971
Inakappe Taishō	Hiroshi Sasagawa	Fuji TV	October 4, 1970 – September 24, 1972	Adapted from the manga by Noboru Kawasaki, which was serialized in Shogakukan's Gakkushu Zasshi educational magazines for Japanese schoolchildren
Kabatotto		Fuji TV	January 1, 1971 – September 30, 1972
Animentari Ketsudan	Ippei Kuri	Nippon TV	April 3 – September 25, 1971	Dramatic adaptation of the Japanese Empire's role in the Second World War
Mokku of the Oak Tree	Seitaro Hara	Fuji TV	January 4, 1972 – January 1, 1973	A daptation of Italian novelist Carlo Collodi's 1881 novel, The Adventures of Pinocchio
Science Ninja Team Gatchaman	Hisayuki Toriumi	Fuji TV	October 1, 1972 – September 29, 1974	Adapted for western audiences by Sandy Frank Entertainment into Battle of the Planets in 1978, by Sandy Frank and Turner Entertainment into G-Force: Guardians of Space in 1986, and by Saban Entertainment into Eagle Riders in 1996
Tamagon the Counselor	Hiroshi Sasagawa	Fuji TV	1972 – 1973
Kerokko Demetan		Fuji TV	January 2 – September 25, 1973	Adapted for western audiences by Harmony Gold USA as an animated film The Brave Frog in 1985
Neo Human Casshan		Fuji TV	October 2, 1973 – June 25, 1974	A notable source of inspiration for Keiji Inafune who went on to be the artistic director for the Mega Man franchise for CapcomTemplate:Citation needed
New Honeybee Hutch	Seitaro Hara	NET	April 4 – September 27, 1974	Sequel to 1970's Honeybee Hutch
Hurricane Polymar	Hisayuki Toriumi	NET	October 4, 1974 – March 28, 1975
Tentomushi no Uta	Hiroshi Sasagawa	Fuji TV	October 6, 1974 – September 26, 1976	Adapted from Noboru Kawasaki's manga of the same name that was serialized in Shogakukan's Gakkushu Zasshi educational magazines from 1973 to 1975
Space Knight Tekkaman	Hiroshi Sasagawa, Hisayuki Toriumi	NET	July 2 – December 24, 1975
Time Bokan	Hiroshi Sasagawa	Fuji TV	October 4, 1975 – December 25, 1976	First entry in Tatsunoko's Time Bokan Series
Gowappa 5 Gōdam	Hisayuki Toriumi	ABC	April 4 – December 29, 1976
Paul's Miraculous Adventure	Hiroshi Sasagawa	Fuji TV	October 3, 1976 – September 11, 1977
The Time Bokan Series: Yatterman		Fuji TV	January 1, 1977 – January 27, 1979	Second installment of the Time Bokan Series
Ippatsu Kanta-kun		Fuji TV	September 18, 1977 – September 24, 1978	First of Tatsuo Yoshida's original works to be produced posthumously; he died of liver cancer on September 5, 1977, 13 days before the first episode aired
Temple the Balloonist	Seitaro Hara	Fuji TV	October 1, 1977 – March 25, 1978	Second and last of Tatsuo Yoshida's original works to be produced posthumously
Template:Ill		Tokyo Channel 12	October 5, 1977 – March 29, 1978	Co-production with Toei Company, another rare instance where Toei used another studio for its production, rather than its own Toei Animation studio. The only time they would work together with Tatsunoko.
Science Ninja Team Gatchaman II	Hiroshi Sasagawa	Fuji TV	October 1, 1978 – September 23, 1979	Sequel to 1972's Science Ninja Team Gatchaman; adapted into Eagle Riders by Saban Entertainment in 1996; First of Tatsunoko's works to be produced by Kenji Yoshida
The Time Bokan Series: Zenderman	Hiroshi Sasagawa	Fuji TV	February 3, 1979 – January 26, 1980	Third installment of the Time Bokan Series
Lupin the Thief: Enigma of the 813		Fuji TV	May 5, 1979	Made-for-TV anime film; loosely adapted from Maurice Leblanc's 813
Science Ninja Team Gatchaman Fighter	Seitaro Hara	Fuji TV	October 7, 1979 – August 31, 1980	Direct sequel to 1978's Science Ninja Team Gatchaman II; final installment in the Gatchaman franchise until 1994 OVA
Gordian the Warrior	Masamune Ochiai, Kunihiko Okazaki	Tokyo Channel 12	October 7, 1979 – February 27, 1981
Ashinaga Ojisan	Yūichi Higuchi	Fuji TV	October 10, 1979	TV special; adapted from Jean Webster's 1912 novel, Daddy-Long-Legs

1980s

Title	Series director	Broadcast network(s)	Year(s)	Notes
Cheerful Dwarves of the Forest: Belfy and Lillibit	Masayuki Hayashi	Tokyo Channel 12	January 7 – July 7, 1980	Adapted by Saban Entertainment into The Littl' Bits, which ran on the Nick Jr. Channel from 1991 to 1995
The Time Bokan Series: Time Patrol Team Otasukeman	Hiroshi Sasagawa	Fuji TV	February 2, 1980 – January 31, 1981	Fourth installment of the Time Bokan Series
Dashing Warrior Muteking	Seitaro Hara	Fuji TV	September 7, 1980 – September 27, 1981
The Great Navy War: 20,000 Miles of Love	Ippei Kuri	Nippon TV	January 3, 1981	Made-for-TV anime film; loosely adapted from Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, Adapted into English by Harmony Gold as simply Undersea Encounter
The Time Bokan Series: Yattodetaman	Hiroshi Sasagawa	Fuji TV	February 7, 1981 – February 6, 1982	Fifth installment of the Time Bokan Series
Golden Warrior Gold Lightan	Kōichi Mashimo	Tokyo Channel 12	March 1, 1981 – February 18, 1982
Superbook	Masakazu Higuchi	TV Tokyo	October 1, 1981 - March 25, 1982	Produced in conjunction with the Christian Broadcasting Network
Dash Kappei	Masayuki Hayashi, Seitaro Hara	Fuji TV	October 4, 1981 – December 26, 1982	Adapted from the manga by Noboru Rokuda, which was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday manga magazine from November 1979 to November 1982
The Time Bokan Series: Gyakuten! Ippatsuman	Hiroshi Sasagawa	Fuji TV	February 13, 1982 – March 26, 1983	Sixth installment of the Time Bokan Series
The Flying House	Masakazu Higuchi	TV Tokyo	April 5, 1982 - March 25, 1983	Produced in conjunction with the Christian Broadcasting Network
Mirai Keisatsu Urashiman	Kōichi Mashimo	Fuji TV	January 9 – December 24, 1983	Adapted from the manga by Hirohisa Soda and Noboru Akashi, which was serialized in Akita Shoten's Weekly Shonen Champion manga magazines
Superbook II: In Search for Ruffles and Return to the 20th Century	Masakazu Higuchi	TV Tokyo	April 4 - September 26, 1983	Produced in conjunction with the Christian Broadcasting Network, sequel to Superbook
The Time Bokan Series: Itadakiman	Hiroshi Sasagawa	Fuji TV	April 9 – September 24, 1983	Seventh and final installment of the Time Bokan Series; returned briefly in 1993 as an OVA titled Royal Revival; resumed in 2000 with Kaito Kiramekiman
Genesis Climber MOSPEADA	Katsuhisa Yamada	Fuji TV	October 2, 1983 – March 23, 1984	Adapted by Harmony Gold USA as Robotech: The New Generation in 1985, co-production with Artmic
Starzan S	Hidehito Ueda	Fuji TV	January 7 – August 25, 1984	Adapted from an original concept by Hiroshi Sasagawa
Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross	Yasuo Hasegawa	MBS	April 15 – September 30, 1984	Adapted by Harmony Gold USA into Robotech: The Masters in 1985
Yoroshiku Mechadoc	Hidehito Ueda	Fuji TV	September 1, 1984 – March 30, 1985	Adapted from the manga of the same name by Ryuji Tsugihara, which was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump manga magazine from November 1982 to March 1985
Fire of Alpen Rose: Judy and Randy	Hidehito Ueda	Fuji TV	April 6 – October 5, 1985	Adapted from the manga, Alpen Rose, by Michiyo Akaishi, which was serialized in Shogakukan's Ciao manga magazine for female readers from April 1983 to May 1986
Showa Era Idiot Story Book: Most Refined	Hidehito Ueda	TV Asahi	October 7, 1985 – March 24, 1986	Adapted from the manga of the same name by Yuu Azuki, which was serialized in Shueisha's Margaret manga magazine for female readers from 1985 to 1987
Shonen Jump Special: Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo	Hiroshi Sasagawa	Anime Film; Shown at 1985 Shonen Jump Film Festival	November 23, 1985	Adapted from the manga of the same name by Osamu Akimoto, which was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump manga magazine from October 1976 to September 2016; presented as a double feature with Shonen Jump Special: Kimagure Orange Road, which was animated by Studio Pierrot
The Legend of Hikari	Tomomi Mochizuki	ABC	May 3 – September 20, 1986	Adapted from the manga of the same name by Izumi Aso, which was serialized in Shueisha's Ribon manga magazine for female readers from 1985 to December 1988
Doteraman	Shinya Sadamitsu	NTV	October 14, 1986 – February 24, 1987	Tatsunoko's first TV anime to be broadcast on NTV in 15 years since Animentary Ketsudan
Red Photon Zillion	Mizuho Nishikubo	NTV	April 12 – December 13, 1987	After the production of the anime, Tatsunoko Production and Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, the producer of Zillion, established IG Tatsunoko (which later became Production I.G) to obstruct the dispersing of the excellent staffs of Tatsunoko branch which had done actual production. Therefore, Zillion is considered to be Production I.G's first work.
Oraa Guzura Dado	Hiroshi Sasagawa	TV Tokyo	October 12, 1987 – September 20, 1988	Color remake of the 1967 series
Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato	Mizuho Nishikubo	TV Tokyo	April 6, 1989 – January 18, 1990	Adapted from the manga of the same name by Hiroshi Kawamoto, which was serialized in Shonen Gahosha's Shonen King manga magazine from February to September 1988
Konchū Monogatari: Minashigo Hutch	Iku Suzuki	NTV	July 21, 1989 – August 31, 1990	Modern remake of the 1970 anime Honeybee Hutch

1990s

Title	Series director	Broadcast network(s)	Year(s)	Notes
Kyatto Ninden Teyandee	Kunitoshi Okajima	TV Tokyo	February 1, 1990 – February 12, 1991	Adapted into English by Saban Entertainment as Samurai Pizza Cats in 1991; a Sequel series known as Kyatto Keisatsu Beranmee (or Crime Stoppin' Cats) was planned, but was mysteriously cancelled for unknown reasonsTemplate:Citation needed
The Great Adventure of Robin Hood	Kōichi Mashimo	NHK	July 29, 1990 – October 28, 1992	Adapted from the English folktale Robin Hood; also Tatsunoko's first anime to be broadcast on the government-owned NHK network.
Shurato: Dark Genesis	Yoshihisa Matsumoto	OVA	August 1991 – March 1992	Sequel to Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato
Space Knight Tekkaman Blade	Hiroshi Negishi	TV Tokyo	February 18, 1992 – February 2, 1993	1992 reboot of 1975's Space Knight Tekkaman, adapted by Saban Entertainment and Media Blasters into English as Teknoman
The Irresponsible Captain Tylor	Kōichi Mashimo	TV Tokyo	January 25 – July 19, 1993	Adapted from the light novel series of the same name by Hitoshi Yoshioka, which was serialized in Fujimi Shobo's Fujimi Fantasia Bunko magazines from January 1989 to January 1996
Casshan: Robot Hunter	Hiroyuki Fukushima, Masashi Abe, Takashi Watanabe	OVA	August 21, 1993 – February 21, 1994	1993 remake of 1973's Neo-Human Casshan; co-produced by Artmic and Gainax
Time Bokan: Royal Revival	Hiroshi Sasagawa, Akiyuki Shinbo	OVA	November 26, 1993 – January 1, 1994	Direct-to-video installment of Time Bokan Series
The Legend of Snow White	Tsuneo Ninomiya	NHK	April 6, 1994 – March 29, 1995	Adaptation of the German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm
Tekkaman Blade II	Hideki Tonokatsu	OVA	July 21, 1994 – April 21, 1995	Sequel to 1992's Tekkaman Blade
Gatchaman	Akihiko Nishiyama	OVA	October 1, 1994 – April 1, 1995	1994 reboot of 1972's Science Ninja Team Gatchaman; co-produced by Artmic
Dokkan! Robotendon	Hiroshi Sasagawa	TV Tokyo	October 5, 1995 – March 28, 1996
Cinderella Monogatari	Hiroshi Sasagawa	NHK	April 4 – October 3, 1996	Adapted from the fairy tale by Charles Perrault and The Brothers Grimm
Hurricane Polymar: Holy Blood	Akiyuki Shinbo	OVA	September 21, 1996 – February 21, 1997	1996 reboot of 1974's Hurricane Polymar; co-produced by J.C. Staff
Mach GoGoGo	Hiroshi Sasagawa	TV Tokyo	January 9 – September 25, 1997	1997 reboot of 1967's Mach GoGoGo; adapted into English by DiC Entertainment as Speed Racer X in 2002
Generator Gawl	Seiji Mizushima	TV Tokyo	October 6 – December 22, 1998
Seikimatsu Densetsu: Wonderful Tatsunoko Land	Hiroshi Sasagawa	TBS	December 31, 1999	TV special

2000s

Title	Series director / Genre	Broadcast network(s) / Platform(s)	Year(s)	Notes
Tatsunoko Fight	Electronics Application (Eleca)	PSX	October 5, 2000	Video game featuring an exclusive character, Denkou Senka Volter
Time Bokan 2000: Kaitou Kiramekiman	Hidehito Ueda	TV Tokyo	April 5, 2000 – September 27, 2000
The SoulTaker	Akiyuki Shinbo	WOWOW	April 4, 2001 – July 4, 2001
Yobarete Tobidete Akubi-chan	Hiroshi Sagasawa	TV Tokyo	December 11, 2001 – March 26, 2002	Spin-off of The Genie Family
Nurse Witch Komugi	Yasuhiro Takemoto & Yoshitomo Yonetani	OVA	August 8, 2002 – April 2, 2004	Co-production with Kyoto Animation; spin-off of The SoulTaker
Fate/stay night	Visual novel	PC	January 30, 2004	Video game; Opening animations
Karas	Keiichi Sato	OVA	March 25, 2005 – August 3, 2007	Tatsunoko's 40th anniversary work; combined into a two-part film in the west by Manga Entertainment
Akubi Girl	Hiroshi Sagasawa	TV Tokyo	2006	Remake to Yobarete Tobidete Akubi-chan
Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles	Tommy Yune, Dong-Wook Lee & Yeun-Sook Seo	Movie	January 5, 2007	co-production with Harmony Gold USA
Fate/stay night Réalta Nua	Visual novel	PS2	April 19, 2007	Video game; Opening animations
Yatterman	Template:Ubl	ytv, NTV	January 14, 2008 – September 27, 2009	Remake of 1977 television series
Casshern Sins	Shigeyasu Yamauchi	MBS	October 1, 2008 – March 15, 2009	Re-imaging of the 1973 series; Animation production by Madhouse
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes	Fighting	Wii	December 11, 2008	Video game; Tatsunoko also animated Cross Generation's opening and anime cutscenes.

2010s

• Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars (Nintendo Wii) (January 26, 2010)
• Hutch the Honeybee: Yuki no Melody (2010; co-production with Group TAC)
• Yozakura Quartet: Hoshi no Umi (2010; co-production with KMMJ Studios)
• Princess Resurrection (2010; remake of original TV series)
• [C]: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control (Fuji TV) (2011)
• Sket Dance (TV Tokyo) (2011–2012)
• Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream (TV Tokyo) (2011)
• Pretty Rhythm: Dear My Future (TV Tokyo) (2012–2013; co-production with DongWoo A&E)
• Ippatsu-Hicchuu! Devander (2012; OVA in celebration of Tatsunoko Productions' 50th anniversary)
• Namiuchigiwa no Muromi-san (MBS) (2013)
• Pretty Rhythm: Rainbow Live (TV Tokyo) (2013–2014; co-production with DongWoo A&E)
• Gatchaman Crowds (NTV) (2013)
• Yozakura Quartet: Hana no Uta/Yozakura Quartet: Tsuki ni Naku (2013)
• Triple Combination: Transformers Go! (2013)
• Robotech: Love Live Alive (2013) (Robotech version of the MOSPEADA OVA: Love Live Alive)
• Wake Up, Girls! (2014; co-production with Ordet)
• Ping Pong (Fuji TV) (2014)
• PriPara (TV Tokyo) (2014–2017; co-production with DongWoo A&E)
• Psycho-Pass 2 (Fuji TV) (2014)
• Yatterman Night (YTV) (2015)
• Gatchaman Crowds insight (NTV) (2015)
• PriPara Mi~nna no Akogare Let's Go PriPari (TV Tokyo) (2016)
• Transformers: Combiner Wars (2016; co-production with Hasbro Studios and Machinima Inc.)
• Time Bokan 24 (YTV/NTV) (2016–2017)
• Infini-T Force (NTV) (2017, co-production with Digital Frontier)
• Idol Time PriPara (TV Tokyo) (2017–2018; co-production with DongWoo A&E)
• Transformers: Titans Return (2017–2018; co-production with Hasbro Studios and Machinima Inc.)
• Transformers: Power of the Primes (2018; co-production with Hasbro Studios and Machinima Inc.)
• Kiratto Pri Chan (TV Tokyo) (2018–2021; co-production with DongWoo A&E)
• The Price of Smiles (2019, Tatsunoko's 55th anniversary work)
• King of Prism: Shiny Seven Stars (2019)
• Ninja Box (2019–2020; co-production with C2C)

2020s

• Genie Family 2020 (YTV) (2020, co-production with Nippon Animation)
• Joran: The Princess of Snow and Blood (NTV) (2021)
• Idol Land PriPara (2021)
• Muteking the Dancing Hero (TVO) (2021, co-production with Tezuka Productions)
• Waccha PriMagi! (TV Tokyo) (2021–2022, co-production with DongWoo A&E, the final Pretty Series to date until it was ended on TV in 2022)
• Exception (Netflix) (2022, co-production with 5 Inc.)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Ippon Again! (TV Tokyo) (2023)
• The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel – Northern War (2023)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Pole Princess!! (2023)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Turkey! Time to Strike (NTV) (2025, co-production with Pony Canyon)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• A Gatherer's Adventure in Isekai (2025, co-production with SynergySP)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Giant Ojō-sama (TBA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Co-productions

• Once Upon a Time...Man (1978–1981; produced by Procidis)
• Super Dimension Fortress Macross (MBS) (1982–1983; produced by Studio Nue and Artland)
• Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984; produced by Studio Nue and Artland)
• Genesis Climber MOSPEADA: Love Live Alive (1985; co-production with Artmic)
• Megazone 23 (Additional footage) (1985; produced by AIC and Artland)
• Robotech (1985; co-production with Harmony Gold USA and Big West)
• Robotech II: The Sentinels (1986; co-production with Harmony Gold USA)
• Robotech: The Movie (1986; co-production with Harmony Gold USA, The Idol Company, Artland and Artmic)
• Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Flash Back 2012 (1987; co-production with Studio Nue and Artland)
• Neon Genesis Evangelion (TV Tokyo) (1995–1996; co-production with Gainax)
• Simple 1500 Series Vol. 24: The Gun Shooting (1999; contributed with animated cutscenes)

Anime studios founded by former members

• Ashi Productions/Production Reed (since 1975)
• Artmic (1978–1997) (defunct)
• Pierrot (since 1979)
• J.C.Staff (since 1986)
• Production I.G (since 1987)
• Animation 21 (since the 1990s) (defunct)
• Xebec (1995–2019) (defunct)
• Radix Ace Entertainment (1995–2006) (defunct)
• Bee Train Production (1997-2012) (dormant)
• Actas (since 1998)
• TNK (since 1999)
• A-Line (since 2000)
• P.A. Works (since 2000)
• Yanchester (since 2024)

Sources

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:Official website Template:In lang
• Bakken Record official website Template:In lang
• Template:Anime News Network