Shaft (company)
 | |
| Type | Animation studio |
|---|---|
| Industry | Japanese animation |
| Founded | September 1, 1975 |
| Headquarters | 1-29-15 Kami-Igusa, Suginami, Tokyo, Japan |
| Key people | Mitsutoshi Kubota |
| Website | Shaft official site |
Shaft, Inc. (有限会社シャフト Yūgengaisha Shafuto) is a Japanese animation studio founded on September 1, 1975 by Hiroshi Wakao. They are best known for their 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 series.
History
Shaft was founded on September 1, 1975 by Hiroshi Wakao, former Mushi Production's animator. The company was originally 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. Shaft has some popularity for its "head tilt", as in some productions, characters will tilt their head to sometimes look at someone, turn around, or for no reason at all.
Characteristics
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.
Produced series
Anime TV series
- Juuni Senshi Bakuretsu Eto Ranger (TV, 1995)
- Dotto Koni-chan (TV, 2000)
- Mahoromatic series (joint production with Gainax)
- Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden (TV, 2001)
- Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful (TV, 2002)
- Mahoromatic: Summer Special (OVA, 2003)
- G-On Riders (TV, 2002, joint production with TNK)
- Popotan (TV, 2003)
- This Ugly Yet Beautiful World (TV, 2004, joint production with Gainax)
- Tsukuyomi: Moon Phase (TV, 2004)
- He is My Master (TV, 2005, joint production with Gainax)
- Pani Poni Dash! (TV, 2005)
- Rec (TV, 2006)
- Negima!? (TV, 2006)
- Hidamari Sketch series
- Hidamari Sketch (TV, 2007)
- Hidamari Sketch Special (TV, 2007)
- Hidamari Sketch ×365 (TV, 2008)
- Hidamari Sketch ×365 Special (TV, 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)
- Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei series
- Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei (TV, 2007)
- Zoku Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei (TV, 2008)
- Goku Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei (OVA, 2008-2009)
- Zan Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei (TV, July 2009)
- Zan Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei Bangaichi (OVA, 2009-2010)
- Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two. series
- Ef: A Tale of Memories. (TV, 2007)
- Ef: A Tale of Melodies. (TV, 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)
- Kizumonogatari (Planned Movie)
- Monogatari Series Second Season (TV, July 2013)
- Hanamonogatari (TV, planned 2014)
- 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 Portable (Game, Cutscene animation, March 2012)
- 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: Rebellion (Movie, October 2013)
- Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko (TV, April 2011)
- Sasami-san@Ganbaranai (TV, January 2013[1])
- Nisekoi (TV, January 2014)
- Mekaku City Actors (TV, April 2014[2])
Other works
- Yume kara, Samenai (OVA, 1987)
- Arcade Gamer Fubuki (OVA, 2002)
- Mahō Sensei Negima! event screenings
- Mahō Sensei Negima! Haru (OVA, 2006)
- Mahō Sensei Negima! Natsu (OVA, 2006)
- Kino no Tabi: Byouki no Kuni -For You- (Movie, 2007)
- Shina Dark (Music Clip DVD, 2008)
- Mahō Sensei Negima! OVA series
- Mahō Sensei Negima!: Shiroki Tsubasa Ala Alba (OVA, 2008-2009)
- Mahō Sensei Negima! ~Mou Hitotsu No Sekai~ (OVA, September 2009)
- Katte ni Kaizō (OVA, May 2011 - October 2011)
- Kid Icarus: Uprising -Palutena's Revolting Dinner- (ONA, March 2012)
- Magical Suite Prism Nana (2012-2013)[3][4]
- Fate/Extra CCC (Animation Opening Movie, January 2013)
North American Productions
- 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)
References
- ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-08-10/madoka-magica-shinbo-shaft-animate-sasami-san@ganbaranai
- ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.co.uk/news/2013-08-15/madoka-magica-shinbo-shaft-animate-vocaloid-producer-jin-kagero-project
- ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-08-01/shaft-studio-launches-prism-nana-project-anime
- ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-03-24/magical-suite-prism-nana-slot-machine-shown-in-video
- "Negima!?". (November 2006) Newtype USA. p. 10.
External links
- Official website (Japanese)
- Shaft at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
| |||||||||||
