Shaft (company)

Shaft, Inc.

Native name	株式会社シャフト
Romanized name	Kabushikigaisha Shafuto
Type	Animation studio
Industry	Japanese animation
Genre	Various
Founded	September 1, 1975 (1975-09-01)
Founder	Hiroshi Wakao
Headquarters	1-29-15 Kami-Igusa, Suginami, Tokyo, Japan
Area served	Japan
Key people	Mitsutoshi Kubota (President) Akiyuki Shinbo (Executive director)
Products	Hidamari Sketch Puella Magi Madoka Magica Monogatari (series) March Comes in like a Lion
Website	www.shaft-web.co.jp

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.

History

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.

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 television series

Theatrical films

OVA

Other works

• Shina Dark (Music Clip DVD, 2008)
• Kid Icarus: Uprising -Palutena's Revolting Dinner- (ONA, March 2012)
• Magical Suite Prism Nana (2012–2013)^[1][2]
• Fate/Extra CCC (Animation Opening Movie, January 2013)
• Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U (Palutena Character Trailer, June 2014)^[3]

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

1. ↑ "Madoka Magica's SHAFT Launches Prism Nana Project Anime". Anime News Network. August 1, 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2016. 
2. ↑ "Magical Suite Prism Nana Slot Machine Shown in Video". Anime News Network. March 24, 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2016. 
3. ↑ Super Smash Bros. official channel (10 June 2014). 【スマブラ3DS・WiiU】 光の女神. YouTube. Retrieved 28 March 2016. 

Sources

• "Negima!?". (November 2006) Newtype USA. p. 10.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shaft (animation studio).

• Official website (in Japanese)
• Shaft at Anime News Network's encyclopedia