Bones

Bones was founded in 1998 in Tokyo by Masahiko Minami, Hiroshi Osaka, and Toshihiro Kawamoto, who had previously worked at Sunrise. The founders brought experience in production management, animation direction, character design, and mechanical or action-oriented animation. Rather than functioning solely as a subcontractor, the new company pursued a mixture of original productions, adaptations, and collaborative projects with broadcasters, publishers, distributors, and other production companies. One of the studio's early landmark projects was RahXephon, an original science-fiction television series that demonstrated its interest in elaborate visual worlds and serialized storytelling. Other early projects, including Wolf's Rain and Scrapped Princess, expanded the company's reputation for combining dramatic writing with technically demanding animation. The studio also worked with Sunrise on Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, connecting its new identity with a prominent existing anime property while establishing independent production credentials. Fullmetal Alchemist became the studio's defining early international success. The first television version aired while Hiromu Arakawa's manga was still ongoing and therefore developed an original conclusion. After the manga was completed, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood offered a substantially closer adaptation of the source material. The two series, together with theatrical films and associated releases, gave Bones a durable global audience and helped make the studio name recognizable beyond specialist anime circles. In the following decade, Bones maintained a broad slate. Eureka Seven and its related films and sequels represented a continuing original science-fiction and mecha line. Soul Eater, Ouran High School Host Club, Darker than Black, Star Driver, and several other series showed the studio's ability to work in action, supernatural drama, romance, comedy, and youth-oriented entertainment. The company also developed or used internal production divisions to manage parallel projects and different creative teams. The 2010s brought further international visibility. Space Dandy was notable for its ambitious science-fiction setting and broad participation by prominent animators and directors. The studio produced the anime adaptation of ONE's Mob Psycho 100, whose expressive action and unconventional visual style became central to its reputation. Bones also took on the long-running adaptation of Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia, beginning in 2016. That production became one of the company's most commercially visible properties and expanded through additional seasons, theatrical films, streaming, and licensing. The studio continued with original works such as Carole & Tuesday and Concrete Revolutio, as well as adaptations and franchise sequels. Its output in this period included television series, films, promotional animation, and projects made through production committees. In 2023, Bones produced My Adventures with Superman, an English-language series created for the international market. This project illustrated that the studio's production capabilities could be integrated into a non-Japanese television franchise while retaining Japanese anime production methods and personnel. Bones is privately held and does not routinely disclose detailed corporate financial results. Its operations are tied to individual productions and the broader anime production ecosystem: rights holders, publishers, broadcasters, streaming services, distributors, music companies, theatrical exhibitors, and merchandise licensees. The studio's brand is consequently built less through direct retail operations than through credits, creative reputation, recurring staff collaborations, and the continuing visibility of its animated works. It remains active as an independent Japanese animation studio, although production structures, staff assignments, and affiliated teams may vary by project.

• 2023

  My Adventures with Superman

  [9]My Adventures with Supermanen.wikipedia.org

  Bones produced My Adventures with Superman for an international broadcaster and streaming audience.

• 2019

  Carole & Tuesday

  [8]Carole & Tuesdayen.wikipedia.org

  Bones released Carole & Tuesday, an original music-focused science-fiction television series.

• 2016

  My Hero Academia television adaptation

  [4]My Hero Academiaen.wikipedia.org

  Bones began producing the television adaptation of My Hero Academia.

• 2016

  Mob Psycho 100 adaptation

  [5]Mob Psycho 100en.wikipedia.org

  Bones premiered its adaptation of Mob Psycho 100, which became notable for its expressive animation and action direction.

• 2014

  Space Dandy

  [7]Space Dandyen.wikipedia.org

  Bones produced the original science-fiction series Space Dandy, directed by Shinichiro Watanabe.

• 2009

  Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood announced

  [3]Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhooden.wikipedia.org

  Bones began production of a second Fullmetal Alchemist television adaptation, later known internationally as Brotherhood.

• 2007

  Death of co-founder Hiroshi Osaka

  [1]Bones (studio)en.wikipedia.org

  Hiroshi Osaka, one of the studio's founders and a prominent animator, died in 2007.

• 2003

  Fullmetal Alchemist television series

  [11]Fullmetal Alchemist television seriesen.wikipedia.org

  The first Fullmetal Alchemist television series established Bones as a major producer of internationally distributed anime.

• 2001

  RahXephon begins

  [10]RahXephon beginsen.wikipedia.org

  Bones produced RahXephon, an original science-fiction television project that became one of its early signature works.

• 1998

  Studio founded

  [1]Bones (studio)en.wikipedia.org

  Masahiko Minami, Hiroshi Osaka, and Toshihiro Kawamoto established Bones after working at Sunrise.

A creator-led Japanese animation studio positioned around high-quality television and film animation, distinctive original projects, premium manga and novel adaptations, and internationally distributed franchise productions.

• Television anime and film franchise · 2003

  Fullmetal Alchemist

  Bones produced the first Fullmetal Alchemist television adaptation, the later Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood series, and related animated films. The property follows brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric in a fantasy world shaped by alchemy, military power, and the consequences of forbidden experimentation. The franchise was central to Bones' international recognition and demonstrated the studio's ability to support more than one adaptation of a major manga property.

• Television anime and film franchise · 2016

  My Hero Academia

  Bones produces the television anime adaptation of Kohei Horikoshi's superhero manga. The series follows students training to become professional heroes in a society where superhuman abilities are widespread. Its continuing seasons, theatrical films, international streaming presence, and licensing activity have made it one of Bones' most commercially prominent modern properties.

• Television anime · 2016

  Mob Psycho 100

  Bones produced the television adaptation of ONE's supernatural action comedy about Shigeo 'Mob' Kageyama, a powerful esper attempting to live an ordinary life. The production is noted for energetic layouts, elastic character animation, and visually inventive action sequences. Bones produced three principal television seasons, along with related specials and other animated releases.

• Original science-fiction anime franchise · 2005

  Eureka Seven

  Eureka Seven is an original science-fiction and mecha property created through Bones' production activities. Its story combines coming-of-age drama, romance, airborne robot combat, music, and environmental or political themes. The original television series led to films, sequel projects, and related media, making it one of the studio's most substantial original properties.

• Animated feature film · 2001

  Cowboy Bebop: The Movie

  Produced in cooperation with Sunrise, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie was an early high-profile film project associated with Bones. It extended the world of the Cowboy Bebop television series and gave the newly established studio experience on a major theatrical anime production with demanding action, mechanical, and cinematic animation.

• Original science-fiction television anime · 2014

  Space Dandy

  Space Dandy is an original comedy-adventure series about an eccentric alien hunter traveling across a colorful science-fiction universe. Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe and produced by Bones, it used a highly varied visual approach and brought together numerous distinctive animation directors and artists. The series was distributed internationally during its Japanese broadcast.

• Original music television anime · 2019

  Carole & Tuesday

  Carole & Tuesday is an original series set on a terraformed Mars where two young musicians attempt to build a career together. The project combines science-fiction world-building with a substantial original music program and international vocal talent. It reflects Bones' continuing interest in original properties rather than adaptations alone.

• International animated television series · 2023

  My Adventures with Superman

  My Adventures with Superman is an animated reimagining of the Superman mythos produced for an English-speaking international audience. Bones handled the animation production, working within a Warner Bros. Discovery and Adult Swim project rather than a conventional Japanese manga-adaptation framework. The series broadened the studio's visible international production relationships.

• 2023

  Expansion into an international superhero productionStrategy

  Background

  International animation distributors and studios increasingly commissioned Japanese animation companies for projects outside the traditional manga and Japanese television ecosystem.

  Action taken

  Bones produced My Adventures with Superman for Warner Bros. Discovery and Adult Swim.

  Aftermath

  The project increased the studio's visibility as an international animation production partner beyond Japanese-originated properties.

  Source

• 2016

  My Hero Academia adaptation beginsProduct launch

  Background

  The growing popularity of Kohei Horikoshi's superhero manga created an opportunity for a long-running television adaptation with substantial international licensing potential.

  Action taken

  Bones began producing the My Hero Academia television series and subsequently continued with additional seasons and theatrical films.

  Aftermath

  The property became a major global anime franchise and one of Bones' most visible continuing productions.

  Source

• 2009

  Launch of a second Fullmetal Alchemist adaptationGeneration change

  Background

  The first Fullmetal Alchemist television series had developed an anime-original story because the manga was still being serialized. After the source manga progressed, a new adaptation was commissioned to follow the manga's narrative more closely.

  Action taken

  Bones produced Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, using a new adaptation approach rather than continuing the first television series' original storyline.

  Aftermath

  The series became one of the studio's most internationally recognized productions and reinforced Bones' reputation for large-scale manga adaptations.

  Source

• 2023

  Bones produces My Adventures with Superman[9]My Adventures with Supermanen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Bones produced the Japanese animation for My Adventures with Superman, an international animated series developed for Warner Bros. Discovery and Adult Swim.

• 2022

  Mob Psycho 100 III completes the television adaptation[5]Mob Psycho 100en.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  The third television season of Mob Psycho 100 was produced by Bones, continuing the studio's adaptation of ONE's manga after two internationally successful seasons.

• 2016

  My Hero Academia expands into a major global franchise[4]My Hero Academiaen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Bones began its television adaptation of My Hero Academia, which subsequently developed into a major international anime franchise with multiple seasons, films, games, publishing products, and licensed merchandise.

1. 1Bones (studio)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Bones websitebones.co.jp
3. 3Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhooden.wikipedia.org
4. 4My Hero Academiaen.wikipedia.org
5. 5Mob Psycho 100en.wikipedia.org
6. 6Eureka Sevenen.wikipedia.org
7. 7Space Dandyen.wikipedia.org
8. 8Carole & Tuesdayen.wikipedia.org
9. 9My Adventures with Supermanen.wikipedia.org
10. 10RahXephon beginsen.wikipedia.org
11. 11Fullmetal Alchemist television seriesen.wikipedia.org