Kitty Films
Kitty Films was a Japanese film and animation production company that helped popularize complete home-video collections of television anime.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Kitty Films was a Japanese production company whose activities connected music publishing, live-action cinema, television drama, anime production, and home-video distribution. The business originated in 1972 as Kitty Music Corporation under Hidenori Taga, initially producing soundtracks for television dramas and films. Its first identified soundtrack assignment was for the 1972 film Hajimete no Tabi. During the late 1970s, the company broadened its scope beyond music-related production and entered live-action cinema with works including Almost Transparent Blue and Lady Oscar, the latter adapting Riyoko Ikeda's manga The Rose of Versailles. Kitty's most influential period began in the early 1980s, when it entered television anime production with Urusei Yatsura, based on Rumiko Takahashi's manga. The company subsequently became closely associated with major adaptations of Takahashi's work, including Maison Ikkoku and Ranma ½. Kitty generally acted as a production and rights-holding organization rather than performing all animation internally. Different installments were animated by independent studios: Studio Pierrot handled the first part of Urusei Yatsura, Studio Deen handled much of the later television work and the animation for Maison Ikkoku and Ranma ½, and Madhouse worked on selected Urusei Yatsura projects as well as Legend of the Galactic Heroes and Yawara: A Fashionable Judo Girl!. The company also played an important role in the development of Japanese anime home-video merchandising. In May 1987, it released a limited 50-disc laserdisc collection of Urusei Yatsura. The set sold out rapidly and demonstrated demand for complete series collections, helping encourage other companies to issue television anime in comprehensive laserdisc and later DVD box sets. This was a notable commercial and distribution innovation even though Kitty's underlying business later experienced financial strain. Kitty's finances deteriorated during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Hidenori Taga had used resources from the music business to support the film division, and pressure became especially visible toward the end of the Ranma ½ television run in 1992. Taga stepped down that year in circumstances described in available accounts as involving an unspecified scandal. Shigekazu Ochiai subsequently moved to Pao House Studios. Around 1995, Kitty Enterprise was acquired by PolyGram. Kitty continued to participate in less prominent productions, including Ping Pong Club, but its output declined sharply toward the end of the twentieth century. The company also operated or was associated with Kitty Film Mitaka Studio, a subsidiary animation studio that produced a limited number of anime series and original video animations before being disbanded. Kitty's relationship with Rumiko Takahashi ended after the final Ranma ½ original video animation in 1996; later adaptations of her work were handled by other production organizations and animation studios. Kitty Films was eventually reincorporated as Kitty Group and became primarily associated with talent-agency activities. Most of the Kitty Films library was sold, while the Kitty Records library came under the control of Universal Music Japan. Because the available reference material does not establish a precise present-day corporate status, Kitty Films is best treated as a historical production brand with successor activities rather than as a clearly active standalone film studio.
History
Kitty Films began in 1972 as Kitty Music Corporation, established under Hidenori Taga to produce soundtracks for television dramas and films. Its earliest documented assignment was the soundtrack for Hajimete no Tabi. The company later expanded into live-action production, releasing Almost Transparent Blue and Lady Oscar in 1979. Almost Transparent Blue brought recognition for sound-recording engineer Ken'ichi Benitani, whose work was co-nominated at the 1980 Japan Academy Film Prize ceremony. In 1981, Kitty entered anime production with Urusei Yatsura, a television adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi's manga. Kitty functioned largely as a production, financing, and rights organization, commissioning animation from independent studios. Studio Pierrot animated the early portion of Urusei Yatsura, Studio Deen handled much of the later television series and worked on Maison Ikkoku and Ranma ½, while Madhouse contributed to selected films and later projects including Legend of the Galactic Heroes and Yawara: A Fashionable Judo Girl!. Kitty also participated in international co-productions, including What's Michael? with French partner Créativité et Développement and The Adventures of T-Rex with Gunther-Wahl Productions and Créativité et Développement. The company's most significant distribution innovation was its complete-series home-video strategy. In May 1987, Kitty released a limited 50-disc laserdisc set of Urusei Yatsura. The collection sold out quickly and became an important example of the commercial potential of comprehensive anime box sets. Other companies later adopted similar approaches for laserdisc and DVD releases. Despite its creative and distribution successes, Kitty encountered financial difficulties. Taga had supported the film division with funds from the music business, and the financial strain became particularly serious around 1992, near the conclusion of the Ranma ½ television series. Taga stepped down that year amid an unspecified scandal. Shigekazu Ochiai transferred to Pao House Studios. Around 1995, PolyGram acquired Kitty Enterprise. The company continued with smaller projects such as Ping Pong Club, but its production activity declined substantially by the end of the century. Kitty Film Mitaka Studio served as an affiliated animation studio and produced a small number of series and original video animations before being disbanded. After the final Ranma ½ OVA in 1996, Rumiko Takahashi's subsequent anime projects were produced through other organizations and studios. Kitty Films was later reincorporated as Kitty Group and became mainly associated with talent-agency operations. Most Kitty Films library rights were sold, while the Kitty Records catalog came under Universal Music Japan. The available sources do not establish whether a separate Kitty Films production company remains active today.
- 1996
Final Ranma ½ OVA association
[1]The final Ranma ½ original video animation marks the end of Kitty's known collaboration with Rumiko Takahashi on that franchise.
- 1995
Acquisition by PolyGram
[1]Kitty Enterprise is purchased by PolyGram.
- 1992
Leadership change amid financial pressure
[1]Financial difficulties intensify, and Hidenori Taga leaves the company in circumstances associated by reference accounts with an unspecified scandal.
- 1987
Complete Urusei Yatsura laserdisc collection
[1]Kitty releases a limited 50-disc collection, helping establish the appeal of complete anime-series box sets.
- 1981
Urusei Yatsura begins
[1]Kitty enters anime production with the television adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi's Urusei Yatsura.
- 1980
Japan Academy sound-recording nomination
[1]Ken'ichi Benitani's sound-recording work on Almost Transparent Blue is co-nominated for an Outstanding Achievement in Sound Recording award.
- 1979
Expansion into live-action cinema
[1]Kitty branches into live-action production with Almost Transparent Blue and Lady Oscar.
- 1972
Kitty Music Corporation is established
[1]The company is founded under Hidenori Taga and begins by producing soundtracks for television dramas and films.
Products and positioning
A Japanese production and rights-management company known for combining soundtrack production, live-action filmmaking, anime production, and pioneering complete-series home-video releases. Its strongest cultural association is with television anime adapted from Rumiko Takahashi's manga.
Television anime and home video · 1981
Urusei Yatsura
Kitty's entry point into major anime production was this television adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi's manga. The series was animated by Studio Pierrot during its early portion and Studio Deen later. Kitty's 1987 50-disc laserdisc release was an important early complete-series collection and became a defining example of its home-video strategy.
Television anime
Maison Ikkoku
Kitty was associated with most of the animated adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi's Maison Ikkoku. Studio Deen handled the animation, while Kitty participated on the production and rights side.
Television anime and original video animation
Ranma ½
Kitty produced most of the animated versions of Ranma ½, including the television series and associated OVAs. The franchise represented one of Kitty's most prominent late periods before financial pressure and declining output affected the company.
Live-action film · 1979
Almost Transparent Blue
A 1979 live-action film that formed part of Kitty's move beyond soundtrack production. Its sound recording, credited to Ken'ichi Benitani, received a co-nomination at the 1980 Japan Academy Film Prize ceremony.
Live-action film · 1979
Lady Oscar
A 1979 live-action adaptation of Riyoko Ikeda's manga The Rose of Versailles and one of Kitty's early film-production projects.
Anime series
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
An anime project associated with Kitty for which Madhouse provided animation services. Kitty's role reflected its model of organizing productions through external animation studios.
Television anime
Yawara: A Fashionable Judo Girl!
A television anime project animated by Madhouse and associated with Kitty's broader anime-production portfolio.
International co-production · 1988
What's Michael?
A 1988 television co-production with France's Créativité et Développement. Animation services were provided by K.K. C&D Asia and Daume.
International co-production · 1992
The Adventures of T-Rex
A 1992 co-production involving Gunther-Wahl Productions of the United States and Créativité et Développement of France, with animation services by Madhouse.
Controversies
1992
Unspecified scandal surrounding Hidenori Taga's departure
Reference accounts state that Hidenori Taga stepped down in 1992 amid an unspecified scandal, during a period when Kitty was also experiencing serious financial difficulties. The available material does not identify the allegations or provide enough detail to characterize the event further.
Brand decisions
1995
Sale of Kitty Enterprise to PolyGramM&ABackground
Kitty was facing financial pressure and its production output was beginning to contract.
Action taken
Kitty Enterprise was purchased by PolyGram.
Aftermath
Kitty continued with a smaller number of productions before later being reincorporated as Kitty Group and focusing mainly on talent-agency activities.
1987
Adopt complete-series laserdisc packagingStrategyBackground
Anime television series were commonly distributed in installments rather than as one comprehensive home-video set.
Action taken
Kitty released a limited 50-disc collection of Urusei Yatsura.
Aftermath
The collection sold out quickly and helped demonstrate demand for complete anime series, influencing later laserdisc and DVD box-set strategies.
Recent events
- 1999
Kitty's output declines toward the end of the twentieth century[1]
Other
After productions such as Ping Pong Club, the company's output diminished to almost nothing by the end of the twentieth century.
- 1995
PolyGram acquires Kitty Enterprise[1]
M&A
Kitty Enterprise was purchased by PolyGram as Kitty's production activity was contracting.
- 1987
Kitty releases a complete Urusei Yatsura laserdisc collection[1]
Product launch
The company issued a limited 50-disc collection covering Urusei Yatsura. Its rapid sellout helped demonstrate the market for complete television-anime collections.
- 1981
Kitty Films enters anime production with Urusei Yatsura[1]
Product launch
Kitty began its major anime-production phase with the television adaptation of Rumiko Takahashi's Urusei Yatsura. Animation was supplied by independent studios, initially Studio Pierrot and later Studio Deen.
- 1980
Almost Transparent Blue receives Japan Academy sound-recording nomination[1]
Other
Sound recording by Ken'ichi Benitani for Kitty's Almost Transparent Blue was co-nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Recording at the third Japan Academy Film Prize ceremony.
Sources2 sources
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