Knack Productions

Knack Productions was a Japanese animation and film production company established in 1967 by a group of former employees of Toei Animation and Mushi Production. The studio was created during a period when Japan's television animation industry was expanding rapidly, and it initially concentrated on producing television series. Its first listed television work was Granny Mischief, which premiered in 1970 and was based on a manga by Machiko Hasegawa, the creator of Sazae-san. During the 1970s and 1980s, Knack developed a substantial catalogue of animated television programs aimed at children and general audiences. Its productions included Astroganger, Chargeman Ken!, Don Chuck Monogatari, Groizer X, The Adventures of the Little Prince, Manga Sarutobi Sasuke, Cybot Robotchi, Manga Mitokomon, and Attacker You!. Several of these titles were distributed outside Japan. Attacker You!, a volleyball drama, gained particularly strong popularity in Italy and France. Manga Sarutobi Sasuke and Cybot Robotchi were also edited and released in the United States as direct-to-video features under the titles Ninja the Wonder Boy and Robby the Rascal. The company was associated with a range of creators and industry figures, including Go Nagai, Ken Ishikawa, Kazuyuki Okasako, Masayuki Kojima, Tetsuro Amino, Shun'ichi Yukimuro, Yoshikata Nitta, and Fumio Ikeno. Its work covered original concepts, adaptations, children's comedy, science fiction, sports drama, and literary or historical subjects. Alongside conventional television production, Knack developed a reputation for producing projects quickly and economically. Critics frequently characterized the studio's animation quality as weak and accused some of its programs of borrowing premises or motifs from more successful properties. That reputation later became part of the reception history of Chargeman Ken!, which was rediscovered online and became an object of ironic appreciation because of its limited production values. In the late 1980s, Knack shifted much of its activity from television animation to original video animation. The company also operated under the Knack+ name for a series of adult-oriented direct-to-video anime releases. These included Ninja Transform Mako-Chan, Bōken Shite mo ii Koro, Yaruki Manman, Dance Till Tomorrow, Mellow, Vixens, Lunatic Night, and Slight Fever Syndrome. The studio's last animation work identified in the reference material was Slight Fever Syndrome in 1997, together with production assistance on Gainax's The End of Evangelion. The company also produced or handled non-animated video projects during this period. From the late 1990s onward, the business moved increasingly toward live-action production. In August 2008, the company formerly known as Knack Productions or Knack changed its name to ICHI Corporation. The rename marked the end of Knack as the company's principal corporate identity, although the earlier name remains associated with its animation catalogue. A 2008 television project, New Attacker You, is listed among the company's animated works despite the long gap after its earlier animation output. Knack Productions is therefore best understood as a historical Japanese studio brand whose principal legacy lies in television animation, international syndication, low-budget direct-to-video work, and the later cult circulation of titles such as Chargeman Ken!.

Knack Productions was founded on September 25, 1967, by former personnel from Toei Animation and Osamu Tezuka's Mushi Production. The founding group included illustrator Seiichi Hayashi, animator and director Sadao Tsukioka, former Mushi producer Sakuro Koyanagi, and Seiichi Nishino, who became a principal planner for many of the studio's projects. The company entered the expanding Japanese television-animation market rather than beginning primarily as a theatrical animation producer. Its first identified television production was Granny Mischief, which began airing in 1970 and was adapted from a manga by Machiko Hasegawa. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Knack produced a broad range of series, including superhero and science-fiction programs, children's comedies, literary adaptations, historical adventures, and sports dramas. Important titles included Moonlight Mask, Astroganger, Chargeman Ken!, Don Chuck Monogatari, Groizer X, The Adventures of the Little Prince, Manga Sarutobi Sasuke, Cybot Robotchi, Manga Mitokomon, Psycho Armor Govarian, and Attacker You!. Knack's catalogue was not confined to Japan. Attacker You! became especially successful in Italy and France, where its volleyball theme and television distribution helped it reach a large audience. Two children's comedies, Manga Sarutobi Sasuke and Cybot Robotchi, were edited for American direct-to-video release as Ninja the Wonder Boy and Robby the Rascal. The studio also participated in an American-Japanese coproduction of The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle, which was not broadcast in Japan until 1997. The company worked with several notable manga creators and animation professionals, including Go Nagai and Ken Ishikawa. At the same time, Knack developed a poor critical reputation for inconsistent animation quality and for projects perceived as following the premises of more prominent shows. This criticism did not prevent some of its programs from achieving international exposure or later cult status. Chargeman Ken!, in particular, was rediscovered online many years after its original broadcast. Online audiences treated its technical limitations and unusual presentation as sources of humor and fascination, giving the 1974 series a second life as an internet cult object. In the late 1980s, changing market conditions led Knack to reduce its emphasis on television series and move into original video animation. It released conventional OVAs such as Shibuya Honky Tonk, Korogashi Ryota, Furiten-kun, Osaka Tough Guys, Crows, Grappler Baki: The Ultimate Fighter, and Submarine 707. The company also used the Knack+ label for adult-oriented direct-to-video anime, including Bōken Shite mo ii Koro, Yaruki Manman, Dance Till Tomorrow, Mellow, Vixens, Lunatic Night, and Slight Fever Syndrome. The latter, identified as the company's most recent animation work in the reference material, appeared in 1997. Knack also provided production assistance for Gainax's The End of Evangelion. From the late 1990s, the company concentrated chiefly on live-action production. In August 2008, it changed its corporate name to ICHI Corporation, ending the formal use of Knack Productions as the company's principal name. New Attacker You is listed among the studio's later works in 2008, but the company's best-known historical identity remains tied to its television-animation period and its extensive OVA catalogue.

• 2008

  Corporate name changes to ICHI Corporation

  [1]Knack Productionsen.wikipedia.org

  The company formerly known as Knack Productions adopts the ICHI Corporation name in August.

• 1997

  Last identified animation work and Evangelion assistance

  [1]Knack Productionsen.wikipedia.org

  Slight Fever Syndrome is identified as the studio's most recent animation work, while Knack also assists on The End of Evangelion.

• 1986

  Knack expands into OVA production

  [1]Knack Productionsen.wikipedia.org

  The company begins a sustained period of standard and adult-oriented direct-to-video anime production.

• 1984

  Attacker You! is produced

  [1]Knack Productionsen.wikipedia.org

  The volleyball anime begins its original run and later achieves notable popularity in Italy and France.

• 1974

  Chargeman Ken! is released

  [1]Knack Productionsen.wikipedia.org

  The science-fiction television series later becomes one of the studio's most recognizable cult properties.

• 1970

  First identified television series premieres

  [1]Knack Productionsen.wikipedia.org

  Granny Mischief becomes the studio's first listed television production.

• 1967

  Knack Productions is founded

  [1]Knack Productionsen.wikipedia.org

  The company is established on September 25 by former Toei Animation and Mushi Production personnel.

A Japanese animation and film studio known for prolific television output, international distribution of selected children's titles, low-budget and adult-oriented OVA production, and a later transition toward live-action work.

• Television anime · 1975

  Don Chuck Monogatari

  A children's anthropomorphic television series and one of Knack's internationally circulated properties. It was followed by Shin Don Chuck Monogatari, extending the studio's family-oriented catalogue during the mid-1970s.

• Television anime · 1978

  The Adventures of the Little Prince

  A television adaptation inspired by the Little Prince literary tradition. The series ran from 1978 to 1979 and represented Knack's work on internationally recognizable children's subject matter.

• Sports television anime · 1984

  Attacker You!

  A volleyball drama that aired from 1984 to 1985. It became one of Knack's most successful exported productions, achieving particularly strong popularity in Italy and France and establishing the studio's international profile beyond Japan.

• Science-fiction television anime · 1974

  Chargeman Ken!

  A 1974 science-fiction series that became notable for its extremely limited production values. Although its original reception was not defined by prestige, later online audiences turned the show into a cult phenomenon through ironic commentary and renewed circulation.

• Children's television anime · 1979

  Manga Sarutobi Sasuke

  A comedic adventure series broadcast from 1979 to 1980. Its edited version was released in the United States as the direct-to-video feature Ninja the Wonder Boy, giving the production a secondary international life.

• Children's television anime · 1982

  Cybot Robotchi

  A comic science-fiction children's series created by Ken Ishikawa and broadcast from 1982 to 1983. The United States received an edited direct-to-video version under the title Robby the Rascal.

• Adult original video animation · 1986

  Knack+ adult OVA catalogue

  A group of adult-oriented direct-to-video anime released under the Knack+ label, including Bōken Shite mo ii Koro, Yaruki Manman, Dance Till Tomorrow, Mellow, Vixens, Lunatic Night, and Slight Fever Syndrome. This catalogue reflected the company's late-1980s and 1990s move away from weekly television production.

• 2008

  Corporate rebranding as ICHI CorporationOther

  Background

  The company had already broadened its activities beyond its historical animation-studio identity.

  Action taken

  In August 2008, Knack Productions, also known as KnacK or Knack, changed its corporate name to ICHI Corporation.

  Aftermath

  Knack Productions became a historical brand name associated primarily with the company's earlier animation and OVA catalogue.

  Source

• 1997

  Move toward live-action productionStrategy

  Background

  From the late 1990s, the company increasingly operated outside its earlier television-animation focus.

  Action taken

  Knack concentrated chiefly on live-action production while its animation output declined.

  Aftermath

  Slight Fever Syndrome is identified as the company's most recent animation work in the reference material, apart from later listed projects and assistance work.

  Source

• 1986

  Shift from television animation toward OVA productionStrategy

  Background

  During the late 1980s, Knack reduced its emphasis on television series as the original video market expanded.

  Action taken

  The company increased production of standard OVAs and adult-oriented direct-to-video anime under the Knack+ name.

  Aftermath

  The shift produced a substantial OVA catalogue and preceded the company's later move toward live-action production.

  Source

1. 1Knack Productionsen.wikipedia.org