Shin-Ei Animation

Shin-Ei Animation is a Japanese animation production company headquartered in Tokyo. It is one of Japan’s most recognizable television and film anime studios, with a business centered on long-running family entertainment, character franchises, television series, theatrical animation, specials, and selected co-productions. Its best-known properties are Doraemon and Crayon Shin-chan, two enduring Japanese media franchises that have generated television programs, annual feature films, specials, merchandise, publishing, licensing, and international adaptations. The company began in December 1965 as A Production, founded by Daikichirō Kusube, a former animator at Toei Animation. Kusube and several colleagues established the studio partly in reaction to the rigid organizational structure they had experienced at Toei. From its beginning, A Production pursued an independent operating model while entering a production partnership with the newly formed Tokyo Movie. For approximately a decade, A Production served as Tokyo Movie’s principal animation subcontractor and co-production partner, contributing to a range of television programs and developing experience in schedule management, character animation, and mass-market television production. A major turning point came in 1976. After Tokyo Movie established Telecom Animation Film and proposed that Kusube lead the new division, Kusube declined because the arrangement would have compromised his independence. A Production subsequently ended its relationship with Tokyo Movie and reorganized under the Shin-Ei Animation name. The reorganization gave the studio a distinct corporate identity and allowed it to develop its own production relationships and creative direction. Shin-Ei Animation’s modern identity was shaped by its long association with TV Asahi and popular manga-based television animation. The studio began producing the television version of Doraemon in 1979, and the series became a central pillar of Japanese children’s entertainment. Crayon Shin-chan followed in 1992 and developed into another major television and film franchise. Shin-Ei has continued to produce television series and theatrical releases for both properties, including annual or near-annual film programs, remakes, anniversary projects, and new-format productions. Doraemon’s feature-film line has also supported the studio’s international profile, while Crayon Shin-chan has built strong recognition in Japan and several overseas markets. The studio has not been limited to these two franchises. Its television portfolio has included adaptations and original productions such as Ninja Hattori-kun, Kaibutsu-kun, Perman, Oishinbo, Atashin’chi, The Laughing Salesman, Teasing Master Takagi-san, The Dangers in My Heart, and numerous other series and specials. Its film work has included family animation, literary and historical material, original stories, short films, and collaborations with other Japanese and overseas production companies. The company has also participated in international projects and animated segments, reflecting the increasing globalization of Japanese character entertainment. TV Asahi announced the acquisition of Shin-Ei Animation in 2010, bringing the studio more directly into the broadcaster’s corporate group and strengthening the relationship behind the Doraemon and Crayon Shin-chan television businesses. In April 2017, SynergySP became a subsidiary of Shin-Ei Animation, expanding the group’s production capacity and its ability to manage multiple projects. Today, Shin-Ei Animation remains an active studio whose positioning combines dependable long-running franchise production with selective new series, films, and co-productions. Its durable value lies in maintaining recognizable characters across generations while extending them through broadcast, cinema, licensing, and international distribution.

Shin-Ei Animation traces its origins to A Production, established in Tokyo in December 1965 by Daikichirō Kusube, formerly an animator at Toei Animation. Kusube and colleagues created the studio to work outside the strict hierarchy they associated with their former employer. Although independent, A Production entered into a close partnership with Tokyo Movie soon after its formation. During the following decade it functioned as Tokyo Movie’s principal animation subcontractor and co-production partner, working on a broad range of television anime and gaining experience in commercial, serialized production. In 1976, Tokyo Movie created Telecom Animation Film and invited Kusube to lead the new organization. Kusube declined because he believed the position would reduce his independence. A Production therefore separated from Tokyo Movie and reorganized as Shin-Ei Animation. The change marked the beginning of the company’s independent identity and later allowed it to build a strong relationship with TV Asahi. The studio’s most important early post-reorganization development was the launch of the Doraemon television series in 1979. Based on the manga by Fujiko F. Fujio, the program became a major fixture of Japanese television and eventually developed into a recurring theatrical film line. Shin-Ei Animation produced numerous television episodes, specials, and films, making Doraemon one of the defining properties of its corporate portfolio. The studio also produced or participated in series including Kaibutsu-kun, Ninja Hattori-kun, Perman, Pro Golfer Saru, Esper Mami, Oishinbo, and The Laughing Salesman. In 1992, Shin-Ei Animation began the television production of Crayon Shin-chan. The series established a second large-scale franchise with a distinctive comic style and a broad audience. Like Doraemon, it expanded beyond television into annual theatrical releases, specials, licensing, publishing, and other forms of character exploitation. The combination of the two properties gave Shin-Ei Animation a particularly strong position in Japanese family and youth entertainment. During the 2000s and 2010s, the studio continued both franchise production and original or non-franchise work. It produced Atashin’chi, later Doraemon television episodes following the 2005 relaunch, theatrical remakes and anniversary films, and series such as Teasing Master Takagi-san, Mysterious Joker, The Electric Town’s Bookstore, and The Laughing Salesman NEW. It also undertook international and cross-company projects, including collaborations involving Disney, Reliance MediaWorks, TMS Entertainment, OLM, and other partners. TV Asahi announced its official acquisition of Shin-Ei Animation in 2010. This change placed the studio within the broadcaster’s corporate structure and strengthened the alignment between animation production, television distribution, and franchise management. In April 2017, SynergySP became a subsidiary, adding another production resource to the group. The studio’s recent work has continued to combine established franchises with new projects and partnerships. Its filmography includes Doraemon and Crayon Shin-chan releases, Stand by Me Doraemon films made with other production companies, The Dangers in My Heart, Pui Pui Molcar-related projects, The World Ends with You the Animation, Ghost Cat Anzu, Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window, and animated segments for international character properties. Shin-Ei Animation remains active as a production studio and is particularly distinguished by its ability to sustain long-running anime brands across television, cinema, and international markets.

• 2017

  SynergySP joins the corporate group

  [1]Shin-Ei Animationen.wikipedia.org

  SynergySP becomes a subsidiary of Shin-Ei Animation.

• 2010

  TV Asahi acquisition

  [1]Shin-Ei Animationen.wikipedia.org

  TV Asahi officially acquires Shin-Ei Animation and incorporates it into its corporate group.

• 1992

  Crayon Shin-chan television production begins

  [1]Shin-Ei Animationen.wikipedia.org

  The studio begins producing Crayon Shin-chan, establishing a second major long-running franchise.

• 1979

  Doraemon television production begins

  [1]Shin-Ei Animationen.wikipedia.org

  Shin-Ei Animation begins producing the television Doraemon series, which becomes one of Japan’s most durable animated franchises.

• 1976

  A Production reorganizes as Shin-Ei Animation

  [1]Shin-Ei Animationen.wikipedia.org

  After ending its production relationship with Tokyo Movie, A Production adopts the Shin-Ei Animation identity and continues independently.

• 1965

  A Production is founded

  [1]Shin-Ei Animationen.wikipedia.org

  Daikichirō Kusube establishes A Production in Tokyo with former Toei Animation colleagues.

A Japanese family-animation studio focused on durable manga adaptations, nationally significant television franchises, theatrical releases, and character-led entertainment. Its brand is associated with accessible humor, intergenerational appeal, production continuity, and the long-term management of major anime properties.

• Television anime and film franchise · 1979

  Doraemon

  Doraemon is Shin-Ei Animation’s principal flagship property. The studio has produced the television series since 1979, along with a substantial theatrical film program, television specials, short films, anniversary productions, and remakes. The franchise follows a robotic cat from the future and a group of children, combining science-fiction gadgets with school, family, and moral-comedy stories. Its longevity has made it a central platform for Japanese family entertainment and international licensing.

• Television anime and film franchise · 1992

  Crayon Shin-chan

  Crayon Shin-chan is a comedy anime based on the manga by Yoshito Usui. Shin-Ei Animation has produced the television series since 1992 and has developed a regular theatrical film line alongside television specials and related character content. The property is known for irreverent humor centered on a young boy and his family, while its theatrical installments often broaden the format into adventure, action, social satire, or emotional family stories.

• Television anime and international co-production · 1981

  Ninja Hattori-kun

  Ninja Hattori-kun is a children’s comedy series about a young ninja living in the modern world. Shin-Ei Animation produced the original Japanese television run and later participated in a revival made with Reliance MediaWorks. The property illustrates the studio’s experience in adapting familiar Japanese characters for continuing television distribution and overseas markets.

• Television anime · 2002

  Atashin’chi

  Atashin’chi is a domestic comedy depicting everyday life within an ordinary Japanese family. Shin-Ei Animation produced the original television series during the 2000s and later returned to the property with Shin Atashin’chi. Its observational humor and family setting fit the studio’s broader specialization in accessible, recurring television entertainment.

• Television anime and film · 2018

  Teasing Master Takagi-san

  Teasing Master Takagi-san is a school romantic comedy adapted for television by Shin-Ei Animation. The studio produced multiple television seasons and a theatrical film, expanding its portfolio beyond its established family franchises into contemporary manga adaptations aimed at younger and broader anime audiences.

• Television anime · 2023

  The Dangers in My Heart

  The Dangers in My Heart is a coming-of-age romantic comedy adapted by Shin-Ei Animation for television. Its production demonstrates the studio’s continued engagement with newer manga properties and serialized streaming-era anime in addition to its long-established broadcast franchises.

• 2017

  Expand production capacity through SynergySPM&A

  Background

  The studio sought to operate within a broader production network while continuing to deliver franchise and new-project animation.

  Action taken

  SynergySP became a subsidiary of Shin-Ei Animation.

  Aftermath

  The relationship increased the group’s capacity for co-production and multi-project production management.

  Source

• 2010

  Join the TV Asahi corporate groupM&A

  Background

  Shin-Ei Animation had a long-standing production relationship with TV Asahi through major television anime franchises.

  Action taken

  TV Asahi formally acquired the animation studio.

  Aftermath

  Shin-Ei Animation gained a closer corporate connection to broadcast distribution and TV Asahi’s character-franchise businesses.

  Source

• 1976

  Preserve independence from Tokyo MovieStrategy

  Background

  Tokyo Movie proposed that Daikichirō Kusube lead the newly established Telecom Animation Film.

  Action taken

  Kusube declined the leadership role, ended A Production’s relationship with Tokyo Movie, and reorganized the company as Shin-Ei Animation.

  Aftermath

  The decision created the independent Shin-Ei Animation identity that later became associated with Doraemon and Crayon Shin-chan.

  Source

1. 1Shin-Ei Animationen.wikipedia.org