MAPPA Co., Ltd. (株式会社MAPPA, Kabushiki-gaisha MAPPA) is a Japanese animation studio established on June 14, 2011, by Masao Maruyama, a founder and former producer of Madhouse. He felt that the company had become a "large organization with little freedom".
MAPPA is an acronym for "Maruyama Animation Produce Project Association". In April 2016, Maruyama resigned his position in the studio and founded a new studio, Studio M2. Current CEO is Manabu Otsuka.
History[]
Eight years ago, Murayama felt Madhouse had become organization with little freedom. He left the company and created another Tokyo-based studio known as MAPPA.
Their first work was Sakamichi no Apollon: Kids on the Slope, which aired in April 2012.
The founder Murayama, resigned his position and Manabu Otsuka took his place.
Their first feature film In This Corner of the World was selected as the 40th Japan Academy Award for Best Animation.
On April 2, 2018, MAPPA opened new studio in Sendai.
On March 1, 2022, MAPPA announced that they have established a new studio in Osaka that will specialize in CGI work, specifically 3DCG, background art, photography, finishing, editing, and design.
Tokyo Studio[]
Physical Production[]
They take care of materials, schedule, budget, and quality control. To bring the production to completion, they mediate other departments while building a wide range of knowledge and experience.
CGI[]
Their department comprises of 3DCG, Art, Coloring, Cinematography, Editing, and Design. Their strength lies in in-house production in which the goal images are shared with all creators involved.
Directors[]
They are in charge of directing the creative work site, including the storyboards. After gaining experience starting from episode directors, their members are eventually promoted to directors.
2D Animators[]
They take care of drawing both by conventional hand-drawing and by digital tools. Although subcontracting to freelance animators is the current mainstream, they actively adopt employee system.
Rights Management[]
They are responsible for illustrations, merchandises, and advertisement of our titles. Furthermore, by coordinating their events with original goods, they enrich opportunities to enjoy their works.
Production Development[]
They take care of preproduction tasks while constructing business schemes with domestic and global partners. They also involve overseas creators in their production to enhance the creativity of their titles.
Sendai Studio[]
We are in charge of in-between animations and coloring works by digital tools. CGI department will also be set up to complete our internal production line. As the industry has been growing along with overseas market, they aim to increase employment to prepare for rising demand. In cooperation with educational institutes, they provide employment opportunities in the Tohoku region.
Works[]
- Main article: Works