is a
Japanese animation studio owned by
Toei Co., Ltd. The studio was originally founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films (日本動画映画, Nihon Dōga Eiga, often shortened to 日動映画 Nichidō Eiga). In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and was reincorporated under its current name. Over the years, the studio has created a large number of TV series, and movies, and adapted many japanese comics by renowned authors to animated series, many popular worldwide.
Hayao Miyazaki,
Isao Takahata,
Go Nagai, and
Yoichi Kotabe have all worked with the company in the past. Toei is a shareholder in the
Japanese anime
satellite television network,
Animax, along with other noted anime studios and production enterprises such as
Sunrise,
TMS Entertainment and
Nihon Ad Systems Inc.
Until 1998, Toei Animation was known as (although even at that time the company’s formal English name was indeed “Toei Animation Co. Ltd.”), with “dōga” being the native Japanese word for “animation” which was widely used until the 1970s. Their mascot is the cat Pero, from the company's 1969 film adaptation of Puss in Boots.
Toei Animation produced the anime versions of works by many legendary manga artists, including Go Nagai, Akira Toriyama, and Shotaro Ishinomori. In addition, the studio helped propel the popularity of the magical girl and Super Robot genres of anime; among Toei's most legendary and trend-setting TV series include the first magical-girl anime series, Mahoutsukai Sally the anime adaptation of Mitsuteru Yokoyama's manga of the same name, and Go Nagai's Mazinger Z, animated adaptation of his manga, which set the standard for Super Robot anime for years to come.
Anime created by Toei Animation that have won the Animage Anime Grand Prix award have been Galaxy Express in 1981, Saint Seiya in 1987, and Sailor Moon in 1992.
In addition to producing anime for domestic consumption in Japan, in the 1980s, Toei Animation also provided animation work for several American-made television series and feature films (for American animation studios such as Marvel Productions, Sunbow Productions, Rankin/Bass, Hanna-Barbera and Murakami-Wolf-Swenson, Inc among others), such as Muppet Babies, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Adventures of the American Rabbit, Dungeons & Dragons, Defenders of the Earth, My Little Pony, Jem, Transformers and G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. These series' producers outsourced animation production work to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and other Asian countries because of cheaper labor costs.
Productions
TV series
Note: This may not be a complete list
1960s
1970s
1980s
- Mahō Shōjo Lalabel (Lalabel, The Magical Girl) (1980–1981)
- Moero Arthur: Hakuba Ouji (Go Arthur: The White Horse Prince) (Apr. 1980-Sept. 1980)
- Ganbare Genki (Do Your Best, Genki [loose translation]) (1980–1981)
- Uchū Daitei God Sigma (1980–1981)
- Hello! Sandybell (Mar. 1981-Sept. 1981) a.k.a. Sandy Jonquille
- Little Women (Wakakusa Monogatari yori Wakakusa no Yon Shimai) (April-Sept. 1981) - co-production with Movie International Co. (Kokusai Eiga)
- Dr. Slump and Arale-chan (1981–1986)
- Shin Taketori Monogatari: Sen Nen Jo Ou (The Queen of a Thousand Years; also “Queen Millennia”) (1981–1982)
- Tiger Mask Ni-Sei (Tiger Mask Second Generation) (1981–1982)
- Honey Honey no Suteki na Bouken (The Wonderful Adventures of Honey Honey) (1981–1982) - co-production with Movie International Co.
- Asari-chan (1982–1983)
- Patalliro! (1982–1983)
- The Kabocha Wine (The Pumpkin Wine) (1982–1984)
- Captain Harlock Endless Road SSX (Waga seishun no Arcadia—Mugen kidō SSX) (1982–1983)
- Ai Shite Knight (or “Night”) (1983–1984) (AKA Kiss Me Licia, Embrasse-moi Lucile, Rock & Roll Kids)
- Kinnikuman (1983–1986)
- Stop!! Hibari-kun! (1983–1984)
- Bemu Bemu Hunter: Gotengu Tenmaru (May 1983-Oct. 1983)
- Voltron series (1984–1989)
- Yume Senshi Wingman (Dream Warrior Wingman) (1984–1985)
- Tongari Boushi no Memoru (U.S. title: “Wee Wendy”; released as compilation film by Celebrity Home Entertainment) (Mar. 1984-Sept. 1984)
- Video Warrior Laserion (1984–1985)
- GU-GU Ganmu (1984–1985)
- Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star) (1984–1988)
- Hāi! Step Jun (Yeah! Step Jun) (1985–1986)
- Konpora Kid (June 1985-Dec. 1985)
- Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro (3rd) (1985–1988)
- Maple Town Monogatari (Maple Town Stories) (1986-1987; broadcast in the US on Nickelodeon as simply Maple Town)
- Dragon Ball series (1986–1997)
- Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin (Silver Fang: “Shooting Star” Gin) (Apr. 1986-Sept. 1986)
- Gou Q [Goukyuu] Chouji Ikkiman (Fastball Superboy Ikkiman) (Apr. 1986-Nov. 1986)
- Saint Seiya (Knights of the Zodiac) (1986–1989)
- Shin Maple Town Monogatari: Palm Town Hen (New Maple Town Stories: Palm Town Saga) (Jan. 1987-Dec. 1987)
- Bikkuriman series (“Bikkuriman 2000” was not made by Toei, and is therefore not listed here)
- Bikkuriman (1987–1989)
- Shin (New) Bikkuriman (1989–1990)
- Super Bikkuriman (1992–1993)
- Happy Lucky Bikkuriman (2006–2007)
- Kamen no Ninja Aka Kage (Masked Ninja Red Shadow) (1987–1988)
- Lady Lady!! (1987–1988)
- Kiteretsu Daihyakka (1988-1996)
- Tatakae!! Ramenman (Fight, Ramenman!!; Kinnikuman spinoff) (Jan. 1988-Sept. 1988)
- Sakigake!! Otokojuku (Charge!! The Man School) (Feb. 1988-Nov. 1988)
- Hello! Lady Lynn ("2nd season" of Lady Lady!!) (1988–1989)
- Akuma-kun (1989–1990)
- Mahoutsukai Sally (2nd) (1989–1991)
- Karioge-kun (1989–1990)
1990s
- Mohretsu Atarou (2nd) (Apr. 1990-Dec. 1990)
- Magical Tarurūto-kun (1990–1992)
- Goldfish Warning! (Kingyo Chūihō!) (1991–1992)
- Kinnikuman: Scramble for the Throne (1991–1992)
- Dragon Quest: Dai no Daibouken (Dai’s Great Adventure) (1991–1992)
- Sailor Moon series (1992–1996)
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon (1992–1993)
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon R (1993–1994)
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S (1994–1995)
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS (1995–1996)
- Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars (1996–1997)
- Ghost Sweeper Mikami (1993–1994)
- Slam Dunk (1993–1996)
- Aoki Densetsu (Blue Legend) Shoot! (1993–1994)
- Marmalade Boy (1994–1995)
- Shinken Densetsu Tight Road (Oct. 1994-Dec. 1994)
- Kuusou Kagaku Sekai (Fantastic Science World) Gulliver Boy (Jan. 1995-Dec. 1995)
- Sekai Meisaku Dōwa Series: Wow! Marchen (pronounced “MARE-hen”) Oukoku (Kingdom) (Apr. 1995-Sept. 1995)
- Gokinjo Monogatari (1995–1996)
- Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro (4th) (1996–1998)
- Hell Teacher Nūbē (1996–1997)
- Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers) (1996–1997)
- Cutey Honey Flash (1997–1998)
- Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo (Young Kindaichi’s Casebook; see “Kindaichi Case Files”) (1997–2000)
- Azumi: Mamma Mia! (July 1997-Oct. 1997)
- Yume no Crayon Oukoku (lit. “The Crayon Kingdom of Dreams”) (1997–1999)
- Hanitarou Desu (It’s Hanitarou) (1997–1998)
- Dr. Slump (2nd series) (1997–1999)
- Haruniwa Zoku San nin me (lit. “The Third of the Haruniwa Family”) (Jan. 1998-Mar. 1998)
- Anime Shūkan DX! Mii-Fa-Pū (featuring "Kocchi Muite Miiko", "Fan Fan Faa Mashii", and "Heli-tako Pū-chan") (1998–1999)
- Yu-Gi-Oh! (first TV series, not Duel Monsters) (Apr. 1998-Oct. 1998)
- Mamotte Shugogetten (1998–1999)
- Ojamajo Doremi series (1999–2004)
- Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne (Jeanne: The Kamikaze Thief) (1999–2000)
- Digimon series (1999-2003; 2006-2007)
- One Piece (1999-present)
2000s
Films (partial list)
Outsourced Production Work
Notes and references
External links