What Madhouse does

Madhouse is a Japanese animation studio headquartered in Nakano, Tokyo, founded in 1979 as Madhouse Co., Ltd. (株式会社マッドハウス). The studio produces anime content across TV series, theatrical films, OVAs, and promotional videos, with a catalog spanning 300+ titles dating back to the 1970s. Its core productions include Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, One-Punch Man, Overlord, Death Note, HUNTER×HUNTER, and theatrical films such as Paprika, Perfect Blue, Summer Wars, and Redline. Madhouse's production approach combines traditional hand-drawn animation with digital coloring and compositing, supplemented by 3D CG integration through partnerships with studios such as Cyclone Graphics.

Madhouse operates primarily through the Japanese anime production committee model, participating as the animation studio alongside publishers, broadcasters, and advertisers on each title. The studio's go-to-market channels include licensing TV broadcast rights to domestic networks (NTV's Friday Anime Night, Fuji TV's Noitamina block), licensing to international streaming platforms (Crunchyroll, Netflix), theatrical distribution through Japanese cinema chains, and merchandise/home video sales including 4K remaster Blu-ray editions (e.g., Paprika at 12,980 yen) and pop-up shop events. Production technology is described on the studio's recruitment page as drawing, coloring, and filming each frame, with select productions incorporating 3D CG through co-production arrangements.

Madhouse is a private subsidiary of Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV), with additional major shareholders including Dentsu Group, VAP, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Hakuhodo, WOWOW, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. This dispersed media-conglomerate ownership provides integrated distribution, advertising, and financing capabilities. Revenue is generated through licensing royalties, production committee participation fees, theatrical distribution revenue shares, and merchandise sales. With approximately 70 employees including contractors as of 2026, the studio runs a relatively compact workforce to sustain a multi-title production slate, with headquarters in Nakano, Tokyo and original founding location in Suginami-ku.

Name

Madhouse

Legal name

株式会社マッドハウス

Website

https://madhouse.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Madhouse is a Japanese animation studio producing TV anime, theatrical films, and OVA content for domestic broadcasters (NTV, Fuji TV), global streamers (Crunchyroll, Netflix), and IP holders via production committee participation, operating from Nakano, Tokyo as a subsidiary of Nippon Television Network Corporation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

akta.pro primary industry

Anime Production (MPADACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG)

Keywords

• Anime production services
• Animation studio
• TV anime production
• Theatrical anime films
• Anime licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. TV Broadcasting Rights: Licensing anime series to TV networks such as NTV (Friday Anime Night), Fuji TV (Noitamina block), and other broadcasters for domestic Japanese broadcast rights.
2. Streaming/Digital Licensing: Licensing anime content to international streaming platforms such as Crunchyroll and Netflix. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 was broadcast via Crunchyroll globally.
3. Theatrical/Film Distribution: Producing and distributing anime films theatrically, including original films (Redline 2009), compilation films, and new anime films (Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom, Goodbye Don Glees).
4. Merchandise and Home Video Sales: Selling physical and digital merchandise including POP UP SHOP goods, 4K remasters with Blu-ray sets (e.g., Paprika 4K UHD+Blu-ray set at 12,980 yen), and collaborative merchandise with IP holders.
5. Anime Production Committees: Madhouse participates in production committees as the animation studio, typically alongside publishers, broadcasters, and streaming platforms, receiving production fees and licensing revenue shares for anime adaptations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Madhouse is a Japanese animation studio that produces anime television series, theatrical films, OVAs, and promotional videos through hand-drawn and digital animation pipelines. The studio participates in anime production committees alongside publishers, broadcasters, and streaming platforms, earning production fees and licensing revenue shares. It licenses completed anime content to domestic TV networks (notably NTV), international streamers (Crunchyroll, Netflix), and theatrical distributors, and generates ancillary income from merchandise, pop-up shops, and home video releases.

Product overview

Madhouse is a Japanese animation studio producing a diverse portfolio of anime works including TV series, theatrical films, OVAs, and promotional videos. The studio's portfolio includes major franchises such as Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (葬送のフリーレン), Overlord (オーバーロード), One-Punch Man (ワンパンマン), HUNTER×HUNTER, Death Note (DEATH NOTE), Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card Arc (カードキャプターさくら クリアカード編), and Chihayafuru (ちはやふる). The company also produces films including Paprika (パプリカ), REDLINE, Perfect Blue (PERFECT BLUE), Summer Wars (サマーウォーズ), and the Overlord theatrical films. Recent productions include Wandance (ワンダンス), Trillion Game (トリリオンゲーム), and Orb: On the Movements of the Earth (チ。―地球の運動について―). The studio collaborates with various publishers, production committees, and international partners while maintaining internal animation production capabilities. Works are distributed through major Japanese TV networks, streaming platforms, and theatrical releases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 (葬送のフリーレン 第2期) Second season of the fantasy anime TV series following elf mage Frieren's emotional journey after the death of her companion Himmel; licensed to NTV (Friday Anime Night) for domestic broadcast and to Crunchyroll for global streaming.
• Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (葬送のフリーレン) Fantasy anime TV series about an elf mage who embarks on a journey to understand human emotions after centuries of life; held the #1 rating on MyAnimeList for over three years.
• LIAR GAME TV anime adaptation of Kaitou Toshiaki's psychological suspense manga featuring mind games and deception.
• Awajima Anime (淡島百景) TV anime adaptation of Shimura Takako's manga depicting the daily lives of girls at an opera school.
• Wandance (ワンダンス) TV anime about a stuttering high school student who discovers the joy of freestyle dancing; co-produced with Cyclone Graphics.
• The Mystery-Solving After Dinner (謎解きはディナーのあとで) Mystery comedy anime featuring a wealthy detective and her sharp-tongued butler who solve cases.
• Trillion Game (トリリオンゲーム) Entrepreneurship survival anime following two opposite personalities aiming to earn one trillion dollars.
• Orb: On the Movements of the Earth (チ。 ―地球の運動について―) Historical anime set in 15th century Europe, following a prodigy who challenges geocentrism.
• One-Punch Man (ワンパンマン) Action comedy TV anime about a hero who defeats all enemies with a single punch; the acclaimed first season was produced by Madhouse.
• Overlord (オーバーロード) Dark fantasy isekai TV anime about a skeleton mage ruling a fantasy world as a game character; multiple seasons produced by Madhouse.
• HUNTER×HUNTER Adventure TV anime following Gon Freecss in his quest to become a Hunter and find his father.
• Death Note (DEATH NOTE) Psychological thriller TV anime about a high school student who finds a notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it.
• Chihayafuru (ちはやふる) Sports TV anime about competitive karuta (Japanese card game) featuring a high school club.
• Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom (劇場版「オーバーロード」聖王国編) First theatrical film in the Overlord series, depicting the Holy Kingdom Arc storyline.
• Paprika (パプリカ) Animated film directed by Satoshi Kon about dream exploration technology, originally released in 2006 and re-released as a 4K remaster in 2026 with nationwide theatrical screenings and a 4K UHD+Blu-ray set at 12,980 yen.
• REDLINE Sci-fi racing anime theatrical film featuring hand-drawn animation and high-octane action, released in 2009.
• Perfect Blue (PERFECT BLUE) Psychological thriller theatrical film directed by Satoshi Kon about an idol singer stalked by a fan, released in 1998.
• Summer Wars (サマーウォーズ) Animated theatrical film about a high school student helping a family protect their virtual world avatar, released in 2009.
• Goodbye, Don Glees! (グッバイ、ドン・グリーズ！) Original theatrical anime about three boys whose summer adventure changes their lives.
• Land of the Gold, Land of Water (金の国 水の国) Animated theatrical film based on Iwamoto Nao's manga about enemies forced to pretend to be married, released in 2023.
• takt op.Destiny (タクトオーパス デスティニー) Fantasy TV anime set in a post-apocalyptic world where music is used to fight monsters; co-produced with MAPPA.
• A Place Further Than the Universe (宇宙よりも遠い場所) Original TV anime following four girls on an expedition to Antarctica.
• Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card Arc (カードキャプターさくら クリアカード編) Sequel TV anime series to the classic magical girl anime Cardcaptor Sakura, released in 2018.

Quantifiable outcome

• Frieren: Beyond Journey's End holds #1 rating on MyAnimeList for over 3 years, with Season 2 outperforming Season 1
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CrunchyrollcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal streaming partner for Frieren: Beyond Journey's End and many other Madhouse anime titles. Crunchyroll streams Madhouse productions internationally to its subscriber base worldwide. Relationship is ongoing across multiple seasons and titles.
• Shogakukan / 小学館coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey publisher partner producing anime adaptations of Shogakukan manga including Frieren (weekly Shonen Sunday), Overlord (Kadokawa — note: Frieren is Shogakukan), and other Shogakukan series.
• Cyclone Graphics / サイクロングラフィックスcoreTechnology or IntegrationCo-production partner for Wandance (co-produced by Madhouse and Cyclone Graphics). Cyclone Graphics provides 3D CG animation expertise that complements Madhouse's traditional animation capabilities.
• MAPPAcoreTechnology or IntegrationCo-production partner for takt op.Destiny (produced by MAPPA × MADHOUSE). MAPPA and Madhouse collaborate on animation production combining their respective expertise.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MAPPA: Tier-1 Japanese animation studio producing premium TV anime and theatrical films (Attack on Titan Final Season, Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man). MAPPA directly competes for high-profile source IP, top directors, and global streaming commissions, and has co-produced with Madhouse (takt op.Destiny).
• Studio Bones: Long-established Japanese animation studio (Fullmetal Alchemist, My Hero Academia, Mob Psycho 100) producing TV anime and films at a comparable quality tier. Bones competes with Madhouse for the same pool of acclaimed source manga and international streaming budgets.
• Wit Studio: Premium Japanese anime studio (Spy x Family co-production, Vinland Saga, Ranking of Kings) producing TV anime with comparable production values. Wit Studio is a direct competitor for top-tier manga adaptations and global streaming commissions.
• Ufotable: Premium Japanese anime studio (Demon Slayer franchise, Fate series) known for integrated CG/2D theatrical productions. Ufotable competes for the highest-budget adaptations and global theatrical revenue, raising the bar for production spectacle across the tier-1 segment.
• Production I.G: Long-established Japanese animation studio (Ghost in the Shell, Psycho-Pass, Haikyu!!, Ranking of Kings) with a comparable catalog depth and quality reputation. Production I.G competes with Madhouse for source IP from major publishers and prime broadcast slots.
• A-1 Pictures: Established Japanese animation studio (Sword Art Online, Your Lie in April, Kaguya-sama: Love Is War) producing both TV anime and films. A-1 Pictures competes for the same premium source IP and global streaming commissions as Madhouse.

Emerging players

• CloverWorks: Younger anime studio (Spy x Family main production, Wonder Egg Priority, Bocchi the Rock!) producing premium TV anime with rising global streaming traction. CloverWorks is an emerging competitor for next-generation source IP and director talent.
• Trigger: Younger Japanese anime studio (Kill la Kill, Promare, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners co-production) producing distinctive premium anime for global streaming and theatrical audiences. Trigger competes for creative talent and high-impact streaming commissions.
• Science SARU: Distinctive anime studio (Devilman Crybaby, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, The Tatami Time Machine Blues) with global streaming commissions from Netflix and others. Science SARU is an emerging competitor in the premium animation segment.

Broad incumbents

• TMS Entertainment: Larger, publicly listed Japanese animation studio (Detective Conan/Case Closed, Lupin III) operating a broader portfolio across long-running TV series, films, and international co-productions. TMS is a broad incumbent with overlapping production capabilities and global distribution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/madhouse_news

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Madhouse