ANIMA
ANIMA Inc. is a Japanese 3DCG animation studio founded in 1997 that provides end-to-end CG production services, motion capture, and original IP for major entertainment clients including Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, and Netflix across studios in Tokyo, Kanazawa, Dalian, and Shanghai.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersShinjuku, Japan
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ANIMA does
ANIMA Inc. is a Japanese 3DCG animation studio founded in October 1997, headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, with a secondary studio in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, and operating subsidiaries in Dalian and Shanghai, China. The company provides end-to-end CG animation production services spanning concept art, modeling, rigging, animation, lighting, compositing, and VFX, serving marquee entertainment clients including Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Game Freak, Capcom, Sega, and Netflix. Its technology stack centers on industry-standard tools (3dsmax, Maya, Houdini, Nuke, MotionBuilder) augmented by proprietary in-house tooling—most notably a custom cel-shading line generation tool optimized for anime-style rendering, and an in-house motion capture studio built around a 36-camera OptiTrack system supporting body, facial, and hand capture for up to six performers.
ANIMA's business is primarily B2B project-based CG production under fixed-price contracts, supplemented by a motion capture studio rental business (disclosed at ¥396,000 per 8-hour session with two staff, or ¥90,000 for studio-only rehearsal rental). The firm also operates a small original IP portfolio spanning manga, light novels, and animated series (notably CAT SHIT ONE—the first Japanese CG work nominated for a VES Award—and Blood of Fortune), though this remains secondary to the services business. Strategic capital participation from Bandai Namco Filmworks in October 2022 strengthened its balance sheet and IP co-development pipeline without altering management control, while a comprehensive partnership with Netflix (2019) opened a global distribution channel including Altered Carbon: Resleeved and Star Wars: Visions. As of May 2026 the company employs approximately 148 staff across its four locations, with the Kanazawa studio and Chinese subsidiaries functioning primarily as production capacity.
ANIMA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ANIMA
- Legal name
- 株式会社アニマ
- Website
- https://studioanima.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- ANIMA Inc. is a Japanese 3DCG animation studio founded in 1997 that provides end-to-end CG production services, motion capture, and original IP for major entertainment clients including Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, and Netflix across studios in Tokyo, Kanazawa, Dalian, and Shanghai.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where ANIMA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shinjuku
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
ANIMA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- CG Animation Production Services: Project-based CG animation production for anime, games, and films. Services include pre-rendered movies, in-game cutscenes, character modeling, motion capture, and VFX. Revenue generated through fixed-price contracts with major entertainment companies.
- Motion Capture Studio Rental: Rental of motion capture studio facilities and services. MC studio usage including 2 staff for 8 hours at 396,000 yen (tax excluded). Studio-only rental for rehearsal/practice at 90,000 yen (tax excluded). Additional post-production services billed separately.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Per booking | MC Studio Full Service (8 hours with 2 staff) |
| Unit Pricing | Per booking | Studio Only Rental (8 hours, no MC equipment) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
ANIMA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ANIMA is a B2B 3DCG animation studio that produces pre-rendered CG animation for anime and film as well as real-time CG assets and cinematics for video games, covering the full pipeline from concept art and character/background modeling through rigging, animation, motion capture, lighting, compositing, and VFX. The studio also operates an in-house 36-camera OptiTrack motion capture facility and develops original IP including animated series, manga, and light novels. Major clients include Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Game Freak, Capcom, Sega, Netflix, and Crypton Future Media.
Product overview
ANIMA is a full-service CG animation studio providing both prerendered (movie/anime) and real-time (game) CG production. Its offerings span the full CG pipeline — from concept art and character/prop/background modeling, rigging, animation (body, facial, secondary), lighting/compositing, and VFX — for high-profile clients including Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Capcom, Sega, and others. The studio also operates an in-house motion capture studio (OptiTrack-based, 36 cameras) offering capture services up to 6 performers. Alongside client work, ANIMA develops and publishes original IP including manga (鉄輪のカゲ・ルイ), light novels (鋼鉄城アイアン・キャッスル), and animated series (CAT SHIT ONE, 幻影のメサイア). ANIMA also maintains proprietary CG tools including a cel-shading line generation tool for anime-style rendering. The company operates from Tokyo (HQ) and Kanazawa studios.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CG Production Services (Movie / Prerendered)
- CG Production Services (Game / Real-time)
- Motion Capture Studio Service (モーションキャプチャースタジオ)
- Kagerui (鉄輪のカゲ・ルイ)
- Koutetsujo Iron Castle (鋼鉄城アイアン・キャッスル) Original light novel published by Shogakukan's Gagaga Bunko, set in a feudal world where dragon-energy powers animate castle fortresses as living weapons; co-created with 手代木正太郎 and sanorin. Targeted at Japanese light novel readers.
- CAT SHIT ONE -THE ANIMATED SERIES- Original CG animated series based on 小林源文's manga, depicting military specialists in combat. Aired as a 12-episode series; first Japanese CG animation nominated for a VES Award (Short Animation category, 2013). Targeted at animation viewers.
- Genei no Messiah BLOOD of FORTUNE (幻影のメサイア) Original IP co-developed with 江藤俊司, about a girl who solves mysterious events using tarot cards. The concept was adapted into the TV anime '幻影ヲ駆ケル太陽' (2013). Targeted at anime viewers.
Quantifiable outcome
- First Japanese CG animation work nominated for VES Award in Short Animation category
Companies that use ANIMA
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ANIMA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
ANIMA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and major.
- 株式会社グリオグルーヴ (Griot Groove)minorOffice sharing and business partnership arrangement.两家公司在高田马场共享办公空间，并建立了业务合作关系。
- Netflix株式会社 (Netflix)majorComprehensive business partnership for Netflix original anime production. ANIMA produces CG anime content for Netflix's global streaming platform, including 'Altered Carbon: Resleeved' (2019) which was distributed to 190 countries worldwide.
- 株式会社スタジオ・トア (Studio Toa)minorBusiness partnership with Studio Toa, a CG manga studio. Collaboration aimed at creating new content by combining Studio Toa's manga creation skills with ANIMA's CG animation capabilities.
- Tonko House Inc.minorBusiness partnership with California-based Tonko House (creators of 'The Dam Keeper' nominated for Academy Award). Collaboration to leverage each company's strengths in creating world-class CG animation.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ANIMA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CygamesPictures: Cygames-owned CG animation studio producing game cinematics (Granblue Fantasy, Uma Musume) and original anime. Overlaps in CG game-cinematic and anime production, serving Japanese game publishers.
- OLM Digital (Oriental Light and Magic): Long-established Japanese CG/VFX house (Pokémon films) offering pre-rendered and real-time CG production for games, anime, and film. Comparable enterprise client base including The Pokémon Company, Nintendo, and global publishers.
- Polygon Pictures: Tokyo-based CG animation studio listed on JASDAQ with similar full-service 3DCG animation for film, games, and streaming. Most direct Japanese comparable in scale and service mix, working on Godzilla anime, Knights of Sidonia, and game cinematics.
- Graphinica: Tokyo CG animation studio (formerly Orange parent) producing CG anime (Expelled from Paradise, The Relative Worlds) and game cinematics. Similar headcount scale and Japanese CG-anime focus as ANIMA.
- ufotable: Japanese animation studio known for hybrid hand-drawn + extensive CG integration in Demon Slayer, Fate series. Comparable in combining CG and anime aesthetics for major IP holders (Aniplex, Type-Moon, Nintendo properties).
- Orange (anime studio): Japanese CG animation studio known for Land of the Lustrous, Beastars, Trigun Stampede—pure 3DCG anime productions. Direct competitor for CG-anime commissions from Netflix, Aniplex, and Crunchyroll.
- Marza Animation Planet: Sega Sammy-owned CG animation studio producing feature films (Space Pirate Captain Harlock, Sonic the Hedgehog). Overlaps in CG animation pipelines and game-IP cinematic work for Japanese entertainment companies.
- Studio Khara: Japanese animation studio producing Evangelion franchise with extensive CG integration. Comparable as a mid-scale Japanese studio combining traditional and CG animation for iconic global IP.
Broad incumbents
- Sunrise/Bandai Namco Filmworks: Major Japanese animation studio (Gundam, Code Geass) and ANIMA's strategic capital partner. Comparable client of talent and supplier of co-production IP, and a broader incumbent in the animation space with much larger scale.
Emerging players
- Yokohama Animation Lab: Japanese CG-anime studio (Shenmue the Animation, exception) producing full-3DCG anime series. Emerging direct competitor in the Netflix/anime streaming CG category where ANIMA also competes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ANIMA social profiles
Digital presenceANIMA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ANIMA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
ANIMA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
ANIMA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ANIMA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ANIMA
What does ANIMA do?
ANIMA is a B2B 3DCG animation studio that produces pre-rendered CG animation for anime and film as well as real-time CG assets and cinematics for video games, covering the full pipeline from concept art and character/background modeling through rigging, animation, motion capture, lighting, compositing, and VFX. The studio also operates an in-house 36-camera OptiTrack motion capture facility and develops original IP including animated series, manga, and light novels. Major clients include Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Game Freak, Capcom, Sega, Netflix, and Crypton Future Media.
Is ANIMA a public or private company?
ANIMA is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was ANIMA founded?
ANIMA was founded in 1997. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is ANIMA based?
ANIMA is headquartered in Shinjuku, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does ANIMA make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. CG Animation Production Services are the primary driver. The others are motion Capture Studio Rental.
Who are ANIMA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CygamesPictures, OLM Digital (Oriental Light and Magic), Polygon Pictures, Graphinica, ufotable, Orange (anime studio), Marza Animation Planet and Studio Khara. Sunrise/Bandai Namco Filmworks is listed as a broad incumbent. Yokohama Animation Lab is listed as an emerging player.
Does ANIMA have an API?
No public API is recorded for ANIMA.