Taiyo Kikaku

What Taiyo Kikaku does

Taiyo Kikaku (太陽企画) is a privately held, Tokyo-based comprehensive video production company founded in 1967, generating an annual output of more than 300 works spanning television commercials, music videos, web content, CGI/VFX, stop-motion animation, planetarium programming, and original drama for streaming platforms. The company serves advertisers and brands (JR East, Haseko, Glico), music and entertainment clients (YOASOBI, Sakanaction, Sokabei, NHK, ABEMA, DMM TV, Netflix co-distributions), and cultural institutions, delivering end-to-end production through specialized internal units including TOKYO (creative production), 太陽演出 (Taiyo Enshutsu, director network), 女子プロ (Joshi Pro, female planner unit), +Ring (CG/VFX), TECARAT (stop-motion animation studio), Tech Lab (XR/VR/digital archive R&D), CINEMORE (film web magazine and podcast platform), and TYPE (location and production logistics).

Its core technology stack blends traditional creative production with proprietary techniques—most notably TECARAT's wood-carved stop-motion method responsible for the 'GON' film and the HIDARI samurai project featuring Keanu Reeves (selected for Cannes Annecy 2026), HOLOBUILDER mixed-reality content for Microsoft HoloLens, and photogrammetry-based 3D digital archives jointly developed with Erigion and Sony for the National Museum of Western Art Spatial Reality Display. The company maintains Privacy Mark certification from JIPDEC and operates multiple Tokyo offices (Shimbashi headquarters, +Ring/CINEMORE/Tech Lab in Minato-ku, TOKYO creative units in Shibuya-ku, and the TECARAT animation studio in Koto-ku).

Taiyo Kikaku monetizes through project-based professional services fees across five core revenue streams: commercial production, music video production, animation and CGI production, digital content and platform operations (including CINEMORE), and film/drama production. Pricing is custom per project with no public tiers. Go-to-market is B2B sales-led, supplemented by event-driven demand generation through award circuit presence (Cannes Lions Gold x2 in 2025, D&AD Yellow Pencil, CLIO Grand Prix, Asian Television Awards Grand Prix, plus dozens of regional Japanese creative awards annually) and community-led engagement via the CINEMORE platform, weekly podcast distributed on Spotify/Amazon Music/Apple Podcasts/Google Podcasts, and CSR initiatives including こどものたいよう. Distribution runs through direct enterprise engagement and advertising-agency partnerships with major Japanese holding companies.

Name

Taiyo Kikaku

Legal name

太陽企画株式会社 (Taiyo Kikaku Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://taiyokikaku.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Taiyo Kikaku is a Tokyo-based, privately held comprehensive video production company founded in 1967, producing 300+ commercial, music video, animation, and original drama works annually for major Japanese advertisers, music labels, broadcasters, and streaming platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Production Services

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Animation Services for VFX (Creature/Character, Crowd, Simulation Support) (MPADAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Stop-Motion & Hybrid Animation (MPAHACAM)

Keywords

• Commercial video production
• Music video production
• Stop-motion animation
• CGI and VFX services
• Film production company

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Commercial Production (CM): Primary revenue stream producing television commercials for major advertisers and advertising agencies. Annual production volume of 300+ works including national TV commercials, digital ads, and integrated campaigns.
2. Music Video Production: Production of music videos for major Japanese artists including YOASOBI, Sakanaction, and others. Featured works like '群青' and 'カモン!' generate both production fees and industry recognition.
3. Animation and CGI Production: Stop-motion animation through TECARAT studio, CGI/VFX through +Ring division. Includes theatrical releases, TV specials, and commercial applications.
4. Digital Content and Platform: Digital content production including VR, 360° video, planetarium productions, and mixed reality experiences. Platform operations including CINEMORE web magazine and podcast programming.
5. Film and Drama Production: Feature film production, short films, and drama series including ABEMA original dramas and theatrical releases. Revenue from production fees, distribution partnerships, and festival awards.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Taiyo Kikaku is a comprehensive Japanese video production company producing television commercials, music videos, web content, CGI/VFX, and animation (including stop-motion) for advertisers, advertising agencies, broadcasters, and entertainment companies. The company operates through multiple specialized creative units (TOKYO, TECARAT, +Ring, Tech Lab, CINEMORE, Taiyo Enshutsu, Joshi Pro, TYPE) and produces over 300 works annually.

Product overview

Taiyo Kikaku (太陽企画) is a comprehensive video production company offering diverse content creation services through multiple specialized sub-brands and product categories. The core business encompasses commercial (CM), music video (MV), web content, CG/VFX, and specialized animation production. The company operates through distinct units: TOKYO handles creative production; TECARAT specializes in stop-motion animation; CINEMORE is a film web magazine with podcast; +Ring provides CG/VFX; TYPE offers production support/logistics; Tech Lab develops XR/VR/digital archive solutions; and 太陽演出 connects director talent. Specialized offerings include planetarium content, 3D digital archives for cultural heritage, and the internationally-recognized HIDARI stop-motion samurai film project. The company also runs CSR initiatives like こどもたいよう and sponsors Belgian football club STVV.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TOKYO: Production unit/department within Taiyo Kikaku
• 太陽演出 (Taiyo-en)
• 女子プロ (Joshi Pro)
• +Ring
• TECARAT (テカラ)
• Tech Lab
• CINEMORE (シネモア)
• TYPE

Products and services

• TOKYO (Creative Production Unit) Creative production unit handling commercial, music video, and web content production, featuring award-winning directors and producers for advertising and branded content.
• TECARAT (Stop-Motion Animation Studio) Animation studio specializing in stop-motion animation using wooden carved figures, producing award-winning works including GON, HIDARI, and seasonal productions for NHK, planetariums, and international festivals.
• +Ring (CG/VFX Production Unit) CG and visual effects production unit handling CG content, music video editing, mixing (MA), and animation production with technical expertise for complex visual projects.
• Tech Lab (XR/VR R&D Unit) Research and development unit for VR, AR, XR, and emerging technology content, developing volumetric video, metaverse content, and 3D digital archives.
• CINEMORE (Film Web Magazine and Podcast) Film-focused web magazine operated by Taiyo Kikaku with 350+ director/actor interviews, podcast program, and fan events under the concept 'reading makes you want to watch movies'.
• Taiyo Enshutsu (Director Network) Network of directors under Taiyo Kikaku offering commercial and creative direction services, featuring diverse directors including Wakana Mishima and Miwako Haratake.
• Joshi Pro (Female Planner Unit) Female planner unit offering creative planning services for commercials and branded content with gender-diverse perspectives.
• TYPE (Production Support and Location Services) Location bus rental service, location scouting, and production support including catering through an in-house catering brand, handling logistics for film/video productions.
• Planetarium Content Production Original planetarium productions including Sakanaction Good Night Planetarium, Stars no Kazu Hodo, Dog Star, and horror planetarium shows, distributed via Konica Minolta planetarium chain and dome theaters nationwide.
• 3D Digital Archive Solutions Digital archiving service using 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry technology for cultural heritage sites including National Museum of Western Art, delivered via spatial reality displays and smartphone apps.
• HIDARI (Stop-Motion Samurai Film Project) World's first stop-motion period drama using wood-carved puppets, featuring Keanu Reeves as lead voice. Selected for Cannes Film Festival Annecy Animation Showcase 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual production of 300+ video works across all formats
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

AI capability10 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Sint-Troiden VV (シント=トロイデンVV / STVV)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Gold sponsor for 2025-2026 season. Logo placement on team uniforms, training wear, stadium LED boards, interview boards, and stadium screens. Partnership supports STVV's 'From here, to the world' vision and Japanese player support.
• Erigion (株式会社エリジオン)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2023Joint development of 3D digital archive content using photogrammetry technology. Partnership created 'ゆびさきでめぐる世界遺産' digital content for National Western Art Museum.
• Sony Corporation (索尼)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2023Content created for Sony's ELF-SR2 Spatial Reality Display. Joint development of immersive 3D viewing experience using the display technology for digital museum content.
• Dwarf (ドワーフ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023World-class stop-motion animation studio partnership for HIDARI project. Dwarf is producing the stop-motion samurai film 'HIDARI' in collaboration with TECARAT. Both studios' works were screened together at pilot film theatrical screenings in 2023.
• Whatever Co.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023Creative direction partnership for HIDARI stop-motion samurai film project. Whatever Co. provides creative direction while TECARAT handles animation production.
• DMM.com (合同会社DMM.com)minorOthersDMM.com holds ownership of STVV football club since 2017. Related connection through STVV sponsorship arrangement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• NAKEGASHIRA: Japanese animation and production company with both CM and film credits. Overlaps with Taiyo Kikaku on music video and animation work, particularly for Japanese music artists.
• Polygon Pictures: Japanese CG animation studio focused on film, series, and digital content with international reach. Comparable on the animation/CG side of Taiyo Kikaku's business, though more concentrated in long-form animation rather than commercials.

Direct peers

• Dwarf: World-class Japanese stop-motion animation studio and co-production partner on Taiyo Kikaku's HIDARI project. Direct peer in the niche stop-motion space, with comparable technical capabilities and award profile.
• AOI Pro. One of Japan's largest commercial film and video production companies, with a similar full-service CM, web, and drama production model. Both firms serve the same Japanese advertiser and agency clients and compete for Grand Prix creative awards.
• Tohokushinsha Film Corporation: Long-established Japanese film, CM, and content production company. Comparable in longevity and CM-centric business model, with deep relationships across Japanese broadcasters and advertisers.
• Robot Communications: Japanese creative production company with CM, digital content, and branded entertainment offerings. Comparable in scale and target market, with overlapping advertiser and agency relationships across Japanese campaigns.

Broad incumbents

• Hakuhodo (production division): Second-largest Japanese advertising agency group with integrated production services. Operates as both client and competitor to Taiyo Kikaku depending on project structure, particularly for large integrated campaigns.
• Partizan: International production company and director representation firm with global music video, commercial, and film credentials. Comparable to Taiyo Kikaku on the music video and CM production side with similar award-winning reputation.
• Anonymous Content: Globally recognized creative content and production company with film, TV, and advertising work. Comparable on the high-end creative production model and award-winning reputation, particularly for music videos and brand films.
• Dentsu (production division): Japan's largest advertising group, which maintains in-house production and content capabilities. As a holding company with agency-side production power, Dentsu competes for the same advertiser budgets that flow to independent production houses like Taiyo Kikaku.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/taiyokikaku_pr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/CINEMORE-official
• Facebookfacebook.com/TaiyoKikaku
• Instagraminstagram.com/cinemore_official

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Taiyo Kikaku