What Twin Engine does

Twin Engine Inc. (株式会社ツインエンジン), founded October 2014 by Yamamoto Yukiharu (former Noitamina editor at Fuji TV), is a privately held Japanese animation production and IP development company headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, operating under the philosophy '自ら創り、自ら届ける' (create it ourselves, deliver it ourselves). As of February 2026 the group comprises 16 legal entities and 458 employees, organized around a 'studio-first' holding structure that aggregates affiliated animation studios including Studio Colorido, Geno Studio, EOTA, Studio Kafka, BUG FILMS, Scooter Films, OUTLINE, NAGOMI, Studio Chromat, Studio daisy, NUT, and others. Twin Engine functions as the planning and production committee coordinator for projects spanning original IP (e.g., モノノ怪 theatrical series, 超かぐや姫！, THE RIBBON HERO) and adaptations (Vinland Saga, Hell's Paradise, Ancient Magus' Bride, とんがり帽子のアトリエ), with distribution across theatrical release (Japan), global streaming via Netflix (1.5B+ views across 190+ countries in 2025), and TV broadcast (TV Tokyo and others). Its proprietary technology stack includes IwaWaper, a specialized compositing tool developed within the OpenToonz open-source animation ecosystem, and Studio daisy's fully digital animation workflow for small-team production. The business model is multi-stream: production committee positions and licensing royalties from animation production and distribution (Netflix global, Japanese theatrical, TV broadcast, international licensing); original IP development and merchandising (manga projects, novel contest アニセカ with 6,000+ entries, SKOOTA GAMES indie game label); and managed production financing through the May 2026 capital and business alliance with SBI Holdings anchored on a planned 100 billion yen content fund. Customer base is split between enterprise distribution partners (Netflix as primary global streaming anchor, TV Tokyo and other broadcasters) and end consumers (theatrical audiences, streaming subscribers globally), with no publicly disclosed project pricing.

Name

Twin Engine

Legal name

株式会社ツインエンジン

Website

https://twinengine.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Twin Engine is a Japanese animation production and original IP development company that operates 16 affiliated studios across Japan and serves as planning/production coordinator for anime projects distributed via Netflix globally, theatrical release in Japan, and TV broadcast networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Animation Production & Distribution: Twin Engine produces anime content and distributes through theatrical releases, streaming platforms, and broadcasting. Revenue comes from production committee positions, distribution rights, and merchandise.
2. IP Development & Merchandising: Development of original IP with manga, novels, games, and merchandise expansion. '超かぐや姫！' achieved over 2.5 billion yen in box office as a fully original production.
3. Content Fund Investment: Partnership with SBI Holdings to leverage 100 billion yen scale content fund for anime investment, providing production financing while maintaining creative oversight.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Twin Engine is a Japanese animation production company that develops and produces anime content from original IP through theatrical, streaming, and broadcast distribution. Operating a group of approximately 16 affiliated animation studios, the company functions as a planning and production coordinator for TV anime series, theatrical films, and original IP development including manga projects, novel contests, and indie games. The company takes projects from concept development through multi-platform distribution, working with partners such as Netflix for global streaming reach.

Product overview

Twin Engine is a Japan-based animation production company (founded 2014) operating as a holding company for a group of approximately 16 animation studios. The company serves as a planning and production coordinator, developing anime projects from concept through distribution. The portfolio includes TV anime series (地獄楽, 魔法使いの嫁, ヴィンランド・サガ, とんがり帽子のアトリエ), theatrical films (劇場版モノノ怪 series, 超かぐや姫！, THE RIBBON HERO), and manages studios including Studio Colorido, EOTA, Geno Studio, Studio Kafka, OUTLINE, BUG FILMS, Scooter Films, NAGOMI, Studio Chromat, Studio daisy, and NUT. The company also develops original IP through manga projects, novel contests (アニセカ小説大賞), and indie games under the SKOOTA GAMES label.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EOTA (Engine of the Animation): Hub organization connecting group animation studios within Twin Engine, established 2020.
• studio daisy
• SKOOTA GAMES
• ANI SEKA (アニセカ)
• ツインエンジン マンガプロジェクト

Products and services

• THE RIBBON HERO (リボンヒーロー) Netflix-exclusive animated film based on Osamu Tezuka's manga 'Ribbon no Knight', directed by action animator Yuki Igarashi and produced by OUTLINE studio.
• Mononoke Theatrical Film Series (劇場版モノノ怪) Theatrical anime film series based on the TV anime 'Mononoke', set in Edo-period shogunate with a mysterious pharmacist protagonist. Multiple chapters produced with different animation studios.
• 超かぐや姫！ (Cho-Kaguya-Hime!) Netflix original animated film directed by Shingo Yamashita, a music-themed animation featuring virtual space 'Tsukuyomi' and idol streamer culture, produced by Studio Colorido and Studio Chromat.
• 日本三國 (Nippon Sangoku) TV anime series based on manga by Kakujin, serialized on Shogakukan Manga One. Animation production by Studio Kafka.
• とんがり帽子のアトリエ (Tongari Bōshi no Atelier) TV anime series based on manga by Shirahama Kamome, published by Kodansha Morning Two. Animation production by BUG FILMS.
• 地獄楽 第二期 (Hell's Paradise Season 2) TV anime series Season 2 based on manga by Kaku Yukiji (Shueisha Jump Comics). Planned and produced by Twin Engine with animation by MAPPA.
• 魔法使いの嫁 (The Ancient Magus' Bride) TV anime series based on manga by Yamazaki Kore (Blade Comics/Magazine). Animation production by Studio Kafka.
• ヴィンランド・サガ (Vinland Saga) TV anime series based on manga by Makoto Yukimura, published in Kodansha Afternoon. Planning led by Twin Engine founder Yamamoto Yukiharu.
• 好きでも嫌いなあまのじゃく Theatrical anime film directed by Shibayama Tomotaka, produced by Studio Colorido with planning and production by Twin Engine.
• 雨を告げる漂流団地 (Drifting Home) Theatrical anime film directed by Ishida Yuyasu, produced by Studio Colorido.
• クラユカバ / クラメルカガリ (Kurayukaba / Kuramerukagari) Dual theatrical anime film releases with original screenplay by Tsuribari Shigeyuki and scenario by Narita Ryohgo. Production by Team OneOne.
• ユア・フォルマ (Your Forma) TV anime series based on light novel by Kikuisama Mahiro. Animation production by Geno Studio.
• Original IP Development Original IP development initiative encompassing manga projects, studio-initiated original anime planning, the 'Aniseka' novel contest guaranteeing anime adaptation for winning works, and indie game development through the SKOOTA GAMES label.
• Animation Production Services End-to-end animation production services encompassing project planning, production committee leadership, coordination with partner studios, and distribution management for enterprise clients including streaming platforms, TV broadcasters, and theatrical distributors.
• SKOOTA GAMES (Indie Game Label) Indie game development and publishing label under Scooter Films, focused on original game IP including rhythm game 'Motto Crash'.

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 June 2025Global streaming partnership for anime titles. Netflix announced Twin Engine productions including THE RIBBON HERO, Blue Eye Samurai Season 2, Fool Night, THE ONE PIECE at Annecy Festival. Netflix reported Twin Engine anime titles were viewed over 1.5 billion times in 2025, reaching members in more than 190 countries.
• WIT STUDIOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimation production partnership for various anime titles. WIT STUDIO listed as one of Japan's leading animation studios collaborating with Netflix/Twin Engine on titles like 'しかのこのこのここしたんたん'
• MAPPAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimation production partner for '地獄楽' series and other titles. MAPPA handles animation production as the main studio while Twin Engine provides planning and production committee leadership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MAPPA: Major Japanese anime studio co-producing multiple titles with Twin Engine (e.g., Hell's Paradise Season 2, Zenshu). Operates at the same premium TV/film production tier with comparable global streaming distribution.
• Studio Pierrot: Major Japanese anime studio (Naruto, Bleach, Yu Yu Hakusho). Comparable mid-to-large scale TV anime production with global streaming distribution, though less focused on theatrical originals.
• Ufotable: High-profile anime studio known for theatrical Demon Slayer franchise and premium TV production. Competes directly for top-tier global streaming commissions and theatrical box-office share.
• Production I.G: Long-established Japanese animation studio (Ghost in the Shell, Psycho-Pass). Same TV/film anime production model and international streaming exposure; operates as part of publicly listed IG Port.
• Madhouse: Established Japanese anime studio producing both original and adapted anime with global streaming distribution (Netflix, Crunchyroll). Directly comparable in production capacity and slate strategy.
• WIT STUDIO: Japanese anime studio co-producing titles with Twin Engine and Netflix (e.g., Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan). Comparable scale, target audience, and premium production focus.
• Kyoto Animation (KyoAni): Premium Japanese anime studio focused on original and adapted TV/film production. Comparable target market, production quality tier, and emphasis on creator-friendly in-house production.
• Bones: Major independent Japanese anime studio (My Hero Academia, Mob Psycho 100). Comparable production tier, premium TV/film output, and reliance on streaming-era global commissions.

Broad incumbents

• Toei Animation: One of Japan's largest publicly listed anime studios (Dragon Ball, One Piece, Sailor Moon). Competes with Twin Engine in theatrical release and global licensing but operates with a much larger and longer-running library.
• Aniplex: Sony-owned anime production and distribution powerhouse (Demon Slayer, Fate series). Overlaps with Twin Engine in production-committee participation and global IP distribution but at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/twin_engine
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5S8dDswLqbnm9fuZ8Z2ntQ

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries16 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 Twin Engine