cloverworks
CloverWorks is a Tokyo-based Japanese anime production studio that produces TV anime series, theatrical films, music videos, and merchandise on commission from major publishers, production committees, and IP holders. It serves Shueisha, Kodansha, Square Enix, Aniplex, and COVER Corporation as anchor clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What cloverworks does
CloverWorks Inc. is a privately held Japanese anime production studio headquartered in Tokyo, established in April 2018 as a spin-off from A-1 Pictures under the Aniplex/Aniplex group. The studio produces television anime series, feature films, music videos, commercial films, game opening animations, and related merchandise for major Japanese IP holders and publishers, with a portfolio that includes SPY×FAMILY, Bocchi the Rock!, My Dress-Up Darling, WIND BREAKER, 逃げ上手の若君, and 黒執事. Production is executed through fully integrated in-house departments covering drawing, finishing, photography, and art, supported by a structured animator training program overseen by a dedicated Animation Training Director and a stated monthly output capacity exceeding 5,000 animation sheets.
The studio operates a B2B professional services model for animation production, with revenue from commission fees paid by publishers, production committees, and IP holders (Shueisha, Kodansha, Square Enix, Aniplex, COVER Corporation), supplemented by direct-to-consumer merchandise sales through its own online shop, Rakuten, Amazon, and physical retail partners including Tsutaya Shibuya, Animate, and Gamers, as well as pop-up activations. Its go-to-market combines sales-led client engagement with event-driven recruitment and fan activations, and the marketing footprint is centered on the official website and X (Twitter) presence.
CloverWorks is co-developing AnimeCanvas, an anime production software platform, with A-1 Pictures, Sony Music Entertainment, and Sony Group, positioning it within a broader Sony/Aniplex-aligned production technology initiative. The studio also engages in co-productions with peer animation houses including WIT STUDIO (SPY×FAMILY Season 3) and previously TRIGGER (DARLING in the FRANXX), and has expanded into adjacent verticals such as VTuber music video production for COVER Corporation's Hololive talents and game OP animation.
cloverworks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- cloverworks
- Legal name
- 株式会社CloverWorks
- Website
- https://cloverworks.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- CloverWorks is a Tokyo-based Japanese anime production studio that produces TV anime series, theatrical films, music videos, and merchandise on commission from major publishers, production committees, and IP holders. It serves Shueisha, Kodansha, Square Enix, Aniplex, and COVER Corporation as anchor clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
cloverworks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Anime Production Services
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG)
Keywords
Where cloverworks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
cloverworks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Anime Production Contracts: The studio produces TV anime, theatrical films, and music videos under commission from publishers, production committees, and IP holders. Revenue comes from production fees paid by clients.
- Merchandise Licensing and Sales: CloverWorks operates direct-to-consumer merchandise sales through CloverWorks Shop (online store), CloverWorks Shop Rakuten store, Amazon CloverWorks Shop, and physical retail partnerships including Tsutaya Shibuya IP bookstore.
- Goods Production and Sales: The company produces and sells various anime merchandise including acrylic figures, badges, clear files, stationery, and apparel through their official goods channels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Acrylic figures priced at ¥1,600 per unit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Acrylic keychain at ¥770 per unit |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Script-style notebook at ¥1,100 per unit |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
cloverworks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CloverWorks is a Japanese anime production studio that produces television anime series, theatrical anime films, music videos, commercial films, and game opening animations on commission for publishers, production committees, and IP holders. The studio maintains fully integrated in-house production departments covering drawing, finishing, photography, and art, and supplements commissioned production work with direct-to-consumer sales of official anime merchandise such as acrylic figures, badges, clear files, stationery, and apparel.
Product overview
CloverWorks is a Japanese anime production studio that creates TV anime series, feature films, music videos, commercial films, and game animations. The studio produces diverse content including popular series like ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！, SPY×FAMILY, WIND BREAKER, and 青春ブタ野郎 series. The company also produces music videos for artists such as YOASOBI, Eve, 星街すいせい, and Hololive productions, as well as commercial films. In addition to animation production, CloverWorks sells official merchandise including acrylic figures, badges, clear files, art books, and other collectibles through their online goods store.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TV Anime Production Commissioned production of television anime series, including original works and adaptations from manga, novels, and games, for publishers, production committees, and IP holders.
- Anime Theatrical Films Feature-length anime film production, including compilation films and original theatrical works, produced for theatrical release.
- Music Videos (MV) Animated music video production for artists including YOASOBI, Eve, 星街すいせい, and Hololive talents such as 魔法少女ホロウィッチ.
- Commercial Films (CM) Commercial animation production for advertising and promotional purposes, including AnimeCanvas co-marketing films.
- Game OP Animations Opening and in-game animation production for video game titles including 学園アイドルマスター and other game IP.
- Official Anime Merchandise / Goods Direct-to-consumer anime merchandise sales including acrylic figures, badges, clear files, stationery, apparel, tote bags, tapestries, postcards, and collaborative plush toys tied to CloverWorks-produced titles.
Quantifiable outcome
- Animation production capacity of 5000+ sheets per month
Companies that use cloverworks
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
cloverworks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
cloverworks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- A-1 PicturescoreParent company relationship; both studios are part of Aniplex/CloverWorks group. Co-developing AnimeCanvas anime production software together with Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Group.
- Sony Music EntertainmentminorCo-developing AnimeCanvas anime production software with A-1 Pictures and Sony Group.
- Sony GroupminorCo-developing AnimeCanvas anime production software with A-1 Pictures and Sony Music Entertainment.
- WIT STUDIOcoreCo-production partnership for SPY×FAMILY Season 3, combining CloverWorks animation expertise with WIT STUDIO's production capabilities.
- COVER CorporationminorProduced music video animation for Hololive English virtual YouTubers including 天音かなた, さくらみこ, 姫森ルーナ, 宝鐘マリン, 白上フブキ, 雪花ラミィ. The collaboration involves COVER's VTuber talents and CloverWorks animation production.
- Studio Color (スタジオカラー)minorCollaborated with Studio Color on IDOLM@STER VOY@GER concept movie, combining CloverWorks animation with Studio Color's 3DCG expertise.
- TRIGGERcoreCo-production partnership for DARLING in the FRANXX, an original anime series combining TRIGGER's creative direction with CloverWorks animation production.
- Aniplex (アニプレックス)corePrimary production partner and distributor for multiple anime titles including ぼっち・ざ・ろっく！ and various other productions. Aniplex handles distribution and promotion of CloverWorks productions.
- Sony Music RecordsminorCollaborated with Sony Music Records on 22/7 digital voice actress idol project, producing character PV content.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
cloverworks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- A-1 Pictures: Parent predecessor studio from which CloverWorks spun off in 2018. Operates within the same Aniplex/Sony group, producing comparable TV anime series and films with overlapping talent and pipeline. Co-developing AnimeCanvas software with CloverWorks.
- TRIGGER: Independent anime studio that co-produced DARLING in the FRANXX with CloverWorks. Produces comparable high-quality original and adapted anime, with similar mid-sized studio profile and creative-driven positioning.
- Kyoto Animation: Mid-to-large anime studio with strong adaptation track record (Violet Evergarden, Sound! Euphonium). Comparable in-house integrated production model and emphasis on staff training/retention.
- MAPPA: Major anime production studio competing for the same publisher commissions (Shueisha, Kodansha). Known for hit adaptations comparable in scope to CloverWorks' portfolio (Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan Final Season). Direct competitor for top-tier adaptation slots.
- Ufotable: Major anime production studio known for high-production-value adaptations (Demon Slayer, Fate series). Direct competitor for marquee commission slots with comparable integrated production capabilities.
- WIT STUDIO: Co-founded as a sister spin-off from A-1 Pictures alongside CloverWorks in 2018. Produces comparable anime series and films, with current co-production on SPY×FAMILY Season 3 with CloverWorks. Same parent ecosystem and production capacity profile.
- Studio Bones: Established anime studio with comparable production scale and IP portfolio (My Hero Academia, Fullmetal Alchemist). Competes for the same publisher adaptation commissions and operates with similar in-house integrated production model.
- Production I.G: Long-established anime production studio (Ghost in the Shell, Psycho-Pass) comparable in integrated production model and publisher relationships. Direct competitor for adaptation commissions and co-production partnerships.
Broad incumbents
- Sunrise (Bandai Namco Filmworks): Largest anime studio group in Japan (Gundam franchise, Code Geass), part of Bandai Namco. Operates at substantially greater scale than CloverWorks with broader IP ownership and merchandise integration, but competes for similar talent and commissions.
- Aniplex: Parent production/distribution company within Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Serves as CloverWorks' primary distribution partner and operates its own in-house production capabilities. Comparable as a counterparty but substantially larger and vertically integrated.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
cloverworks social profiles
Digital presencecloverworks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
cloverworks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
cloverworks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
cloverworks 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 cloverworks
What does cloverworks do?
CloverWorks is a Japanese anime production studio that produces television anime series, theatrical anime films, music videos, commercial films, and game opening animations on commission for publishers, production committees, and IP holders. The studio maintains fully integrated in-house production departments covering drawing, finishing, photography, and art, and supplements commissioned production work with direct-to-consumer sales of official anime merchandise such as acrylic figures, badges, clear files, stationery, and apparel.
Is cloverworks a public or private company?
cloverworks is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was cloverworks founded?
cloverworks was founded in 2018.
Where is cloverworks based?
cloverworks is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does cloverworks make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Anime Production Contracts are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Licensing and Sales and goods Production and Sales.
Who are cloverworks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are A-1 Pictures, TRIGGER, Kyoto Animation, MAPPA, Ufotable, WIT STUDIO, Studio Bones and Production I.G. Broad incumbents are Sunrise (Bandai Namco Filmworks) and Aniplex.
Does cloverworks have an API?
No public API is recorded for cloverworks.
What industry is cloverworks in?
cloverworks's product category is Anime Production Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADACAG, Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming). Its SIC code is 7812.