The Answerstudio Co., Ltd. (Japanese: アンサー・スタジオ) is a Japanese animation studio founded in June 2004 by Motoyoshi Tokunaga and headquartered in Tokyo.^[2] Formed after the closure of Walt Disney Animation Japan, the studio has collaborated on and produced animation projects, including television series, films, OVAs and ONAs. It had worked with CoMix Wave Films on Makoto Shinkai’s films, such as Your Name (2016), and with DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation on projects like Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018), alongside productions like Golgo 13 (2008–2009) and Tower of God season 2 (2024).^[3]^[4]

^ "The Answerstudio / アンサースタジオ". www.answerstudio.co.jp.
^ "Japan's New Answer Studio Builds on Animation's Past and Future". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
^ "Anime News, Top Stories & In-Depth Anime Insights". Crunchyroll News. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
^ was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

History

[edit]

The history of The Answerstudio is linked to several predecessor studios. Its lineage traces back to Topcraft, established in 1972 by former Toei Animation producer Toru Hara. Topcraft became known for its collaborations with Rankin/Bass Productions on animated films such as The Hobbit (1977), The Return of the King (1980), and The Last Unicorn (1982).^[1] Despite its achievements, Topcraft faced financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy, leading to its dissolution on June 15, 1985. After completing Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) with Hayao Miyazaki, Topcraft split, with some talent, including Toru Hara, forming Studio Ghibli, while others established Pacific Animation Corporation.^[2]

In 1988, The Walt Disney Company acquired Pacific Animation Corporation and renamed it Walt Disney Animation Japan.^[3] This studio produced television series and direct-to-video works, including The Tigger Movie (2000) and Piglet’s Big Movie (2003). Disney announced the closure of Walt Disney Animation Japan in September 2003, with Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (2005) as its final work.^[4]^[5]

Following the closure, Motoyoshi Tokunaga, former vice president and general manager of the studio, founded The Answerstudio in June 2004. Tokunaga secured a loan to establish the new company and reassembled many of the animators and staff from the former Disney Japan team.^[6]

^ Clements, Jonathan; McCarthy, Helen (February 9, 2015). The Anime Encyclopedia, 3rd Revised Edition: A Century of Japanese Animation. Stone Bridge Press. ISBN 9781611729092. Retrieved March 17, 2018 – via Google Books.
^ Denison, Rayna (1 April 2018). "Before Ghibli was Ghibli: Analysing the historical discourses surrounding Hayao Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky (1986)". East Asian Journal of Popular Culture. 4 (1): 31–46. doi:10.1386/eapc.4.1.31_1.
^ Clements, Jonathan (November 28, 2013). Anime: A History. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 109–111, 180–182. ISBN 9781844578856. Archived from the original on March 25, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
^ "Disney to close Japan animation studio in June". Asia Times Online. April 9, 2004. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
^ Ball, Ryan (September 23, 2003). "Pencils Down at Walt Disney Animation Japan". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on July 20, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
^ was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

Studios

Episodes

Duration

Source

Country

Genres

Tags