The Best Anime Studios That Specialize In Action

As a lifelong anime enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the vibrant world of Japanese animation, I must say that these three studios have left indelible marks on the genre.

If you’re unfamiliar, an ‘anime studio’ is essentially a Japanese company that produces animated content, often referred to as anime. Due to the rich history and large quantity of these studios (many of them quite numerous), it can be useful to categorize them based on the genres they primarily focus on.

While there aren’t specific labels for the genres an anime studio primarily produces, it’s evident that some studios lean more towards action-oriented content compared to others. Action-themed anime can intersect with various categories such as science fiction, dark fantasy, historical drama, or comedy, allowing viewers to pick their preferred style based on their chosen studio.

6 Madhouse

Library Includes: Redline, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, Hunter x Hunter, Ninja Scroll, Trigun, One Punch Man

Location: Honchō, Nakano, Tokyo, Japan
Founded: October 17, 1972

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve always admired Madhouse for their exceptional artwork that sets them apart from other anime producers. Time and time again, their creations exude a timeless beauty that remains unparalleled even after years have passed. Their niche lies in action-packed series, with classics like Trigun and Hunter x Hunter gracing our screens. However, they’ve also dabbled in other genres, such as Death Note, which, despite having fewer action sequences, has left an indelible mark on the anime community.

1972 marked the establishment of the studio, with its inaugural project following in the subsequent year. This initial venture was a joint effort with Tokyo Movie to create an animated adaptation of the sports manga titled “Aim for the Ace!“. This captivating anime series focused on tennis and was filled with high-energy action scenes.

5 Toei

Works Include: Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, Saint Seiya, The Transformers, One Piece

Location: Nakano City, Tokyo, Japan
Founded: January 23, 1948

In the world of anime, the studio Toei has been a pioneer since the 1980s, creating iconic superheroes, magical girls, and gigantic robots. This studio has played a significant role in shaping the history of anime, with many of its intellectual properties still highly regarded today. Although some larger franchises like Transformers have shifted to other studios, Toei was the original producer of the renowned series that premiered in 1984.

Nearly all productions by Toei lean towards action genres, and unlike other studios that venture into various fields, the team at Toei tends to stick with what they excel at and seldom explore outside their area of expertise. Notably, Toei has also created a vast collection of media which was exclusively distributed in Japan.

4 Sunrise

Works Include: Mobile Suit Gundam, Patlabor, Vision Of Escalflowne, Tiger & Bunny, Cowboy BeBop, Inuyasha

Location: Ogikubo, Suginami, Tokyo, Japan
Founded: September 1972

Since 2022, the name of this company, previously known as Sunrise, has changed to Bandai Namco Filmworks, reflecting its new identity as a subsidiary of the parent company that acquired it in 1994. This is the same company that’s been creating top-tier action anime for over five decades and has worked with studios like Toei on various projects.

Bandai Namco Filmworks’ contemporary setup consists of multiple studios, each dedicated to distinct productions, keeping them all quite busy. Their initial endeavor was named “Hazedon“, an adventure anime tailored for Fuji TV, which aired just prior to the legendary “Mobile Suit Gundam“.

3 Production IG

Works Include: Ghost In The Shell, Psycho-Pass, Eden Of The East, Ultraman, Blood: The Last Vampire

Location: Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
Founded: December 15, 1987

Production IG is the studio known for introducing cyberpunk to the world through one of its most successful franchises, Ghost in the Shell, back in 1995. This franchise is among the largest in anime history, and while there have been many spin-offs, only one direct sequel to the movie was made – Ghost in the Shell: Innocence. Remarkably, it was the first Japanese animated film nominated for competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Other works from this studio have also garnered similar critical praise.

Production IG, known for delivering fewer projects but of exceptional quality compared to other studios, primarily focuses on full-length movies or high-end animations for special projects. This studio is renowned for its work, including the acclaimed animated sequence in Kill Bill: Volume 1 and collaborating with Gainax to complete the Evangelion films during the 1990s.

2 Bones

Works Include: Wolf’s Rain, Full Metal Alchemist, Soul Eater, Space Dandy, My Hero Academia, Bungo Stray Dogs

Location: Suginami, Tokyo, Japan
Founded: October 1998

Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door was created by ex-staff members from Sunrise who had previously worked together, and they also teamed up with their previous employer for various projects. This team later ventured out independently, producing shows such as Wolf’s Rain and Full Metal Alchemist – two action-packed anime series that blend elements of science fiction and dark fantasy.

Anime productions with experimental themes and elements of the supernatural are among the diverse storylines conceived by Bones. Notably, their most recognized works delve into chilling subjects such as demons, dark magic, and grotesque bodily transformations. This darker focus could account for their decision to venture away from the more conventional productions handled by Sunrise.

1 Gainax

Library Includes: Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise

Location: Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
Founded: December 24, 1984

Gainax is renowned for producing distinctive and impactful series from the 20th century that influenced subsequent genres. One of their earliest examples in the mecha genre was “The Wings of Honnêamise,” which found success in North America. The studio then pushed the boundaries of this genre with the anti-mecha cult sensation “Neon Genesis Evangelion” a few years on, establishing new standards for serialized anime that endured for future generations.

Back in 2024, I was deeply saddened to see the closure of the iconic anime studio, Gainax. Once a titan in the industry, it filed for bankruptcy on May 29 and ceased operations permanently just weeks later. Their impressive portfolio of action-packed anime series had thrilled fans for years, but their downfall was marked by allegations of tax evasion and unpaid copyright claims. Among these, the most notable was a dispute with Studio Kahara, who now holds most of Gainax’s intellectual properties. Remarkably, they continue to work on some of Gainax’s most beloved series like Evangelion.

2024-09-01 06:03