Shaft (company)

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Shaft, Inc.

Type	Animation studio
Founded	September 1, 1975
Headquarters	1-6-13 Igusa, Suginami-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Key people	Mitsutoshi Kubota
Industry	Japanese animation
Website	Shaft official site

Shaft, Inc. (有限会社シャフト, Yūgengaisha Shafuto^?) is a Japanese animation studio founded on September 1, 1975 by Hiroshi Wakao. They are best known for their unique use of gags and references notably in Pani Poni Dash! and Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei series.

1 History
2 Characteristic
3 Produced anime
4 External links

[edit] History

Shaft was founded on September 1, 1975 by Hiroshi Wakao, former Mushi Production's animator. The company was originally founded to paint the animation but later worked on animation production as a subcontractor. They're able to produce their own first original series, Yume kara samenai (夢から、さめない, Yume kara samenai^?) in 1987.

In 2000, after Shaft cooperating with Gainax to produce a DVD special of remastered Gunbuster, they were in joint production with Gainax to produce Mahoromatic, This Ugly and Beautiful World, and He is My Master. After Hiroshi Wakao retirement in 2004, Kubota Mitsutoshi has become Shaft's representative director. Their painting group has also been downsized in order to strengthen their digital group.

[edit] Characteristic

Since 2004, Akiyuki Shinbo, Tatsuya Oishi and Shin Ōnuma has participate in most of Shaft's production starting with Tsukuyomi -Moon Phase-. The studio has grown unique to their use of gags and references to another anime by writing it on chalkboard in the classroom or any available empty space in the background.

[edit] Produced anime

Yume kara samenai (OVA, 1987)
Juuni Senshi Bakuretsu Eto Ranger (TV, 1995)
Sakura Diaries (TV, 1997)
Initial D Extra Stage (OVA, 2000)
Dotto Koni-chan (TV, 2000)
Mahoromatic series (joint production with Gainax)
- Mahoromatic: Automatic Maiden (TV, 2001)
- Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful (TV, 2002)
- Mahoromatic: Summer Special (OVA, 2003)
Arcade Gamer Fubuki (TV, 2002)
G-On Riders (TV, 2002, joint production with TNK)
Popotan (TV, 2003)
This Ugly Yet Beautiful World (TV, 2004, joint production with Gainax)
Tsukuyomi -Moon Phase- (TV, 2004)
He is My Master (TV, 2005, joint production with Gainax)
Pani Poni Dash! (TV, 2005)
Rec (TV, 2006)
Mahō Sensei Negima! event screenings
- Mahō Sensei Negima! Haru (OVA, 2006)
- Mahō Sensei Negima! Natsu (OVA, 2006)
Negima!? (TV, 2006)
Hidamari Sketch series
- Hidamari Sketch (TV, 2007)
- Hidamari Sketch × 365 (TV, Planned for 2008)
Kino no Tabi: Byouki no Kuni -For You- (Movie, 2007)
Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei series
- Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei (TV, 2007)
- Zoku Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei (TV, 2008)
Ef: A Tale of Memories. (TV, 2007)
Shina Dark (Music Clip DVD, 2008)
Mahō Sensei Negima!: Shiroki Tsubasa Ala Alba (OVA, Planned for 2008-2009)