# Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation Co., Ltd. (Japanese: 株式会社京都アニメーション, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Kyōto Animēshon), often abbreviated KyoAni (京アニ, Kyōani), is a Japanese animation studio and light novel publisher located in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. It was founded in 1985 by husband and wife Hideaki and Yoko Hatta, who remain its president and vice-president respectively.
Kyoto Animation has produced anime films and series including The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (2006), Clannad (2007), K-On! (2009), Nichijou (2011), Free! (2013), Sound! Euphonium (2015), A Silent Voice (2016), and Violet Evergarden (2018).

## History

Kyoto Animation was co-founded in 1985 by married couple Yoko and Hideaki Hatta; it became a limited company in 1985 and a corporation in 1999. Yoko Hatta, who serves as the company's vice president, had worked as a painter at Mushi Production until she moved to Kyoto after marrying her husband, who serves as president. The company's logo originates from the kanji kyō (京), the first character of Kyoto (京都).
Since 2009, Kyoto Animation has hosted the annual Kyoto Animation Awards in three categories: original novels, manga, and scenarios. Some winning submissions are published under the company's KA Esuma Bunko imprint, and have a chance of being later adapted as anime. Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions, Free!, Beyond the Boundary and Myriad Colors Phantom World were based on novels that received an honorable mention in this competition. In 2014, the novel Violet Evergarden became the first and only work so far to win a grand prize in any of the three categories.
Kyoto Animation has become recognized for its high production values and "sensitivity to the wonders and quandaries of ordinary life". Unlike most animation studios, the company's employees are salaried rather than freelance workers, and are trained in-house. These practices have been cited as encouraging employees to focus on frame quality rather than production quotas. The company has received praise for the positive treatment of its staff, and was honored by Women in Animation with its Diversity Award in 2020 for its efforts in creating a gender-balanced workforce and encouraging women to enter the industry.
In April 2020, the company announced that it would put its work on hiatus for one month due to the COVID-19 pandemic, later extending the period to the end of May.

### Animation Do

An affiliate company, Animation Do Co., Ltd. (株式会社アニメーションドゥウ, Kabushiki-gaisha Animēshon Dū), was established in 2000 to assist production at Kyoto Animation. Originally established as the studio's Osaka office, it was incorporated as a limited company in 2000, then a corporation in 2010. Both companies are run by Hideaki Hatta and are run jointly as one. They produce up-and-coming works under the Animation Do label with Kyoto Animation as their main contractor and works where they work as one company alongside Kyoto Animation. They work on most Kyoto Animation projects and many of them have joint signatures. On September 16, 2020, it was announced by the National Printing Bureau's Kanpō publication that Kyoto Animation absorbed Animation Do, which includes all rights and associated properties.

### 2019 arson attack

On the morning of July 18, 2019, at around 10:31 a.m, an arson fire at Kyoto Animation's first studio in Fushimi killed 36 people (including directors Yasuhiro Takemoto and Yoshiji Kigami), injured 34 others (including the suspect) in varying degrees, and destroyed most of the building's materials and computers. The suspect, 41-year-old Shinji Aoba, later admitted to committing the attack. He was sentenced to death in January 2024.

## Productions

In the tables below, only the productions for which Kyoto Animation was a lead producer are listed.

### Anime television series

| Year | Title | Network | Director(s) | Eps. | Note(s) |
| 2003 | Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu | Fuji Television | Yasuhiro Takemoto | 11 | Spin-off adaptation of the light novels by Shoji Gatoh. |
| 2005 | Air | BS-TBS | Tatsuya Ishihara | 13 | Adaptation of the visual novel by Key. |
| 2005 | Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid | Wowow | Yasuhiro Takemoto | 13 | Sequel to the 2002 anime television series by Gonzo. |
| 2006 | The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya | Chiba TV | Tatsuya Ishihara Yutaka Yamamoto | 14 | Adaptation of the light novels by Nagaru Tanigawa. |
| 2006–2007 | Kanon | TBS | Tatsuya Ishihara | 24 | Adaptation of the visual novel by Key. |
| 2007 | Lucky Star | Chiba TV | Yutaka Yamamoto (#1–4) Yasuhiro Takemoto (#5–24) | 24 | Adaptation of the manga by Kagami Yoshimizu. |
| 2007–2008 | Clannad | TBS | Tatsuya Ishihara | 22 | Adaptation of the visual novel by Key. |
| 2008–2009 | Clannad After Story | TBS | Tatsuya Ishihara | 22 | Sequel to Clannad. |
| 2009 | Sora o Miageru Shōjo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai | Chiba TV | Yoshiji Kigami | 9 | Sequel to Munto 2: Beyond the Walls of Time. |
| 2009 | The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya | Chiba TV | Tatsuya Ishihara Yutaka Yamamoto | 28 | Rebroadcast of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya with fourteen new episodes. |
| 2009 | K-On! | TBS | Naoko Yamada | 12 | Adaptation of the manga by Kakifly. |
| 2010 | K-On!! | TBS | Naoko Yamada | 24 | Sequel to K-On!. |
| 2011 | Nichijou | TV Aichi | Tatsuya Ishihara | 26 | Adaptation of the manga by Keiichi Arawi. |
| 2012 | Hyouka | Chiba TV | Yasuhiro Takemoto | 22 | Adaptation of the novels by Honobu Yonezawa. |
| 2012 | Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions | TBS | Tatsuya Ishihara | 12 | Adaptation of the light novels by Torako. |
| 2013 | Tamako Market | Tokyo MX | Naoko Yamada | 12 | Original series from the team who worked on K-On!. |
| 2013 | Free! Iwatobi Swim Club | ABC Asahi | Hiroko Utsumi | 12 | Sequel to the light novel High Speed! by Kōji Ōji. Collaboration with Animation Do. |
| 2013 | Beyond the Boundary | TBS, Tokyo MX | Taichi Ishidate | 12 | Adaptation of light novels by Nagomu Torii. |
| 2014 | Love, Chunibyo and Other Delusions! Heart Throb | TBS, Tokyo MX | Tatsuya Ishihara | 12 | Sequel to Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions. |
| 2014 | Free! Eternal Summer | ABC Asahi | Hiroko Utsumi | 13 | Sequel to Free! Iwatobi Swim Club. Collaboration with Animation Do. |
| 2014 | Amagi Brilliant Park | TBS | Yasuhiro Takemoto | 13 | Adaptation of the light novels by Shoji Gatoh. |
| 2015 | Sound! Euphonium | Tokyo MX | Tatsuya Ishihara Naoko Yamada | 13 | Adaptation of the novel by Ayano Takeda. |
| 2016 | Myriad Colors Phantom World | Tokyo MX | Tatsuya Ishihara | 13 | Adaptation of the light novel by Sōichirō Hatano. |
| 2016 | Sound! Euphonium 2 | Tokyo MX | Tatsuya Ishihara Naoko Yamada | 13 | Sequel to Sound! Euphonium. |
| 2017 | Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid | Tokyo MX | Yasuhiro Takemoto | 13 | Adaptation of the manga by Coolkyousinnjya. |
| 2018 | Violet Evergarden | Tokyo MX, Netflix | Taichi Ishidate Haruka Fujita | 13 | Adaptation of the light novel by Kana Akatsuki. |
| 2018 | Free! Dive to the Future | ABC Asahi | Eisaku Kawanami | 12 | Sequel to Free! Eternal Summer. Collaboration with Animation Do. |
| 2018 | Tsurune | NHK | Takuya Yamamura | 13 | Adaptation of the light novel by Kotoko Ayano. |
| 2021 | Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid S | ABC Asahi | Tatsuya Ishihara Yasuhiro Takemoto | 12 | Sequel to Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid. |
| 2023 | Tsurune: The Linking Shot | NHK | Takuya Yamamura | 13 | Sequel to Tsurune. |
| 2024 | Sound! Euphonium 3 | NHK E | Tatsuya Ishihara | 13 | Sequel to Sound! Euphonium 2. |
| 2025 | City the Animation | TBA | Taichi Ishidate | TBA | Adaptation of the manga by Keiichi Arawi. |
| TBA | 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku | TBA | TBA | TBA | Adaptation of the light novel by Hiro Yuki. |

### Anime films

| Year | Title | Director(s) | Dur. | Note(s) |
| 2009 | Tenjōbito to Akutobito Saigo no Tatakai | Yoshiji Kigami | 83m | Summary of Sora o Miageru Shōjo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai. |
| 2010 | The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya | Tatsuya Ishihara Yasuhiro Takemoto | 162m | Continuation of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. |
| 2011 | K-On! The Movie | Naoko Yamada | 110m | Original side story to the second season of K-On!. |
| 2013 | Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions: Rikka Version | Tatsuya Ishihara | 96m | Summary of the first season of Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions. |
| 2014 | Tamako Love Story | Naoko Yamada | 83m | Continuation of Tamako Market. |
| 2015 | Beyond the Boundary: I'll Be Here – Past | Taichi Ishidate | 86m | Recap of Beyond the Boundary. |
| 2015 | Beyond the Boundary: I'll Be Here – Future | Taichi Ishidate | 89m | Sequel to Beyond the Boundary. |
| 2015 | High Speed! Free! Starting Days | Yasuhiro Takemoto | 110m | Prequel film based on the second volume of the original light novel, High Speed. |
| 2016 | Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – Welcome to the Kitauji High School Concert Band | Tatsuya Ishihara | 103m | Compilation of the first season of Sound! Euphonium. |
| 2016 | A Silent Voice | Naoko Yamada | 130m | Adaptation of the manga by Yoshitoki Ōima. |
| 2017 | Free! Timeless Medley: The Bond | Eisaku Kawanami | 94m | Summary of the second season of Free! focused on Haruka. |
| 2017 | Free! Timeless Medley: The Promise | Eisaku Kawanami | 99m | Summary of the second season of Free! focused on Rin. |
| 2017 | Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – May the Melody Reach You! | Taichi Ogawa Tatsuya Ishihara | 105m | Compilation of the second season of Sound! Euphonium. |
| 2017 | Free! Take Your Marks | Eisaku Kawanami | 105m | Continuation of Free!. |
| 2018 | Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Take on Me | Tatsuya Ishihara | 90m | Continuation of the second season of Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions. |
| 2018 | Liz and the Blue Bird | Naoko Yamada | 90m | Spin-off of Sound! Euphonium. |
| 2019 | Sound! Euphonium: The Movie – Our Promise: A Brand New Day | Tatsuya Ishihara | 100m | Continuation of the second season of Sound! Euphonium. |
| 2019 | Free! -Road to the World- Dream | Eisaku Kawanami | 99m | Summary of the third season of Free!. |
| 2019 | Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll | Haruka Fujita | 93m | Spin-off of Violet Evergarden. |
| 2020 | Violet Evergarden: The Movie | Taichi Ishidate | 140m | Continuation of Violet Evergarden. |
| 2021–2022 | Free! The Final Stroke | Eisaku Kawanami | 90m (1) 106m (2) | Two-part series. Continuation of Free!. |
| 2022 | Tsurune: The Movie – The First Shot | Takuya Yamamura | 102m | Compilation of the first season of Tsurune with new scenes. |
| 2025 | Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: A Lonely Dragon Wants to Be Loved | Tatsuya Ishihara | TBA | Continuation of the second season of Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid. |

### Original video animations

| Year | Title | Director(s) | Eps. | Note(s) |
| 1991 | Shiawasette Naani | Tatsuya Ishihara | 1 | Based on novels by Ryuho Okawa |
| 2002 | Nurse Witch Komugi | Yasuhiro Takemoto Yoshitomo Yonetani | 5.5 | Parody of both The SoulTaker and the magical girl anime genre. Co-produced with Tatsunoko Production |
| 2003 | Munto | Yoshiji Kigami | 1 | Original work |
| 2005 | Munto 2: Beyond the Walls of Time | Yoshiji Kigami | 1 | Sequel to Munto |
| 2008 | Lucky Star: Original na Visual to Animation | Yasuhiro Takemoto | 1 | Side story to Lucky Star |
| 2011 | Nichijou: Nichijou no 0-wa | Tatsuya Ishihara | 1 | Side story to Nichijou |
| 2013 | Hyōka: Motsubeki Mono wa | Yasuhiro Takemoto | 1 | Side story to Hyōka |
| 2017 | Baja no Studio | Yoshiji Kigami | 1 | Original work |
| 2020 | Baja no Studio: Baja no Mita Umi | Yoshiji Kigami | 1 | Sequel to Baja no Studio |
| 2023 | Sound! Euphonium: Ensemble Contest | Tatsuya Ishihara | 1 | Side story to Sound! Euphonium |

### Original net animations

| Year | Title | Director(s) | Eps. | Note(s) | Refs. |
| 2009 | The Melancholy of Haruhi-chan Suzumiya | Yasuhiro Takemoto | 25 | Adaptation of the spin-off Haruhi Suzumiya manga by Puyo. | |
| 2009 | Nyorōn Churuya-san | Yasuhiro Takemoto | 13 | Adaptation of the spin-off Haruhi Suzumiya manga by Eretto. | |

## Published light novels

* Yūyake Tōdai no Himitsu (2011)
* Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions (2011–2017)
* Oyashiki to Coppelia (2011)
* Beyond the Boundary (2012–2013)
* Tamako Market (2013–2014)
* Myriad Colors Phantom World (2013–2016)
* High Speed! (2013–2014)
* Robot Heart Update (2015–2017)
* Violet Evergarden (2015–2020)
* Manzai Senka! (2016)
* Tsurune (2016–present)
* Kono Hoshizora ni wa Kimi ga Tarinai! (2017)
* 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku (2018)
* Mobomoga (2020)
* Jikan (2020)
* Ten'yaku-ryō no Majo (2020)
* Sakura no Furu Machi (2020)
* Umihime Mare (2022)

## International distribution

A number of titles that are produced by Kyoto Animation are distributed in North America such as Crunchyroll LLC (Funimation), ADV Films, Sentai Filmworks, Central Park Media, Netflix and Bandai Entertainment. Kanon and Air were originally licensed by ADV Films but the licenses were transferred to Funimation in 2008; whilist Bandai Entertainment previously distributed KyoAni titles such as The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Lucky Star, K-On! and Nichijou. However, Bandai Entertainment closed in 2013, and three of the four of its titles were transferred to Funimation while K-On! was moved to Sentai Filmworks where it dubbed the second season and a movie.
In Australia, where Crunchyroll Store Australia (previously known as Madman Anime) is based, they licensed a handful of KyoAni titles such as Clannad, Hyouka and Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions.