Tokyo Anime Award
In 2009, Shinbo and Oishi directed "Bakemonogatari", which was later characterized as a hallmark of the studio's unique aesthetics. It gained a cult-like following among fans in both Japan and the West for its narrative and "visually striking" animation and artistic qualities. Polygon named it as the series that "pushed studio Shaft into the spotlight", and the series was chosen as the "best anime series of 2009" by the Tokyo Anime Award Festival in 2017. Following "Bakemonogatari", the studio produced yet another critical and financial hit two years later with "Puella Magi Madoka Magica". "Madoka Magica" is regarded by several publications and critics as one of the greatest anime productions of all time, and the series' financial and critical success spawned a franchise consisting of several films, television series, and games produced in part or in whole by Shaft. Along with the "Monogatari" series, "Madoka Magica" is considered to be one of the most financially successful anime products in Japan, with both series maintaining the highest average sales of DVDs, Blu-Rays, and re-releases in Japan. In 2012, the studio returned to animating the "Monogatari" series with "Nisemonogatari", albeit with director Tomoyuki Itamura in place of Oishi. Itamura and Shinbo produced a subsequent "Monogatari" season every year up until "Zoku Owarimonogatari" (2018), which is the only "Monogatari" season to feature Shinbo as the sole director.