Walt Disney Animation Japan

was an animation studio located in Tokyo, Japan that produced feature films and television series for Disneytoon Studios, the Disney division charged with spinoff properites from established Disney characters. The studio was founded in 1989 with the acquisition of Pacific Animation Corporation and by ex-employees of Toei Animation and Tokyo Movie Shinsha; The studio was founded by Motoyoshi Tokunaga, an ex TMS producer.
In contrast with Walt Disney Animation Australia, Walt Disney Japan's expertise was attention to action scenes as opposed to facial expressions and emotion. As a result, often on direct-to-video Disney films, Walt Disney Australia would be used for the comedic scenes and Walt Disney Japan would be used for the action sequences. This is evident in both The Return of Jafar and Aladdin and the King of Thieves.
In 2003, Disney announced that they would shut down the studio, which then employed 103 local animators and artists. The closure was a part of Disney's shift from traditional hand-drawn animation to computer animation, and it was explained with: "...after reviewing our business plans and production requirements, we determined we no longer can support this additional production capacity." Completing their last project Pooh's Heffalump Movie, Walt Disney Animation Japan closed in June 2004. Thirty members of the staff were supposed to be transferred to Disney's US headquarters or to affiliates but most of them ended up at Madhouse, Studio Pierrot or Production I.G due to their lack of English, while the rest moved to The Answer Studio, Motoyoshi Tokunaga's new animation studio, which opened in place of WDAJ.
==Filmography==
===Films===
* The Return of Jafar (1994)
* Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996)
* Pooh's Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin (1997)
* Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998)
* Hercules: Zero to Hero (1999)
* Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas (1999)
* The Tigger Movie (2000)
* Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (2000)
* Cinderella II: Dreams Come True (2002)
* The Hunchback of Notre Dame II (2002)
* 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure (2003)
* Piglet's Big Movie (2003)
* Mulan II (2005)
* Pooh's Heffalump Movie (2005)
===TV series===
* Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985–1991) - 17,5 episodes.
* The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1988–1991) - 0,5 episode: To Catch a Hiccup.
* Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (1989–1990) - at least 14 episodes.
* TaleSpin (1990–1991) - 27 episodes.
* Darkwing Duck (1991–1992) - 14 episodes.
* Goof Troop (1992–1993) - 5 episodes.
* The Little Mermaid (1992–1994) - 19 episodes.
* Bonkers (1993–1994) - 14 episodes.
* Aladdin (1994–1995) - 14 episodes.
* Gargoyles (1994–1997) - 14 episodes.
* The Mighty Ducks (1996–1997) - 1 episode.
* 101 Dalmatians: The Series (1997–1998) - 12 episodes.
* Hercules: The Animated Series (1998–1999) - 7 episodes. 
* Mickey Mouse Works (1999–2000) (The last TV animation done by Walt Disney Animation Japan before closure in 2004)
===Shorts===
*The Cat That Looked at a King (2004)
==Gallery==
Walt_Disney_Animation_Japan_Memo.jpg
==External links==
* Walt Disney Animation Japan at the Internet Movie Database
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