Studio Zero

**Studio Zero** ( スタジオ・ゼロ ) was an animation studio that was founded in 1963, by Shinichi Suzuki and others of Tokiwa-so. It existed up until 1971, when it was dissolved and became a privately-held company by Suzuki.

## History

The studio was established on March 8, 1963, by Shinichi Suzuki, Shotaro Ishimori, Jiro Tsunoda, Kiyoichi Tsunoda, and the Fujiko Fujio duo. Fujio Akatsuka would later join the roster as well.

With the intent of bringing back the glory days of the Tokiwa-so era, the initial rented building had been lackluster, having been a former boxing gym in Nakano that would receive the mocking name of "Studio Boro". In 1965, however, the group would move operations to the Ichikawa Building in Shinjuku, where Fujio Pro would also reside, along with Fujiko Pro and Jiro Tsunoda's own company.

At the peak of the studio's production days, nearly 100 employees were hard at work but as animation jobs became less due to sponsors pulling out, these employees gradually left and were hired at rival companies. Compounding this was the fact that many of the founders became too busy with their manga serialization work to devote time to anime, except for Suzuki himself.

Even after the dissolution of the studio, the Ichikawa building continued to bear a "Studio Zero" sign up until 2003 when it was taken down.

## Manga Credits

* Rainbow Sentai Robin- Ishinomori would retain authorship rights
* Q-taro the Ghost- Initially a Studio Zero collaboration until it solely became a Fujiko Fujio work, and then the rights were eventually decided to belong to F (Hiroshi Fujimoto)
* Opposite Address 3- The magazine credits list "Studio Zero", though it was solely the work of Fujio Akatsuka and Jiro Tsunoda.

## Animated Works

* Tetsuwan Atom episode #34 “Midoro Marsh”
* Osomatsu-kun (1966)- Alternated production with Childrens Corner
* Perman (1967)- Alternated production with Tokyo Movie
* Kaibutsu-kun- Alternated production with Tokyo Movie
* Umeboshi Denka- Alternated production with Tokyo Movie
* Sabu and Ichi's Detective Tales- Alternated production with Toei Animation and Mushi Production
* Fun Times Anime Theatre
* Tonari no Tamageta-kun- Contract with Tohoku Shinsha
* Chobin the Star Child- Contract with Watanabe Planning

### Other Involvement

* Ninja Hattori-kun (Live Action)- Title pictures (the work of Fujiko Fujio A)
* Rainbow Sentai Robin- Planning and creation. Suzuki would also work as an animation director on the title.
* Moomin (1969)- Drawing cooperation
* Doraemon (1973)- Editing
* Perman (1983)- Production cooperation

### Unproduced or Unreleased Works

* Kinnaru Yatsura (by Shotaro Ishimori)- Concept art and storyboards for a pilot exist, but it is unknown how far it went.
* Extraordinary Ataro (by Fujio Akatsuka)- Announced as having been in "planning" stage in July 1968, with intent to start broadcasting in October 1968 before it was then slated to simply be "under consideration" in December.
* The Genius Bakabon (by Fujio Akatsuka)- After the failure of Nippon TV Douga to get their pitch any further than a pilot film, Studio Zero stated in December 1968 that Bakabon was also "under consideration" but appeared to never progress to a pilot stage.
* 21 Emon (by Fujiko Fujio, later copyright of F)- In October 1968, it was announced that a series to air in the spring of 1969 was "in progress", but it is unknown if it even made it to a pilot film before the plans fell through.
* Tank Tankuro (by Gajo Sakamoto)- Announced for a series to air October 1969, and a pilot was completed but has never surfaced.
* Q-taro the Ghost (by Fujiko Fujio, later copyright of F)- Pilot film
* Kaibutsu-kun (by Fujiko Fujio, later copyright of A)- Pilot film

## External Links

* "Anime that Never Saw the Sun!" Write-ups of anime series that never came to be (Archived, Japanese)