Currently, many anime production companies are creating a wide variety of anime to entertain us. However, I think the majority of people know about anime, but don't know anything about anime production companies and have no interest in them. However, if you research anime production companies, you will find that the companies that make the anime you like are almost always the same. Furthermore, each anime production company has a different style, so if you research them, you will be able to enjoy anime even more. In this article, we will introduce the anime production company "J.C.STAFF".
What is J.C.STAFF?
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J.C.STAFF is a major anime production company that handles everything from planning to production of animation. Founded in 1986, the company has a long history and employs about 160 people, which is a lot for an anime company. The company is headquartered in Tokyo and its name is "JAPAN CREATIVE STAFF" or "J.C.STAFF" for short.
Characteristics of J.C.STAFF
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This is an animation company founded in 1986 by Miyata Tomoyuki, who was originally from Tatsunoko Productions as a planner, and later worked as a producer at Mitaka Studio. In anime production, the work is generally outsourced to various companies to create the anime, but J.C.STAFF is a rare category among anime companies in that it handles a series of tasks such as management, drawing, finishing, background art, photography, and 3D in-house. However, by consolidating everything in-house, communication becomes easier, there is less chance of misunderstandings among staff, and high-quality anime can be produced. This is also adopted by another anime company, Kyoto Animation.
J.C.STAFF's style
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Since its founding, the company has not attempted to produce works that are one season long (12-13 episodes in total), but instead focused on producing OVAs (original video animations, which are anime that are not broadcast in anime or theaters and can only be viewed by purchasing discs (DVDs or Blu-rays). Recently, they have been included as a bonus with Blu-rays of broadcast anime.) and movie versions, but from 1994's "Metal Fighter MIKU" they began to produce as a prime contractor (planned by the company). Although they have produced many anime, it is true that there are many hits and misses. However, as a major company, I think that the animation and direction are maintained at a high standard. They also handle a wide range of anime genres, from battles to romantic comedies.
J.C.STAFF's Prime Anime Ranking
10th Place: Little Busters
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The original is a romance adventure game produced by the game brand Key. Key is the company behind "AIR", "Clannad", "Angel Beats", and more. This time, the story is based on the theme of "friendship". The protagonist, Naoe Riki, asks his childhood friend Kyosuke, who has just returned from job hunting, if they can do something together as the four of them (the Little Busters) like they used to. Kyosuke, the leader of the Little Busters, picks up a ball nearby and declares, "Let's make a baseball team." At first glance, it may seem like a sports-centric story, but it also incorporates the tear-jerking and comedy elements that are characteristic of Key's works, so it's recommended for those who want to cry and those who like friendship anime.
9th place Shakugan no Shana
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This work was serialized as a light novel by Dengeki Bunko and was made into an anime in 2005. Due to the popularity of the anime, it has been broadcast for three seasons and a movie version has also been produced and released. It's a modern fantasy supernatural battle story, in which the main character, who lives an extraordinary high school life, one day gets caught up in a battle between the inhabitants of another world, the Crimson Denizens, and the supernatural beings, the Flame Hazes. He meets a girl with supernatural powers who appears, and gets caught up in the daily battles, sometimes working together to defeat powerful foes. The voice actress for the girl, Shana, is Kugimiya Rie. If you're a fan of Kugimiya, I definitely recommend watching this.
8th place Aria the Scarlet Ammo
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The anime Aria the Scarlet Ammo is an animated adaptation of a light novel that began serialization in 2008. The original is a long-selling series that is still on sale, with 29 volumes of the existing main story on sale. It was made into an anime in 2011 and aired for one season (12 episodes in total). In a world where using force to combat violent crimes is the norm, the protagonist, Toyama Kinji, attends a high school that trains Butei, detectives who make a living from such work. Kinji wanted to lead a normal high school life, but one day he meets a girl with an S rank Butei and gets caught up in an incident. From then on, he pairs up with the girl and solves various cases together. The characters are set to be the reincarnation of great figures, so people who like famous historical figures will enjoy the story.
7th place: The Familiar of Zero
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Serialized as a light novel since 2004, it has been released in 22 volumes. It was made into an anime in 2006, and became a hit, with four seasons produced and broadcast. It is a fantasy story set in another world. One day, the protagonist, a normal high school student named Saito Hiraga, is summoned by a magical girl living in another world and sent to that world. The girl attends a magic school, but has no talent, and is ridiculed by the other students for summoning a human. The two form a master-servant relationship, and get caught up in various problems, which they solve in a series that also includes battle elements. If you like stories about reincarnation in another world, be sure to check it out.
6th Place: Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
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Serialized as a light novel since 2013, 13 volumes have been released. In 2015, it was made into an anime series, which was produced and broadcast for one season (13 episodes in total). It's a completely fantasy story in which gods descend upon the world, and by joining a god's familia you can use the god's blessings (power, level, skills). Using that power, you can challenge the vast underground labyrinth dungeon. The protagonist is inspired by heroic tales and joins the goddess Hestia's familia, and despite not having any powers, he works hard every day to become the hero he dreams of. This is a work that will be enjoyed by people who like RPGs and stories set in other worlds.
5th place: A Certain Scientific Railgun
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This is an anime adaptation of the manga that was serialized as a spin-off (side story) of A Certain Magical Index. The anime was also popular and was produced and broadcast in two seasons. Misaka Mikoto, who appears in A Certain Magical Index, is one of only seven people in Academy City with level 5 psychic powers, and her role as Railgun master is to solve various problems. This is a spin-off of the main story, A Certain Magical Index, and depicts the story behind the scenes. Terms and characters from the main story also appear, so it's probably best to watch it after A Certain Magical Index.
4th Place Bakuman
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Serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 2008. It was made into an anime in 2010, and due to its popularity, three seasons were produced and broadcast. The main character, Mashiro Makoto, was influenced by his uncle, who was a manga artist, and has been drawing since he was a child. Despite his high artistic ability, he spent his time without any goals until he was in the third year of junior high school. One day, his classmate, Takagi Akito, invites him to join him in becoming a manga artist. As soon as they enter high school, they decide to seriously pursue the career, but the two of them work together to overcome the difficult path to becoming a professional in this youthful manga anime. It is drawn very realistically, so it is worth a watch for manga fans. Of course, there are romantic comedy elements as well!
3rd Place: The Pet Girl of Sakurasou
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Serialized as a light novel since 2010, it has been completed with 13 volumes released. In 2012, it was made into an anime and aired for 2 seasons (24 episodes in total). The main character, Sorata Kanda, attends Suimei Art University High School and works hard every day to become a game designer. However, when it is discovered that he keeps a cat in his student dorm, he is kicked out and ends up moving to Sakurasou, a neighborhood full of eccentric people. The residents of Sakurasou are all eccentric, but they are all geniuses when it comes to creativity. One day, the world-famous painter Shiina Mashiro moves in. This is a youthful romantic comedy anime about Sorata, who is appointed to look after Mashiro, and the girl as they forge ahead towards their dreams.
2nd Place: A Certain Magical Index
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A light novel published by Dengeki Bunko. 45 volumes have been published so far, and it is still being serialized. It was made into an anime in 2008 and is currently airing two seasons. The third season is scheduled to air in the fall of 2018. In a world where psychic powers have been proven by science, boys and girls attend a high school where they can awaken and develop their psychic powers in Academy City, a city where psychic powers are studied. One day, the protagonist, Kamijou Touma, who has no powers (Level 0), picks up a pure white sister. It is the Forbidden Index, a secret of the Magician's Church that has nothing to do with science. This is the story of Kamijou Touma, who gets caught up in a conflict between the science side and the magic side. It is a very famous work, and the story is easy to watch even for those who are not familiar with anime.
1st place: Toradora!
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Serialization began as a light novel in 2006, and the series was completed with the release of 10 volumes of the main story. In 2008, it was made into an anime series that aired for two seasons (25 episodes in total). This is a youth romantic comedy story about the main character, Takasu Ryuji, who inherited his father's mean look in his eyes and is mistaken for a delinquent and feared by many, and Aisaka Taiga, a violent girl known as the "palm-sized tiger" who is impossible to control when angry. The two meet by chance, and by chance realize that their two best friends are in love with each other, and they form a cooperative relationship. It's a sweet and heartbreaking youth romantic comedy. This is a highly recommended work, and it's an anime that will make you want to go back to being a student. Please do check it out.
J.C.STAFF Summary
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This time, we introduced the anime production company J.C.STAFF. They produce some really great anime, so please check out their other works. Thank you for reading.
