Currently, many anime production companies are creating various anime to entertain us. However, I think that most people know about anime, but don't know 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 the same. Furthermore, the style of anime varies depending on the anime production company, so if you research them, you will be able to enjoy anime even more. This time, we will introduce the anime production company "SHAFT".
What is SHAFT?
SHAFT is a Japanese anime production company with its headquarters in Tokyo. It is a company with a long history, founded in 1975.
Characteristics of Shaft
Source: Shaft ©Shaft
Originally affiliated with Mushi Production, Hiroshi Wakao established Shaft Ltd., a studio that only handled finishing work, in 1975. When the company was first established, it worked on finishing the production of animations produced by Studio Deen, a production company established in the same year, as well as Shin-Ei Animation and Nippon Sunrise (Sunrise). In the 1980s, they started to work as a subcontractor, and went from being a finishing studio to a production company that handles all aspects of anime production. In the 2000s, they were in charge of the gross contract for the DVD bonus short film for "Aim for the Top!", directed by Anno Hideaki.
Shaft's Style
Source: Shaft ©Shaft
Shaft became famous overnight due to its unique direction and camera angles. Although there were other great anime before that, I think many people first learned about the company Shaft through the success of Bakemonogatari! They then acquired the Shaft brand with Puella Magi Madoka Magica. If you watch these two works, I think you'll understand Shaft's unique approach to production.
Shaft's Anime Production Ranking
8th Place: Hidamari Sketch
Source: Shaft ©Shaft
This is a four-panel manga that began serialization in Manga Time Kirara Carat in 2004. It is still being serialized. It was made into an anime in 2007, and because it is so popular, it has been produced and broadcast for four seasons. The main character, Yuno, has passed the entrance exam for her dream school, Yamabuki High School, in the art department. However, because the high school is far from her home, she ends up living in Hidamari-sou, an apartment building right in front of the school. This anime depicts the funny and amusing daily lives of six classmates and new girls who live in the apartment. As this is a slice-of-life anime, it is recommended for people who want to watch an anime without thinking too hard.
7th place Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
Source: Shaft © Shaft
Serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine from 2005 and ended in 2012. In 2007, it was made into an anime and was so popular that it was produced and broadcast for three seasons. It's spring, and Kafura Kafuka, a girl who can only see everything in a positive way, is full of hope. He meets Itoshiki Nozomu, a man who can only see everything negatively, who is about to hang himself under a cherry tree. Two people who should never meet, positive and negative, end up meeting. Fuura's class is filled with eccentric students. Nozomu, who had been about to hang himself earlier, appears. He is actually Fuura's homeroom teacher. This is a slapstick comedy anime featuring people with various personalities.
6th place: Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko
Source: Shaft © Shaft
This is a light novel that has been serialized in Dengeki Bunko since 2009. Nine volumes have been released. It was made into an anime in 2011 and aired for a total of 12 episodes. The protagonist, Niwa Makoto, has to live in the house of his aunt, Fujiwa Onnahisa, who lives alone, due to his parents' work. When he arrives at his aunt's house and enters, he finds a rolled up futon with an object growing out of it. It turns out to be his aunt's daughter, Fujiwa Erio, and his cousin. She's a self-proclaimed alien radio wave girl who has been missing for the past six months, claims to have been abducted by aliens, and claims to be an alien herself. This is a romantic comedy anime about Makoto, who takes care of Erio, and his classmates. Erio is very cute, so it's definitely worth a watch.
5th Place: March Comes in Like a Lion
Source: Shaft © Shaft
Serialized in Young Animal since 2007 and still ongoing. In 2016, it was made into an anime, with a total of 44 episodes produced and broadcast. The main character, Rei Kiriyama, lost his parents in a traffic accident when he was young. He was taken in by the Koda family, who were shogi players and friends of his father, and became an apprentice in shogi. His talent was greater than that of the Koda children, and he became a professional shogi player at the age of 15. He did not get along with the Koda children, and began living alone. However, while he continued to struggle in his daily life and with shogi, he was forced to drink alcohol with a senior shogi player, and was taken care of by Akari Kawamoto when he was drunk. From then on, the story is about a boy who, while being taken care of by the Kawamoto family, faces his past, present, and shogi. There is also a solid discussion of shogi, so if you are interested in shogi, be sure to check it out.
4th place Nisekoi
Source: Shaft ©Shaft
Serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2011 to 2016. Anime adaptation was produced and broadcast in 2014 for two seasons. The protagonist, Ichijou Raku, met a girl when he was young. Love blossomed between the two, but they had to say goodbye. The girl gave him a lock and the words "Zaku Shine Love." They vowed to get the item from the box with the key when they meet when they grow up and marry each other. 10 years later, Raku, who is now a high school student, meets a transfer student named Chitoge Kirisaki and they start dating (fake love) due to family circumstances. This is a romantic comedy anime about her and her classmates.
3rd place ef-a tale of memorise
Source: Shaft ©Shaft
The original game was made into an anime in 2007. A total of 12 episodes were broadcast. The story is based on "ef". It is a slightly different worldview from the game, but is depicted in parallel. It is a romance anime, but it is a very moving work. There is a second season of this work, "ef - a tale of melodies." This will be the last season of the anime, so I recommend watching it together. The ending will make you cry, so please have a bath towel ready.
2nd Place Bakemonogatari
Source: Shaft © Shaft
The original work is a novel by Nisio Isin, and was made into an anime in 2009. There are so many works that it is called the "Monogatari Series". The main character, Araragi Koyomi, has a recovery ability several levels higher than humans because he helped a vampire he met during spring break. One day, he met Senjougahara Hitagi, who he had never spoken to before. Senjougahara had no weight that could be called anything and was so light that she could be lifted with one hand. Araragi realized that this was the work of a "monster," so he introduced Senjougahara to the specialist who had been looking after her. This story, set in such a mysterious worldview, is so fascinating that once you start watching, you won't be able to stop. It's a work that everyone should definitely see at least once.
1st Place Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Source: Shaft © Shaft
This is an original anime by Shaft that began broadcasting in 2011 and was produced in 12 episodes. It is an anime with a dark world view that wiped out the image of magical girls up until now. The influence of this anime has made magical girls that have appeared since then no longer purely magical girls. I think it will be more enjoyable if I don't explain too much, so I will refrain from explaining, but please watch up to episode 3. You will not be able to take your eyes off it from then on.
SHAFT Summary
Source: SHAFT ©SHAFT
An anime company famous for its unique worldview. Please check it out. That's all for now. Thank you for reading.
