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Bones (studio)

Japanese animation studio


Summary

Japanese animation studio

FieldValue
nameBones Inc.
logoBones logo.svg
logo_captionLogo used since 2005
imageBones 2024-10-30.jpg
image_captionHeadquarters in Suginami, Tokyo
native_name株式会社ボンズ
native_name_langja
romanized_nameKabushiki-gaisha Bonzu
typeKabushiki gaisha
foundation
location3-8-3 Igusa
location_citySuginami, Tokyo
location_countryJapan
key_peopleMasahiko Minami
Hiroshi Ōsaka
Toshihiro Kawamoto
industryJapanese animation
num_employees110 (as of March 2025)
divisions
subsidBones Film
homepage

Hiroshi Ōsaka Toshihiro Kawamoto Masahiko Minami

Bones Inc. is a Japanese animation studio, with headquarters located in Igusa, Suginami, Tokyo. It has produced numerous series, including RahXephon, No. 6, Wolf's Rain, Scrapped Princess, Eureka Seven, Angelic Layer, Darker than Black, Soul Eater, Ouran High School Host Club, both the 2003 and 2009 adaptations of Fullmetal Alchemist, Star Driver, Gosick, Mob Psycho 100, Space Dandy, Noragami, Bungo Stray Dogs, Gachiakuta, and My Hero Academia.

History

Bones was founded by Sunrise staff members Masahiko Minami, Hiroshi Ōsaka and Toshihiro Kawamoto in October 1998. One of their first projects was collaborating with Sunrise on Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door, a feature film based on the Cowboy Bebop anime series.

According to Minami, the studio's name was chosen as a reference to its staff count at the time (8), which he described as being "like bones" while citing the desire to "work hard and put on some flesh".

In 2007, the studio suffered the loss of co-founder Hiroshi Ōsaka, well known for his works as character designer on series such as Mobile Suit Victory Gundam, Mobile Fighter G Gundam and The Mars Daybreak. Ōsaka had been battling with cancer, and died from the disease on September 24, 2007. He was 44 years old.

After the death of Ōsaka, two new additions have been made to the studio's board of directors: Makoto Watanabe and Takahiro Komori. Komori is well known as a character designer and animator who has been with the studio since its inception. His previous works as designer consist of Angelic Layer, Scrapped Princess, and Darker than Black.

In October 2024, Bones spun-off its production division under a separate, wholly owned subsidiary known as Bones Film. As such, all productions from 2025 onward are credited to Bones Film.

Studios

Like studio Sunrise, where some of its founders previously worked, Bones Film is divided into smaller studios which are focused on their own anime projects.

  • Studio A: Led by producer Naoki Amano; mainly known for Gosick, Wolf's Rain, Angelic Layer, Hiwou War Chronicles, Noragami and Carole & Tuesday. It's currently working on Gachiakuta.
  • Studio B: Led by producer Tatsuya Saitō; mainly known for Eureka Seven, RahXephon, Space Dandy, and Mob Psycho 100. It's currently working on My Hero Academia: Vigilantes.
  • Studio C: Led by producer Yoshihiro Ōyabu; mainly known for Fullmetal Alchemist, Darker than Black: The Black Contractor, Soul Eater, Ouran High School Host Club and My Hero Academia.
  • Studio D: Led by producer Nobuhito Takemoto; mainly known for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and No. 6. Since 2015, it works on Bungo Stray Dogs.
  • Studio E: Known for the Eureka Seven: Hi-Evolution trilogy and Metallic Rouge.
  • Studio F: The newest studio; It's currently working on an unknown new project as of 2024.

Productions

Anime television series

YearTitleDirector(s)Eps.StudioNote(s)2000–20012001200220032003–200420042005–200620062006–200720072008–200920082009–2010200920102010–2011201120122012–201320132013–20142014201520162017201820192019–202020212021–20222022–202320222023202420252026TBA
Hiwou War ChroniclesTetsurō Amino26AOriginal work.
Angelic Layer: Battle DollHiroshi Nishikiori26ABased on a manga by CLAMP.
RahXephonYutaka Izubuchi26BOriginal work.
Wolf's RainTensai Okamura30AOriginal work.
Scrapped PrincessSōichi Masui24BBased on a light novel by Ichirō Sakaki.
Fullmetal AlchemistSeiji Mizushima51CBased on a manga by Hiromu Arakawa.
Features a partially anime original storyline.
Mars DaybreakKunihiro Mori26BOriginal work.
Kurau Phantom MemoryYasuhiro Irie24AOriginal work.
Eureka SevenTomoki Kyoda51BOriginal work.
Ouran High School Host ClubTakuya Igarashi26CBased on a manga by Bisco Hatori.
Jyu-Oh-SeiHiroshi Nishikiori11ABased on a manga by Natsumi Itsuki.
Ghost Slayers AyashiHiroshi Nishikiori
Yoshikazu Miyao (assistant)25AOriginal work.
Darker than Black: The Black ContractorTensai Okamura25COriginal work.
Skull ManTakeshi Mori13BBased on a manga by Shotaro Ishinomori.
Soul EaterTakuya Igarashi51CBased on a manga by Atsushi Ōkubo.
Chiko, Heiress of the Phantom ThiefNobuo Tomisawa22N/ABased on a manga by Shinji Ohara (co-production with Telecom Animation Film).
Fullmetal Alchemist: BrotherhoodYasuhiro Irie64DSecond adaptation of Hiromu Arakawa's Fullmetal Alchemist manga.
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0Masaki Tachibana11N/AOriginal work (co-production with Kinema Citrus).
Darker than Black: Gemini of the MeteorTensai Okamura12CSequel to Darker Than Black.
HeromanHitoshi Nanba26AOriginal work in collaboration with Stan Lee.
Star DriverTakuya Igarashi25COriginal work.
GosickHitoshi Nanba24ABased on a light novel by Kazuki Sakuraba.
No. 6Kenji Nagasaki11DBased on the novels by Atsuko Asano.
Un-GoSeiji Mizushima12CBased on the works of Ango Sakaguchi.
Eureka Seven: AOTomoki Kyoda24A/BSequel to Eureka Seven.
Blast of TempestMasahiro Andō24DBased on a manga by Kyō Shirodaira.
Otona Joshi no Anime Time: Life's Best 10Miura You1BEpisode 3 of Otona Joshi no Anime Time television specials.
Tenkai KnightsMitsuru Hongo52COriginal work.
First run in United States, on Cartoon Network.
Space DandyShinichirō Watanabe (chief)
Shingo Natsume13BOriginal work.
First run in United States, on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block.
NoragamiKotaro Tamura12ABased on the manga by Adachitoka.
Captain EarthTakuya Igarashi24COriginal work.
Soul Eater Not!Masakazu Hashimoto12ABased on a manga by Atsushi Ōkubo
Spin-off to Soul Eater.
Chaika - The Coffin PrincessSoichi Masui12DBased on a light novel by Ichirō Sakaki.
Space Dandy 2Shinichirō Watanabe (chief)
Shingo Natsume13BFirst run in United States, on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block.
Chaika - The Coffin Princess: Avenging BattleSoichi Masui10D
Blood Blockade BattlefrontRie Matsumoto12A/CBased on the manga by Yasuhiro Nightow
Show by Rock!!Takahiro Ikezoe12DBased on a video game by Geechs and Sanrio.
Snow White with the Red HairMasahiro Andō12BBased on the manga by Sorata Akizuki.
Noragami AragotoKotaro Tamura13A
Concrete RevolutioSeiji Mizushima13COriginal work.
Snow White with the Red Hair 2Masahiro Andō12B
Concrete Revolutio: The Last SongSeiji Mizushima11C
My Hero AcademiaKenji Nagasaki13ABased on the manga by Kōhei Horikoshi.
Bungo Stray DogsTakuya Igarashi12DBased on the manga by Kafka Asagiri.
Show by Rock!! Short!!Takahiro Ikezoe12DShort anime based on Show by Rock!!.
Mob Psycho 100Yuzuru Tachikawa12BBased on the manga by One.
Show by Rock 2!!Takahiro Ikezoe12D
Bungo Stray Dogs 2Takuya Igarashi12D
My Hero Academia 2Kenji Nagasaki25C
Blood Blockade Battlefront & BeyondShigehito Takayanagi12B
My Hero Academia 3Kenji Nagasaki25C
Dragon Pilot: Hisone and MasotanShinji Higuchi (chief)
Hiroshi Kobayashi12AOriginal work.
Mob Psycho 100 IIYuzuru Tachikawa13B
Carole & TuesdayShinichirō Watanabe (chief)
Motonobu Hori24AOriginal work.
Bungo Stray Dogs 3Takuya Igarashi12D
My Hero Academia 4Kenji Nagasaki (chief)
Masahiro Mukai25C
SK8 the InfinityHiroko Utsumi12DOriginal work.
Bungo Stray Dogs Wan!Toshihiro Kikuchi12N/ABased on the spin-off manga of Bungo Stray Dogs by Kafka Asagiri. (co-production with Nomad)
My Hero Academia 5Kenji Nagasaki (chief)
Masahiro Mukai25C
Godzilla Singular PointAtsushi Takahashi13AOriginal work in the Godzilla franchise (co-production with Orange).
The Case Study of VanitasTomoyuki Itamura24ABased on the manga by Jun Mochizuki.
My Hero Academia 6Kenji Nagasaki (chief)
Masahiro Mukai25C
Mob Psycho 100 IIIYuzuru Tachikawa (chief)
Takahiro Hasui12B
Bungo Stray Dogs 4Takuya Igarashi13D
Bungo Stray Dogs 5Takuya Igarashi11D
Metallic RougeMotonobu Hori13EOriginal work.
My Hero Academia 7Kenji Nagasaki (chief)
Naomi Nakayama21C
The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be ArchenemiesAkiyo Ohashi12DBased on the manga by Cocoa Fujiwara.
My Hero Academia: VigilantesKenichi Suzuki13BBased on the spin-off manga of My Hero Academia by Hideyuki Furuhashi and Betten Court.
GachiakutaFumihiko Suganuma24ABased on the manga by Kei Urana.
My Hero Academia 8Kenji Nagasaki (chief)
Naomi Nakayama11C
My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Season 2Kenichi SuzukiB
Daemons of the Shadow RealmMasahiro AndōBased on the manga by Hiromu Arakawa.
MarriagetoxinMotonobu HoriBased on the manga by Joumyaku and Mizuki Yoda.
Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! 2Toshihiro KikuchiCo-production with Nomad.
SK8 the Infinity 2Hiroko UtsumiD
Gachiakuta Season 2A
Fate RewinderRie MatsumotoBased on the manga by Fūta Kimura.

Anime films

YearTitleDirector(s)Dur.StudioNote(s)20002001200320052007200920112013201720182019202020212024
EscaflowneKazuki Akane98mB
Cowboy Bebop: The MovieShinichirō Watanabe115mB
RahXephon: Pluralitas ConcentioTomoki Kyoda115mB
Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of ShamballaSeiji Mizushima105mC
Sword of the StrangerMasahiro Andō102mB
Eureka Seven: Pocketful of RainbowsTomoki Kyoda (chief)
Hiroshi Haraguchi115mN/ACo-production with Kinema Citrus.
Towa no Quon: The Ephemeral PetalsUmanosuke Iida
Takeshi Mori (assistant)48mB
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of MilosKazuya Murata111mD
Towa no Quon: Dancing Orchid in ChaosUmanosuke Iida
Takeshi Mori (assistant)48mB
Towa no Quon: The Complicity of DreamsUmanosuke Iida
Takeshi Mori (assistant)48mB
Towa no Quon: The Roaring AnxietyUmanosuke Iida
Takeshi Mori (assistant)48mB
Towa no Quon: The Return of the InvincibleUmanosuke Iida
Takeshi Mori (assistant)48mB
Un-Go: Chapter of IngaSeiji Mizushima48mC
Towa no Quon: Eternal QuonUmanosuke Iida
Takeshi Mori (assistant)48mB
Star Driver: The MovieTakuya Igarashi150mC
Eureka Seven: Hi-Evolution 1Tomoki Kyoda (chief)
Hisatoshi Shimizu93mE
Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead AppleTakuya Igarashi90mD
My Hero Academia: Two HeroesKenji Nagasaki96mC
Anemone - Eureka Seven: Hi-EvolutionTomoki Kyoda94mE
My Hero Academia: Heroes RisingKenji Nagasaki104mC
Josee, the Tiger and the FishKotaro Tamura98mD
My Hero Academia: World Heroes' MissionKenji Nagasaki104mC
Eureka - Eureka Seven: Hi-EvolutionTomoki Kyoda116mE
My Hero Academia: You're NextTensai Okamura110mB

Original net animation

YearTitleDirector(s)Eps.StudioNote(s)2008–2009201820212024
Xam'd: Lost MemoriesMasayuki Miyaji26BPlayStation Network; Original work
A.I.C.O. -Incarnation-Kazuya Murata12ANetflix; Original work
Super CrooksMotonobu Hori13BNetflix; Based on the comic book series by Mark Millar
Time Patrol BonMasahiro Andō24ANetflix; Based on the manga series by Fujiko F. Fujio

Original video animation

  • RahXephon Interlude: Her and Herself/Thatness and Thereness (August 7, 2003)
  • Wolf's Rain (January 23, 2004 – February 25, 2004)
  • Fullmetal Alchemist: Premium Collection (March 29, 2006)
  • Ghost Slayers Ayashi: Ayashi Diving Comedy (August 22, 2007 – October 24, 2007)
  • Darker than Black: Beneath the Fully Bloomed Cherry Blossoms (March 26, 2008)
  • Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (August 26, 2009 – August 25, 2010)
  • Prototype (part of Halo Legends) (2010)
  • Darker than Black: Gaiden (January 27, 2010 – July 21, 2010)
  • Eureka Seven Ao: The Flowers of Jungfrau (September 20, 2012)
  • Noragami (February 17, 2014 - July 17, 2014)
  • Hitsugi no Chaika (March 10, 2015)
  • Noragami Aragoto (November 17, 2015 - March 17, 2016)
  • Snow White with the Red Hair (January 5, 2016)
  • Blood Blockade Battlefront (June 3, 2016)
  • Eureka Seven Ao:Final (January 2017)
  • Bungo Stray Dogs (August 31, 2017)
  • Mob Psycho 100 Reigen -The Miraculous Unknown Psychic- (March 18, 2018)
  • My Hero Academia - All Might: Rising (February 13, 2019)
  • Mob Psycho 100: The Spirits and Such Consultation Office's First Company Outing A Healing Trip that Warms the Heart (September 25, 2019)
  • SK8 the Infinity Extra Part (March 19, 2025)

Video games

  • Robot Alchemic Drive (Enix, November 4, 2002)
  • Rahxephon Blu Sky Fantasia (Bandai, August 7, 2003)
  • Fullmetal Alchemist and the Broken Angel (Square Enix, December 25, 2003)
  • Fullmetal Alchemist: Stray Rondo (Bandai, March 25, 2004)
  • Fullmetal Alchemist: Sonata of Memories (Bandai, July 22, 2004)
  • Fullmetal Alchemist 2: Curse of the Crimson Elixir (Square Enix, September 22, 2004)
  • Fullmetal Alchemist 3: The Girl Who Succeed God (Square Enix, July 21, 2005)
  • Eureka Seven vol. 1: The New Wave (Bandai, October 27, 2005)
  • Eureka Seven vol. 2: The New Vision (Bandai, May 11, 2006)
  • Soul Eater: Monotone Princess (Square Enix, September 25, 2008)
  • Fullmetal Alchemist: Prince of the Dawn (Square Enix, August 13, 2009)
  • Fullmetal Alchemist: Daughter of the Dusk (Square Enix, December 10, 2009)
  • Liberation Maiden (Part of Guild01; Level-5, May 31, 2012)
  • Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (Capcom/Level-5, November 29, 2012)
  • Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies (Capcom, July 25, 2013)
  • Persona 4: Dancing All Night (Atlus, June 25, 2015)

Music videos

  • Lotte music video「Baby I love you daze」 - Shinsekai by Bump of Chicken, Directed by Rie Matsumoto (December 11, 2018)
  • Pokémon Special Music Video「GOTCHA!」- Acacia by BUMP OF CHICKEN, Directed by Rie Matsumoto (The Pokémon Company/Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc., September 29, 2020)

Notes

References

References

  1. "(株)ボンズ【BONES INC.】の新卒採用・会社概要".
  2. "Company info".
  3. Meenan, Devin. (May 30, 2024). "How Studio Bones Made One Of The Best Anime Shows Ever – Twice".
  4. (2018-10-25). "【イベントレポート】「ボンズ20周年記念展」明日から、"骨のある"作品群を豊富な資料で振り返る". Natasha Inc.
  5. (September 24, 2007). "Bones Co-Founder Hiroshi Ōsaka Passes Away". [[Anime News Network]].
  6. "Bones Company Info". Bones.
  7. Cayanan, Joanna. (2 October 2024). "Studio BONES Spins Off Production Department as New Company BONES FILM". Anime News Network.
  8. liborek. (October 27, 2018). "BONES' 20th Anniversary – What Lies in the Future?".
  9. "アニメ会社紹介(作オタ視点) - 作画@wiki".
  10. "BONES".
  11. (August 9, 2024). "Interview mit Studio BONES-Mitgründer Toshihiro Kawamoto".
  12. Hodgkins, Crystalyn. (March 28, 2021). "The Case Study of Vanitas Manga Gets TV Anime This Summer by BONES".
  13. Mateo, Alex. (March 22, 2023). "Fuji TV Announces New Metallic Rouge Anime by BONES".
  14. Cayanan, Joanna. (January 18, 2024). "The Magical Girl and The Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies Anime Unveils Teaser Visual, Main Cast, July Debut".
  15. Hodgkins, Crystalyn. (December 21, 2024). "My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Spinoff Manga Gets TV Anime in April 2025".
  16. link. Natasha, Inc. (January 21, 2025)
  17. Hodgkins, Crystalyn. (September 13, 2025). "Daemons of the Shadow Realm Anime Reveals Main Cast, 2026 Debut in Video".
  18. Mateo, Alex. (September 30, 2025). "Marriage Toxin Manga Gets TV Anime".
  19. Hodgkins, Crystalyn. (November 1, 2025). "Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! Spinoff Anime Gets 2nd Season in 2026".
  20. link. Natasha, Inc. (July 10, 2025)
  21. Pineda, Rafael Antonio. (June 7, 2019). "Mob Psycho 100 OVA Reveals Title, Visual, September Release".
  22. Mateo, Alex. (October 11, 2024). "Sk8 the Infinity OVA Reveals March 19 Release with Theatrical Premiere on January 24".
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