CloverWorks

CloverWorks is a Japanese animation studio headquartered in Suginami, Tokyo. The studio was established as a distinct brand on April 1, 2018, when A-1 Pictures rebranded its Kōenji Studio. The change created a second identifiable production identity alongside A-1 Pictures' Asagaya Studio, while retaining the production capabilities and corporate connection associated with A-1 Pictures. CloverWorks subsequently became known as a separate studio brand within the Aniplex group rather than simply continuing to appear under the A-1 Pictures name. The transition took place while several productions were already in progress or being credited under A-1 Pictures. Four titles are specifically associated with the change of studio credit: Slow Start, Darling in the Franxx, Persona 5: The Animation, and the second season of Ace Attorney. The timing differed by project. Slow Start changed its credited studio after its original television run had ended, while Darling in the Franxx changed its studio credit during production. These changes illustrate that CloverWorks was initially introduced through a rebranding and credit-transition process rather than through the launch of an entirely new production organization. On October 1, 2018, CloverWorks announced that it had separated from A-1 Pictures as a corporate entity. Despite that separation, it remained a subsidiary of Aniplex, Aniplex's parent-group relationship placing the studio within the broader Sony Music Entertainment Japan entertainment structure. CloverWorks therefore operates as an animation-production company with its own name and creative identity while remaining connected to a larger Japanese media and anime-production network. Its work spans television anime, films, original net animations and original video animations, as well as animation-related video-game and music-video projects. Public recognition has been associated with productions including The Promised Neverland, Spy x Family and Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, in addition to the projects involved in its original rebranding period. The studio's commercial role is primarily production-oriented: it contributes animation planning and production for projects distributed through television, theatrical, streaming and other media channels, rather than functioning mainly as a consumer retail brand. CloverWorks' positioning is that of a quality-focused Japanese anime studio with a recognizable house identity and access to the resources of the Aniplex group. Its brand is especially visible in credits, promotional materials and the international circulation of anime productions. The available reference material does not establish a separate founder, a public listing, independent financial figures or a complete current executive roster. The studio's official website provides current corporate and production information in Japanese and English.

CloverWorks originated within A-1 Pictures rather than beginning as an independent studio. A-1 Pictures maintained multiple production locations and identities, including its Kōenji Studio in Suginami, Tokyo. On April 1, 2018, that Kōenji operation was rebranded as CloverWorks. The new name gave the operation a studio identity distinguishable from A-1 Pictures' Asagaya Studio and established the basis for CloverWorks' later public profile. The rebranding occurred while anime projects were at different stages of development and broadcast. As a result, the change in studio attribution was not uniform across every title. Slow Start changed its credited studio after the original run had concluded. Darling in the Franxx changed its credited studio while production was still under way. Persona 5: The Animation and the second season of Ace Attorney were also among the productions associated with the transition from A-1 Pictures to CloverWorks. These credit changes made the new name visible to viewers before the corporate relationship with A-1 Pictures was fully separated. On October 1, 2018, CloverWorks announced that it had separated from A-1 Pictures. This created a clearer distinction between the two studio organizations, but it did not make CloverWorks independent of Aniplex. CloverWorks remained an Aniplex subsidiary, linking it to Aniplex's anime-production and media business and, through Aniplex, to Sony Music Entertainment Japan. The arrangement allowed CloverWorks to operate under its own studio brand while remaining part of a larger corporate group. The studio's production scope includes television series, animated films, original net animations, original video animations, video-game animation and music-video work. Its visibility grew through association with a broad range of anime projects, including The Promised Neverland, Spy x Family and Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai, as well as titles connected to the original rebranding period. These projects place CloverWorks within the contemporary Japanese anime-production ecosystem, where studios commonly work on commissioned adaptations, original productions and projects distributed across broadcast, theatrical, streaming and other media formats. CloverWorks is therefore best understood as an active animation-production company and studio brand, not as a standalone consumer-products company. Its public identity is carried by production credits, official project announcements and the international distribution of anime. The studio's available public materials do not provide a confirmed founder, a complete list of current executives or independently reported financial results. Its official website remains the primary corporate source for current information.

• 2018

  Kōenji Studio becomes CloverWorks

  [1]CloverWorksen.wikipedia.org

  A-1 Pictures rebranded its Kōenji Studio as CloverWorks, establishing a distinct studio identity from the Asagaya Studio.

• 2018

  Production credits begin transitioning to CloverWorks

  [1]CloverWorksen.wikipedia.org

  Slow Start, Darling in the Franxx, Persona 5: The Animation and the second season of Ace Attorney were among the productions whose studio credits changed from A-1 Pictures to CloverWorks.

• 2018

  Separation from A-1 Pictures announced

  [1]CloverWorksen.wikipedia.org

  CloverWorks announced its separation from A-1 Pictures while remaining an Aniplex subsidiary.

A Japanese anime production studio positioned around distinctive studio branding, high-quality animation production and participation in commercially prominent television, film and cross-media projects within the Aniplex group.

• Television anime series

  The Promised Neverland

  A prominent anime production associated with CloverWorks and one of the titles frequently used to represent the studio's profile in contemporary Japanese animation. It demonstrates the studio's role in producing serialized television anime based on commercially visible source material.

• Television anime series

  Spy x Family

  A high-profile television anime associated with CloverWorks and distributed to audiences beyond Japan. The title illustrates the studio's participation in internationally visible adaptation and franchise production.

• Television anime series

  Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai

  A television anime production associated with CloverWorks. It represents the studio's work on character-driven serialized animation and helped broaden the range of projects connected with the CloverWorks name.

• Television anime series

  Darling in the Franxx

  One of the productions whose studio credit changed from A-1 Pictures to CloverWorks during production. It is consequently an important title in the history of the studio's 2018 brand transition.

• Television anime series

  Persona 5: The Animation

  An anime production connected with the transition from A-1 Pictures credits to CloverWorks credits. Its association with a major game-derived property reflects the studio's involvement in cross-media animation projects.

• 2018

  Establish CloverWorks as a distinct studio brandStrategy

  Background

  A-1 Pictures had a Kōenji Studio whose identity was to be differentiated from the company's Asagaya Studio.

  Action taken

  The Kōenji Studio was rebranded as CloverWorks on April 1, and selected ongoing or recently completed productions changed their studio attribution.

  Aftermath

  CloverWorks became a recognizable studio within the Aniplex group and later announced its corporate separation from A-1 Pictures while remaining an Aniplex subsidiary.

  Source

• 2018

  Separate from A-1 Pictures while retaining Aniplex ownershipStrategy

  Background

  Following the creation of the CloverWorks brand, the studio's organizational relationship with A-1 Pictures was clarified.

  Action taken

  CloverWorks announced on October 1 that it had separated from A-1 Pictures but would continue as an Aniplex subsidiary.

  Aftermath

  The move established CloverWorks as a more clearly independent studio organization within the Aniplex and Sony Music Entertainment Japan group structure.

  Source

1. 1CloverWorksen.wikipedia.org
2. 2CloverWorks official websitecloverworks.co.jp