MAPPA

MAPPA is a Japanese animation studio headquartered in Nakano, Tokyo. The company was established on June 14, 2011, by Masao Maruyama, a veteran producer and co-founder of Madhouse. Its name is commonly expanded as Maruyama Animation Project Produce Association. Maruyama created the studio after leaving Madhouse during a period of financial difficulty, with the initial ambition of continuing production on Sunao Katabuchi's historical animated film In This Corner of the World. Although the film encountered a lengthy and difficult production process, it eventually became one of the studio's earliest major creative milestones. MAPPA developed from a relatively new production house into one of Japan's most visible animation companies. Its work covers television series, theatrical films, original video and web animation, music videos, video games, and other animation-related projects. The studio is particularly associated with ambitious adaptations of manga and novels, projects with distinctive visual direction, and productions that combine traditional 2D animation with digital and 3D computer graphics. Its credits include Terror in Resonance, Yuri!!! on Ice, Kakegurui, Banana Fish, Zombie Land Saga, Dororo, Dorohedoro, Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan: The Final Season, Vinland Saga Season 2, Chainsaw Man, Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, and the 2024 Ranma ½ television remake. The company became especially prominent through Yuri!!! on Ice, which developed a large international audience, and Jujutsu Kaisen, whose television series and film helped establish MAPPA as a leading producer of commercially successful contemporary anime. The studio later took over animation production for the fourth and final season of Attack on Titan, produced Chainsaw Man, and animated other high-profile works such as Vinland Saga Season 2 and Hell's Paradise. These projects increased the company's global profile but also contributed to scrutiny of its production capacity, scheduling, and labor practices. In 2016, Maruyama stepped down from operational leadership, becoming chairman and later focusing on the creation of Studio M2. Manabu Otsuka, a founding member of MAPPA and former Studio 4°C producer, became the studio's representative director. Under Otsuka, MAPPA pursued rapid expansion, broader project participation, and greater internal production capacity. A Sendai studio opened in 2018, concentrating mainly on in-between animation and digital painting. An Osaka facility was subsequently established as a satellite base for the company's 3DCG activities, supporting the decentralization of production away from Tokyo and creating opportunities for artists trained in regional institutions. MAPPA's Tokyo operation includes production, animation, directing, CGI, rights, and planning and development functions. Its rights organization manages areas such as copyright, illustrations, merchandise, events, advertising, and related intellectual property. In 2025, MAPPA also introduced MAPPA Records, a record label connected to the studio's music and animation projects; the first cited release was Kensuke Ushio's score for Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. The studio's reputation has been accompanied by criticism. Animators and commentators have questioned compensation, training, scheduling, and the pressure created by multiple simultaneous productions. MAPPA has rejected claims that it offers unreasonable compensation to creators, while individual industry participants have argued that some reported rates were below sustainable professional standards. These disputes have made working conditions and production management central parts of MAPPA's public image. Despite the controversy, the studio remains active and is one of the most internationally recognizable Japanese animation brands.

MAPPA was founded on June 14, 2011, in Tokyo by Masao Maruyama, a highly experienced animation producer who had co-founded Madhouse. The company emerged partly from the financial and organizational difficulties affecting Madhouse. Maruyama's early objective was to continue developing In This Corner of the World with director Sunao Katabuchi. Financing and production challenges meant that the film took several years to complete, but it ultimately became an important early example of MAPPA's interest in artistically ambitious feature animation. The new studio soon broadened its activity beyond a single film project. Its television work included original series and adaptations, allowing MAPPA to establish a reputation for distinctive direction and high production ambition. Terror in Resonance, Yuri!!! on Ice, Kakegurui, Banana Fish, and Zombie Land Saga helped diversify its portfolio. Yuri!!! on Ice in particular became a major international success and demonstrated the commercial reach of an anime production centered on character relationships, sports performance, and original storytelling. In April 2016, Maruyama left MAPPA's executive management, becoming chairman before concentrating on a new studio project, Studio M2. Manabu Otsuka, who had been among MAPPA's founding personnel and had previously worked at Studio 4°C, assumed the company's operational leadership. The change marked a transition from a founder-led start-up to a larger studio pursuing a wider range of productions. MAPPA's profile expanded substantially through projects such as Dororo, Dorohedoro, Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan: The Final Season, Vinland Saga Season 2, Chainsaw Man, and Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku. The company became particularly visible in global streaming and theatrical markets, where high-profile adaptations could reach audiences outside Japan soon after domestic release. Its involvement in the final season of Attack on Titan and in the Jujutsu Kaisen franchise further elevated the studio's international standing. As its project slate grew, MAPPA invested in a more distributed production structure. A Sendai studio opened in April 2018 and specialized primarily in in-between animation and digital painting. The initiative was intended to increase the proportion of work handled internally, create a more stable production base, and provide employment opportunities for graduates of regional vocational schools. MAPPA later established an Osaka studio serving as a CGI satellite office. The Osaka operation initially concentrated on 3DCG and was planned to develop additional background, animation, and production capabilities. The Tokyo headquarters contains production, animation, directing, CGI, rights, and planning functions. The rights and development operations support copyright administration, artwork, merchandise, events, advertising, and related uses of MAPPA properties. In 2025 the company launched MAPPA Records, extending its brand activity into music publishing connected to its productions. Growth also brought controversy. Creators and commentators criticized the studio's scheduling practices, compensation, training arrangements, and workload. Hisashi Eguchi publicly criticized low pay, while animator Mushiyo described insufficient training and overwork and objected to the company's simultaneous handling of several series. Sakuga-focused commentator Kevin Cirugeda linked the difficulties to rapid expansion and what he characterized as reckless production growth. MAPPA denied allegations that it provided unreasonable compensation, but animator Ippei Ichii cited a reported rate of ¥3,800 per cut on a Netflix-related production and argued that substantially higher rates were necessary. These disputes remain part of the studio's public history, although MAPPA continues to operate as a major Japanese animation producer.

• 2025

  MAPPA Records launches

  [1]MAPPAen.wikipedia.org

  MAPPA begins music publishing activity through a dedicated record label.

• 2024

  Yuri!!! on Ice: Ice Adolescence is cancelled

  [1]MAPPAen.wikipedia.org

  The long-delayed feature project is formally cancelled.

• 2022

  Osaka CGI studio is established

  [1]MAPPAen.wikipedia.org

  The company expands its 3DCG organization with a satellite office in Osaka.

• 2018

  Sendai studio opens

  [1]MAPPAen.wikipedia.org

  MAPPA opens a regional production base focused mainly on in-between animation and digital painting.

• 2016

  Leadership passes from Masao Maruyama to Manabu Otsuka

  [1]MAPPAen.wikipedia.org

  Maruyama withdraws from day-to-day management and Otsuka becomes the studio's representative director.

• 2011

  MAPPA is founded

  [1]MAPPAen.wikipedia.org

  Masao Maruyama establishes MAPPA in Tokyo, initially to continue the development of In This Corner of the World.

A creator-led, internationally oriented Japanese animation studio focused on high-profile adaptations, original anime, strong visual direction, and technically ambitious production.

• Anime television series and film

  Jujutsu Kaisen

  A major supernatural action franchise animated by MAPPA. Its television adaptation and related theatrical production became central to the studio's international profile, combining fast-paced combat animation with a large ensemble cast and a globally distributed release strategy.

• Anime television series · 2020

  Attack on Titan: The Final Season

  MAPPA's production of the fourth and final season of Attack on Titan placed the studio on one of the industry's most prominent adaptation assignments. The series broadened MAPPA's global visibility and involved a demanding, serialized production schedule.

• Anime television series and film · 2022

  Chainsaw Man

  An adaptation of Tatsuki Fujimoto's dark fantasy manga, produced with a cinematic visual approach and a prominent music component. The property became one of MAPPA's most internationally discussed projects and expanded into theatrical production.

• Original anime television series · 2016

  Yuri!!! on Ice

  An original figure-skating drama created by Mitsurou Kubo and Sayo Yamamoto. Its character-driven story, performance sequences, and international fan base made it a defining early success for MAPPA and an important demonstration of the studio's ability to develop original properties.

• Original anime television series · 2018

  Zombie Land Saga

  An original comedy and music series about an unconventional idol group composed of resurrected figures from Saga Prefecture. The production helped show MAPPA's range beyond action adaptations and supported a broader multimedia franchise.

• Animated feature film · 2016

  In This Corner of the World

  Sunao Katabuchi's historical feature was one of the founding motivations behind MAPPA. The film follows an ordinary young woman living in wartime Hiroshima and Kure, using detailed everyday observation rather than conventional action spectacle.

• Anime television series · 2023

  Vinland Saga Season 2

  MAPPA's continuation of the historical adventure series shifts substantially toward themes of slavery, trauma, work, and personal transformation. It reinforced the studio's reputation for handling mature, thematically demanding adaptations.

• Anime television series · 2023

  Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku

  A dark fantasy action adaptation produced by MAPPA, centered on condemned criminals and executioners sent to a mysterious island. The series added another high-profile manga adaptation to the studio's expanding action portfolio.

• Criticism of labor conditions and production scheduling

  Animators and outside commentators criticized reported pay levels, training practices, workload, and the pressure associated with producing multiple series at once. MAPPA rejected claims that its compensation was unreasonable, but the dispute became a prominent part of discussion about labor conditions in Japanese animation.

  Source

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• 2025

  Launch MAPPA RecordsProduct launch

  Background

  MAPPA's rights and development activities already covered music and other extensions of its animation properties.

  Action taken

  The studio established MAPPA Records as a dedicated music label.

  Aftermath

  The first cited publication was Kensuke Ushio's soundtrack for Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc.

  Source

• 2022

  Expand CGI operations in OsakaStrategy

  Background

  The studio wanted to increase its 3DCG capabilities and distribute production work geographically.

  Action taken

  MAPPA established an Osaka satellite office for the CGI department.

  Aftermath

  The office initially concentrated on 3DCG work, with plans for additional technical and production departments.

  Source

• 2018

  Decentralize production through a Sendai studioStrategy

  Background

  MAPPA sought a more stable production base and greater internal capacity outside Tokyo.

  Action taken

  The company opened a Sendai facility focused on in-between animation and digital painting.

  Aftermath

  The facility also created a regional recruitment and training pathway for animation-school graduates.

  Source

• 2016

  Transfer operational leadership to Manabu OtsukaStrategy

  Background

  Founder Masao Maruyama chose to withdraw from MAPPA's day-to-day management while pursuing a new studio initiative.

  Action taken

  Maruyama became chairman and Manabu Otsuka assumed the representative-director role.

  Aftermath

  MAPPA entered a period of expansion and took on an increasingly broad slate of major television and film productions.

  Source

• 2011

  Create a new studio to continue In This Corner of the WorldStrategy

  Background

  Financial difficulties at Madhouse complicated the development of Sunao Katabuchi's planned feature film.

  Action taken

  Masao Maruyama founded MAPPA and moved the project into the new company's development structure.

  Aftermath

  The film experienced a long production period before its 2016 release and became an early landmark associated with MAPPA.

  Source

1. 1MAPPAen.wikipedia.org
2. 2MAPPA official websitemappa.co.jp