Silver Link

Silver Link, Inc. is a Japanese animation production studio established in December 2007 by Hayato Kaneko, a former producer at the animation company Frontline. The studio is based in Tokyo and is known for producing television anime, original video animation, web animation and animated films. Its name is commonly styled as SILVER LINK. or Silver Link. A significant creative influence on the studio has been director Shin Oonuma, who joined after working as a director at Shaft alongside Akiyuki Shinbo and Tatsuya Oishi. Since joining Silver Link, Oonuma has directed or co-directed a substantial portion of the studio’s productions. His involvement helped give the company a recognizable creative profile within the Japanese television-anime production system, while Silver Link has also worked with outside producers, publishers, broadcasters and other animation companies. The company developed an internal and affiliated production structure around its main studio. Beep Co., Ltd. operated as a subcontracting animation studio, while Connect, Inc. initially co-produced works with Silver Link before expanding into productions of its own. These entities were later absorbed or dissolved as separate corporate subsidiaries, although their functions and branding continued in some form within Silver Link. Beep was absorbed into Silver Link on February 1, 2016, after which the Silver Link Overseas Division succeeded its former office. The Beep name nevertheless remained in use for subcontracting activity. In July 2020, Silver Link announced that it would absorb and dissolve Connect and transfer rights managed by Connect to Silver Link, while allowing Connect to continue as an internal sub-studio. Silver Link underwent a major ownership and corporate restructuring in 2020. On August 3, 2020, Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings announced the acquisition of the company for 250 million yen. On October 1, 2020, the existing company changed its name to Silver Link Asset Management Co., Ltd., while the animation production business was separated into a newly established Silver Link, Inc. This arrangement placed the operating animation studio within the broader Asahi Broadcasting corporate group. In October 2023, Asahi Broadcasting Corporation announced that Silver Link would be moved under ABC Animation as a wholly owned subsidiary. The studio relocated in November 2023 from the Marusho Mitaka Building in Mitaka, Tokyo, to the Musashino YS Building in Nakacho, Musashino. The new building is also associated with other Japanese animation companies, including Wit Studio and Tatsunoko Production. In September 2024, Silver Link Asset Management ceased to exist as a corporate entity, reflecting the continuing consolidation of the group’s corporate structure. Silver Link’s business is centered on animation production rather than consumer products sold directly under a retail brand. Its work is generally created as part of committee-financed anime projects and distributed through Japanese broadcasters, streaming platforms, home-video publishers and international licensors. The studio’s commercial role can therefore vary from lead animation producer to co-producer or subcontractor, depending on the project. The company remains active as a Japanese anime studio under the ABC Animation organization.

Silver Link was founded in December 2007 in Japan by Hayato Kaneko, a former animation producer at Frontline. From its establishment, the company operated as an animation studio serving the Japanese production and broadcasting ecosystem. Its output has included television series, original video and web animation, and films, with production responsibilities varying by project. Director Shin Oonuma became one of the studio’s most important creative figures after joining from Shaft, where he had worked alongside directors Akiyuki Shinbo and Tatsuya Oishi. Oonuma subsequently directed or co-directed many Silver Link productions, creating a recurring creative connection between the studio and the broader Shaft-related animation community. Silver Link also built relationships with affiliated production units. Beep functioned as a subcontracting studio, while Connect began as a co-production partner and later produced projects independently. The company consolidated these affiliated operations over time. On February 1, 2016, Beep was absorbed into Silver Link. The Silver Link Overseas Division took over Beep’s former office space, although Beep remained a working label for subcontracting services. On July 17, 2020, Silver Link announced plans to absorb and dissolve Connect as a separate company. Rights managed by Connect were to be transferred to Silver Link, while Connect continued its production activity as an internal sub-studio. Ownership changed substantially in 2020. Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings announced on August 3 that it had acquired Silver Link for 250 million yen. On October 1, the acquired company changed its corporate name to Silver Link Asset Management Co., Ltd., and its animation production business was separated into a new Silver Link, Inc. This distinction separated the corporate asset-management entity from the operating animation studio while preserving the Silver Link identity for production. The studio was subsequently integrated more closely into the Asahi Broadcasting organization. On October 5, 2023, Asahi Broadcasting Corporation announced that Silver Link had been moved under ABC Animation as a wholly owned subsidiary. In November of that year, the studio relocated from the Marusho Mitaka Building in Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, to the Musashino YS Building in Nakacho, Musashino. The latter building is also associated with Wit Studio and Tatsunoko Production. On September 26, 2024, Silver Link Asset Management ceased to exist as a corporate entity. Silver Link continues to operate as an animation production studio under ABC Animation.

• 2024

  Silver Link Asset Management disappears as a corporate entity

  [1]Silver Linken.wikipedia.org

  The former asset-management entity ceases to exist as a separate corporate entity.

• 2023

  Silver Link becomes an ABC Animation subsidiary

  [1]Silver Linken.wikipedia.org

  Asahi Broadcasting Corporation places Silver Link under ABC Animation as a wholly owned subsidiary.

• 2023

  Studio relocates to Musashino

  [1]Silver Linken.wikipedia.org

  Silver Link moves from Mitaka to the Musashino YS Building in Nakacho, Musashino.

• 2020

  Connect is consolidated

  [1]Silver Linken.wikipedia.org

  Silver Link announces the absorption and dissolution of Connect as a separate company, with Connect continuing as an internal sub-studio.

• 2020

  Acquisition by Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings

  [1]Silver Linken.wikipedia.org

  Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings acquires Silver Link for 250 million yen.

• 2020

  Animation business is separated into a new company

  [1]Silver Linken.wikipedia.org

  The former company becomes Silver Link Asset Management, while a new Silver Link, Inc. takes over animation production.

• 2016

  Beep is absorbed

  [1]Silver Linken.wikipedia.org

  Beep is absorbed into Silver Link, while the Beep name remains in use for subcontracting work.

• 2007

  Silver Link is founded

  [1]Silver Linken.wikipedia.org

  Hayato Kaneko establishes Silver Link in Japan in December as an animation production company.

A Japanese animation production studio with a strong television-anime focus, an established relationship with director Shin Oonuma, and an operating position within the Asahi Broadcasting and ABC Animation group.

• Animation production

  Television anime

  Silver Link’s principal activity is the production of television anime for Japanese broadcasters, distributors and production committees. Depending on the project, the studio may serve as a primary animation producer, a co-producer or a subcontractor. The studio’s television work has been closely associated with director Shin Oonuma, who directed or co-directed many of its productions.

• Animation production

  Original video and web animation

  The studio also produces animation distributed outside the conventional television format, including original video animation and original net animation. These projects extend Silver Link’s production role across home-video, online and streaming-oriented distribution channels.

• Animation production

  Animated films

  Animated films form part of Silver Link’s documented production scope. Film participation may involve full production, shared production responsibilities or work delivered through affiliated and internal production units.

• Production services

  Subcontracting animation services

  Silver Link provides animation production and subcontracting capacity for larger anime projects. The Beep name has continued to be used for subcontracting work even after Beep was absorbed into the company, while the overseas division and Connect lineage have also formed part of the studio’s wider operating structure.

• 2023

  Transfer under ABC AnimationStrategy

  Background

  Asahi Broadcasting Corporation continued integrating its animation-related assets.

  Action taken

  Silver Link was moved under ABC Animation as a wholly owned subsidiary.

  Aftermath

  The studio became more directly aligned with ABC Animation within the Asahi Broadcasting organization.

  Source

• 2020

  Absorption and dissolution of ConnectM&A

  Background

  Connect had developed from a co-production partner into a studio capable of producing works independently.

  Action taken

  Silver Link announced that it would absorb and dissolve Connect as a separate company and transfer Connect-managed rights to Silver Link.

  Aftermath

  Connect continued operating as a sub-studio within Silver Link rather than as a separate corporate subsidiary.

  Source

• 2020

  Acquisition by Asahi Broadcasting Group HoldingsM&A

  Background

  The acquisition brought Silver Link into the corporate group associated with Asahi Broadcasting.

  Action taken

  Asahi Broadcasting Group Holdings acquired Silver Link for 250 million yen.

  Aftermath

  The acquired corporate entity was renamed Silver Link Asset Management, while the animation business was separated into a new Silver Link, Inc.

  Acquisition price. 250 million yen (Announced August 3, 2020)

  Source

• 2020

  Separation of asset management and animation productionStrategy

  Background

  Following the Asahi Broadcasting acquisition, the corporate structure was reorganized.

  Action taken

  The former company adopted the name Silver Link Asset Management Co., Ltd., and a newly formed Silver Link, Inc. received the animation production business.

  Aftermath

  The Silver Link name remained attached to the operating animation studio while the former legal entity served a separate corporate purpose.

  Source

• 2016

  Absorption of BeepM&A

  Background

  Beep had operated as a subcontracting animation studio associated with Silver Link.

  Action taken

  Silver Link absorbed Beep and replaced its former office arrangement with the Silver Link Overseas Division, while retaining the Beep name for subcontracting activity.

  Aftermath

  Beep no longer operated as a separate subsidiary, but its brand continued to be used within Silver Link’s subcontracting work.

  Source

1. 1Silver Linken.wikipedia.org