Studio Signpost

Studio Signpost is a Japanese animation production company owned by Pierrot. Its corporate history reaches back to 1959, when the business was established as a magazine advertising agency. The company entered the anime field in 1989 under the direction of Keiji Kusano and Yoshikazu Tochihira, subsequently developing into a studio involved in television animation, original video animation, subcontracted production, and animation coordination. The company adopted the name Studio Kikan in 1993. One of its early credited animated works was Shima Shima Tora no Shimajirou, a television property aimed at children. In 1996, Studio Kikan created Arms as a separate production unit. Arms concentrated on adult-oriented animation and subcontracting, while Studio Kikan continued to participate in broader animation production. This division became an important part of the group's later staffing and production history. Pierrot acquired Studio Kikan as a subsidiary in 2008. In 2009, the studio was renamed Pierrot Plus, reflecting its closer relationship with the Pierrot group. At the same time, Keiji Kusano moved from the presidency to a chairmanship role, and Osamu Shimizu, who had led Arms, became chief executive. The Pierrot Plus identity was used for roughly a decade as the company operated within Pierrot's production structure and worked on television series, original video projects, and outsourced assignments. On September 20, 2019, the company adopted its current name, Studio Signpost. Ken Hagino, an animation producer who had worked at Pierrot, became president. The rebranding coincided with the winding down of Arms: its official website was closed, and Arms was dissolved on October 6, 2020. Shimizu and many animation producers associated with Arms subsequently joined Studio Signpost, with Shimizu serving as a board member. The change consolidated personnel and production capabilities within the Pierrot-owned studio rather than ending the broader creative operation. Studio Signpost functions primarily as an anime production organization rather than a consumer-facing product brand. Its work includes television animation, original video animation, and gross outsourcing, meaning that it may handle complete production assignments or individual episodes and production stages for another lead studio. The company is associated with a roster of producers, directors, and animators whose careers span Studio Kikan, Pierrot Plus, Arms, and Studio Signpost. It is also an associate member of The Association of Japanese Animations. According to the supplied reference material, a further management transition was scheduled or recorded for 2026, with Ken Hagino becoming chairman and co-chief executive officer, and former Pierrot producer Naoyuki Oshikiri becoming president and co-chief executive officer. Because the available material does not clarify the effective date beyond the year, this transition should be treated as a dated reference point rather than a fully verified current corporate profile.

Studio Signpost traces its origins to a company founded in 1959 as a magazine advertising agency. Its transition into animation began in 1989, when Keiji Kusano and Yoshikazu Tochihira led the business into anime production. In 1993, it adopted the name Studio Kikan and released early animated work including Shima Shima Tora no Shimajirou. In 1996, Studio Kikan established Arms as a separate studio. Arms was intended to concentrate on adult animation and subcontracted production, creating a parallel production identity while Studio Kikan continued its own work. The two operations later shared personnel and creative staff, a relationship that remained significant after the companies' subsequent reorganizations. Studio Kikan became a subsidiary of Pierrot in 2008. The following year it was renamed Pierrot Plus. Keiji Kusano stepped down as chief executive to become chairman, and Osamu Shimizu, formerly associated with Arms, became president. Under the Pierrot Plus name, the company continued work across television animation, original video animation, and outsourced production assignments. On September 20, 2019, Pierrot Plus was renamed Studio Signpost. Ken Hagino, an animation producer who had worked at Pierrot, was appointed president. The rebranding was followed by the closure of the Arms website and the eventual dissolution of Arms on October 6, 2020. Shimizu and most animation producers connected with Arms moved into Studio Signpost, with Shimizu joining the company's board. This effectively consolidated the relevant production personnel within the Pierrot-owned studio. Studio Signpost's production model includes both credited works and gross outsourcing. In the latter role, the company can take responsibility for a complete series, selected episodes, or substantial portions of another production. Its staff history includes animation producers Shintarou Nozaki, Shingo Chiba, Yuuya Kumagai, Kazuyoshi Ozawa, Osamu Koshinaka, and Yasuyuki Ogoshi; director Keizō Kusakawa; and animator Maya “Rin Shin” Suzuki. The company is an associate member of The Association of Japanese Animations. The supplied reference also identifies a 2026 leadership change under which Hagino became chairman and co-CEO and Naoyuki Oshikiri became president and co-CEO. Studio Signpost therefore represents the latest stage of a company that has repeatedly changed its name and organizational structure while retaining continuity in Japanese anime production.

• 2026

  Reported co-CEO transition

  [1]Studio Signposten.wikipedia.org

  The reference reports a transition placing Ken Hagino and Naoyuki Oshikiri in chairman/co-CEO and president/co-CEO roles respectively.

• 2020

  Arms dissolved

  [1]Studio Signposten.wikipedia.org

  Arms was dissolved after its website closed and much of its associated production personnel joined Studio Signpost.

• 2019

  Renamed Studio Signpost

  [1]Studio Signposten.wikipedia.org

  The company adopted its current name and appointed Ken Hagino as president.

• 2009

  Renamed Pierrot Plus

  [1]Studio Signposten.wikipedia.org

  The studio adopted the Pierrot Plus name and changed its executive leadership.

• 2008

  Pierrot subsidiary status begins

  [1]Studio Signposten.wikipedia.org

  Studio Kikan became a subsidiary of Pierrot.

• 1996

  Arms established

  [1]Studio Signposten.wikipedia.org

  A separate studio named Arms was created to focus on adult animation and subcontracted work.

• 1993

  Studio Kikan name adopted

  [1]Studio Signposten.wikipedia.org

  The company became known as Studio Kikan and released early animated work including Shima Shima Tora no Shimajirou.

• 1989

  Entry into anime production

  [1]Studio Signposten.wikipedia.org

  Keiji Kusano and Yoshikazu Tochihira led the company's move into anime production.

• 1959

  Company founded as a magazine advertising agency

  [1]Studio Signposten.wikipedia.org

  The business that later became Studio Signpost was established as a magazine advertising agency.

A Pierrot-owned Japanese animation studio focused on production management, television anime, original video projects, and outsourced animation work. Its identity is rooted in long-running production infrastructure and personnel continuity across Studio Kikan, Pierrot Plus, Arms, and Studio Signpost.

• Television anime · 1993

  Shima Shima Tora no Shimajirou

  An early animated television work associated with the company after it adopted the Studio Kikan name. The property is a children’s program centered on the character Shimajirou and represents Studio Kikan's early involvement in Japanese television animation.

• Animation production service

  Television anime production

  Studio Signpost produces and supports television anime, including work performed under its current name and under the earlier Studio Kikan and Pierrot Plus identities. Its participation may cover studio-led production, animation management, or outsourced assignments for another principal production company.

• Animation production service

  Original video animation

  The studio has been associated with original video animation projects as part of its wider anime-production activities. These projects sit alongside television work and demonstrate the company's role as a production organization rather than a single-format content label.

• Animation subcontracting

  Gross outsourcing

  Studio Signpost and its predecessor names have handled gross outsourcing, a production arrangement in which a studio takes responsibility for a complete series, selected episodes, or broad portions of a project commissioned by another studio or production entity.

• 2020

  Consolidate Arms-related personnelStrategy

  Background

  Arms was being wound down after its website was closed in connection with the Studio Signpost reorganization.

  Action taken

  Arms was dissolved on October 6, 2020, while Osamu Shimizu and most associated animation producers moved into Studio Signpost.

  Aftermath

  Shimizu became a board member of Studio Signpost, consolidating the two organizations' production continuity within the Pierrot-owned studio.

  Source

• 2019

  Rebrand as Studio SignpostStrategy

  Background

  After a decade operating as Pierrot Plus, the company changed its public identity and leadership.

  Action taken

  The company adopted the Studio Signpost name on September 20, 2019, and appointed Ken Hagino as president.

  Aftermath

  The Studio Signpost identity became the company's current operating brand and later absorbed personnel connected with Arms.

  Source

• 2009

  Adopt the Pierrot Plus identityStrategy

  Background

  The company had become a Pierrot subsidiary in 2008 and needed a corporate identity reflecting that relationship.

  Action taken

  Studio Kikan changed its name to Pierrot Plus and reorganized executive responsibilities.

  Aftermath

  The Pierrot Plus name remained in use until the company was rebranded as Studio Signpost in 2019.

  Source

• 1996

  Create Arms as a specialized production studioStrategy

  Background

  Studio Kikan sought to separate adult-animation and subcontracting activities from its main studio operation.

  Action taken

  The company established Arms as a separate studio focused on adult animation and outsourced production.

  Aftermath

  Arms later shared personnel and production links with Studio Kikan and was ultimately dissolved in 2020, with many associated staff moving to Studio Signpost.

  Source

1. 1Studio Signposten.wikipedia.org