Controversial survey points out the 18 best studios of Japanese animation today
It was released last Sunday, February 6, a survey carried out in Japan to answer which are the best animation studios today, according to fan votes. The result, which points out some controversial choices and excludes others, listed 18 studios out of dozens in the country. The rating ranges from the lowest "C" category to the "S" category seen as Premium or Special. The survey had as its biggest evaluation item the complexity of the animations delivered by these studios between 2020 and 2022, followed by elements such as color design, art direction and so on. There were names that appeared in positions below the expected while others were not even mentioned. Some claim that the choices were based on fanaticism some anime ago and not the true quality of the studios. We leave "our opinion" further down in each category. Remembering that our vision may not be an absolute truth for all people. Category S In this category only two studios were left: Ufotable, with its work on "Kimetsu no Yaiba"; and Studio Wit, certainly for the fluid animation of "Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song" shown last year. Our opinion: Despite the quality due to the general context, the Wit studio should be in the "A" and not "S" category. Certainly the passion for "Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song" led to this decision. Category A The following studios were positioned here: Bones (Boku no Hero Academia, Vanitas no Karute), Production I.G. (Yuukoku no Moriarty, Kaizoku Oujo), Kyoto Animation (Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon) and Kinema Citrus (Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight, Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari). * Our Opinion: Where is Cloverworks? Super praised by "Wonder Egg Priority", "Sono Bisque Doll wa Koi wo Suru" and "Akebi-chan no Sailor-fuku"? We know that the studio is a subdivision of A-1 Pictures however it is responsible for its own identity. * Our opinion: Kinema Citrus is a good name but has delivered little in recent years and is generally in the "B" category. The "A" position was guaranteed only by affection for "Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari" which had good production. Category B Studio Mappa (Shingeki no Kyojin, Jujutsu Kaisen, Takt Op), Shaft (Magia Record), P.A.Works (Shirou Suna no Aquatope), A-1 Pictures (86, Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai), Doga Kobo (Senpai ga Uzai Kouhai no Hanashi), Trigger (SSSS.Dynazenon) and Sunrise (Hanyou no Yashahime, Love Live! Superstar) were in this category. Our opinion: From what they delivered in 2020/2021, Mappa and A-1 Pictures are category "A" studios, however they were downgraded in the vote. Our opinion: Despite the history of glories Shaft has been unstable recently, something seen in the flickering animation of "Magia Record". So, with sadness, it could be in category C. Category C And finally in the last position are studios such as Madhouse (Hakozume, Kyuuketsuki Sugu Shinu), White Fox (Re:Zero), David Production (Hataraku Saibou), Tatsunoko Production (Jouran: The Princess of Snow and Blood) and Silver (Bokutachi wa Benkyou ga Dekinai).