2008 in anime


Events in 2008 in anime.

Events

In this year, 288 anime television programs were produced and home video sales of anime DVDs, Blu-ray Discs and HD DVDs in Japan were worth 77.9 billion yen. Animation studio 8-Bit was founded in September.

Accolades

At the Mainichi Film Awards, The Sky Crawlers won the Animation Film Award and Ponyo won the Ōfuji Noburō Award. Ponyo also won the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year; the other nominees were Doraemon: Nobita and the Green Giant Legend 2008, The Sky Crawlers, Detective Conan: Full Score of Fear and One Piece - The Movie: Episode of Chopper Plus: Bloom in the Winter, Miracle Sakura. Internationally, La Maison en Petits Cubes won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film and Le Cristal d'Annecy at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival. Sword of the Stranger was nominated for the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Animated Feature Film. Ponyo and The Sky Crawlers were in competition for the Golden Lion at the 65th Venice International Film Festival.

Releases

Films

A list of anime that debuted in theaters between January 1 and December 31, 2008.
Release dateTitleStudioDirectorRunning time Alternate titleRef
The Garden of Sinners: Remaining Sense of PainufotableMitsuru Obunai59Gekijō-ban sora no kyōkai the Garden of sinners daisanshō “tsūkaku zanryū”
Keroro Gunso the Super Movie 3: Keroro vs. Keroro Great Sky DuelToei Animation
113Chō gekijō-ban keroro gunsō 3 keroro tai keroro tenkū daisakusen de arimasu!
One Piece: Episode of Chopper Plus - Bloom in the Winter, Miracle SakuraSunriseJunji Shimizu95Wan pīsu episōdo obu choppā + fuyu ni saku, kiseki no sakura
Crayon Shin-chan: The Storm Called: The Hero of KinpokoShin-Ei AnimationMitsuru Hongo93Kureyon shin-chan cho ~ arashi o yobu kinpoko no yūsha
Detective Conan: Full Score of FearTMS EntertainmentYasuichiro Yamamoto116Meitantei konan senritsu no furu sukoa
The Garden of Sinners: The Hollow ShrineufotableTeiichi Takiguchi46Gekijō-ban sora no kyōkai the Garden of sinners daiyonshō “garan no hora”
Himitsukessha Taka no Tsume: Watashi wo Aishita Kuro Oolong-ChaDLEFROGMAN90Himitsukessha taka no tsume THE mūbī II watashi o aishita kuro ūroncha
Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky WarriorOLMKunihiko Yuyama96Poketto monsutā daiyamondo & pāru giratina to hisora no hanataba sheimi
PonyoStudio GhibliHayao Miyazaki100Gake no ue no ponyo
Naruto Shippuden: BondsPierrotHajime Kamegaki92Gekijō-ban naruto - naruto - shippuden kizuna
The Sky CrawlersProduction I.GMamoru Oshii122Sukai kurora
The Garden of Sinners: Paradox SpiralufotableTakayuki Hirao114Gekijō-ban sora no ryōiki the Garden of sinners daigoshō `mujun no rasen'
Gurren Lagann: Childhood's EndGainaxHiroyuki Imaishi112Gekijō-ban tengan toppa gurenragan guren-hen
Fist of the North Star: Legend of KenshiroTMS EntertainmentToshiki Hirano90Ma kyūseishu densetsu hokuto no kobushi zero Kenshirō Den
Genius Party BeyondStudio 4°C
  • Mahiro Maeda
  • Kazuto Nakazawa
  • Shinya Ōhira
  • Tatsuyuki Tanaka
  • Kōji Morimoto
    		• 85Jīniasu pātī biyondo
    Biohazard: DegenerationDigital FrontierMakoto Kamiya96Baiohazādo dijenerēshon
    HellsMadhouseYoshiki Yamakawa117Heruzu,
    Yes! Precure 5 GoGo! Movie: Okashi no Kuni no Happy BirthdayToei AnimationTatsuya Nagamine75Eiga iesu! Purikyua 5 GoGo! Okashinokuni no happī bāsudei
    IcePPM103Aisu gekijō-ban
    Bleach: Fade to BlackPierrotNoriyuki Abe94Gekijō-ban burīchi Fade to Black kimi no na wo yobu
    Major: Yuujou no Winning ShotXebecTakao Kato103Gekijō-ban mejā yūjō no ichi-kyū
    The Garden of Sinners: Oblivion RecordingufotableTakahiro Miura59Gekijō-ban sora no kyōkai the Garden of sinners dairokushō “bōkyaku rokuon”

    Television series

    A list of anime television series that debuted between January 1 and December 31, 2008.
    First run start and end datesTitleEpisodesStudioDirectorAlternate titleRef
    – Sisters of Wellber Zwei13Trans ArtsTakayuki HamanaUerubēru no monogatari ~ shisutāzu of Wellber ~ dainimaku
    – Rosario + Vampire13GonzoTakayuki InagakiRozario to banpaia
    – H2O: Footprints in the Sand12ZexcsHideki TachibanaH 2 O ~ suna no ue no ashiato ~
    – Hatenkō Yūgi10Studio DeenYoshihiro TakamotoHatenkō yugi
    – Major S426SynergySPRiki FukushimaMejā
    – Persona: Trinity Soul26A-1 PicturesJun MatsumotoPerusona 〜 toriniti Sōru 〜
    – Shigofumi: Letters from the Departed12J.C.StaffTatsuo SatōShigofumi
    – They Are My Noble Masters13A.C.G.TSusumu KudoKimi ga aruji de shitsuji ga ore de
    – True Tears13P.A.WorksJunji NishimuraHontō no namida
    – (Zoku) Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei13ShaftAkiyuki ShinboZoku sayonara zetsubō-sensei
    – Porphy no Nagai Tabi52Nippon AnimationTomomi MochizukiPorufi no nagai tabi
    – Minami-ke: Okawari13AsreadNaoto HosodaMinami ke ~ o kawari ~
    – Aria the Origination13Hal Film MakerJunichi SatoAria ji orijinēshon
    – Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino13ArtlandHiroshi IshidoriGan suringā gāru - IL TEATRINO -
    – Noramimi12TMS EntertainmentYoshitaka KoyamaNoramimi
    – Spice and Wolf13ImaginTakeo TakahashiŌkami to kōshinryō
    – Kitarō of the Graveyard11Toei AnimationKimitoshi ChiokiHakaba kitarō
    – Moegaku★540AIC SpiritsYoshihiro TakamotoMo egaku ★ 5
    – Yatterman60Tatsunoko ProductionHiroshi SasagawaYattāman
    – Yes PreCure 5 GoGo!48Toei AnimationToshiaki KomuraIesu! Purikyua 5 GoGo!
    – Mnemosyne6XebecShigeru UedaMunemoshune - munemoshune no musume tachi -
    – Bus Gamer3Studio IzenaNaoyuki KazuyaBasu gēmā
    – Chi's Sweet Home104MadhouseMitsuyuki MasuharaChīzu suīto hōmu
    – Sugarbunnies: Chocolat!26Asahi ProductionHiroshi KugimiyaShugābanīzu shokora!
    – Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's154GallopKatsumi OnoYū ☆ gi☆ Ō faibu dīzu
    – Allison & Lillia26MadhouseMasayoshi NishidaArison to riria
    – Kyo Kara Maoh! 39Studio DeenJunji NishimuraKyō kara maō! Dai 3 shirīzu
    – Kure-nai12Brain's BaseKō MatsuoAka
    – xxxHolic: Kei13Production I.GTsutomu Mizushima×××HOLiC ◆ Tsugi
    – Macross Frontier25Satelight
    		Makurosu efu
    – To Love-Ru26XebecTakao KatoTo LOVEru - tora buru -
    – Kanokon12XebecAtsushi ŌtsukiKanokon
    – The Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of Uruk12GonzoKoichi ChigiraDoruāga no tō 〜 the Aegis of URUK 〜
    – Amatsuki13Studio DeenKazuhiro FuruhashiAma-tsuki
    – Itazura na Kiss25TMS EntertainmentOsamu YamazakiItazurana Kiss
    – Penguin no Mondai100Shogakukan Music & Digital EntertainmentJun KamiyaPengin no mondai
    – Blue Dragon: Trials of the Seven Shadows51Studio PierrotYukihiro MatsushitaBurū doragon tenkai no shichiryū
    – Duel Masters Cross100Shogakukan Music & Digital EntertainmentWaruo SuzukiDeyueru masutāzu kurosu
    – Kamen no Maid Guy12MadhouseMasayuki SakoiKamen no meido gai
    – Da Capo II: Second Season13FeelHideki OkamotoD. C. II S. S. ~ Da kāpo II sekando shīzun ~
    – Blassreiter24GonzoIchirō ItanoBurasureitā
    – Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R225SunriseGorō TaniguchiKōdo giasu hangyaku no rurūshu zokuhen
    – Net Ghost PiPoPa51Studio HibariShinichiro KimuraNetto gōsuto pipopa
    – Onegai My Melody Kirara☆52Studio CometMakoto MoriwakiOnegai ♪ maimerodi kirara ~tsu★
    – Zettai Karen Children51SynergySPKeiichiro KawaguchiZettai karen chirudoren
    – Neo Angelique Abyss13Yumeta CompanyShin KatagaiNeo anjerīku Abyss
    – Our Home's Fox Deity.24ZexcsYoshiaki IwasakiWagaya nō inari-sama.
    – Special A24
  • AIC
  • Gonzo
    		• Yoshikazu MiyaoSupesharu ē
    – Nabari no Ou26J.C.StaffKunihisa SugishimaNabari no ō
    – Soul Eater51BonesTakuya IgarashiSouru ītā
    – Hakken Taiken Daisuki! Shimajirō101
  • Pierrot Plus
  • Studio Kikan
  • Akira Shigino
  • Masahiro Nakata
    		• Hakkentai ken daisuki! Shimajirō
    – Vampire Knight13Studio DeenKiyoko SayamaVuanpaia naito
    – Monochrome Factor24A.C.G.TYuu KouMonokurōmu fakutā
    – Glass Maiden12Studio FantasiaMitsuko KaseKurisutaru bureizu
    – Real Drive26Production I.GKazuhiro FuruhashiRD sen'nō chōsashitsu
    – Top Secret: The Revelation26MadhouseHiroshi AoyamaHimitsu The Revelation
    – Junjo Romantica12Studio DeenChiaki KonJunjō romanchika
    – Library War12Production I.GTakayuki HamanaToshokan sensō
    – Kaiba12MadhouseMasaaki YuasaKaiba
    – The Diary of a Crazed Family26NomadYasuhiro KurodaKureijīna kazoku no nikki
    – Golgo 1350The Answer StudioShunji OgaGorugo 13
    – Legend of the Condor Hero III26Nippon AnimationKondoru hideo densetsu III jū roku-nen no kyōtei
    – The Daughter of 20 Faces22
  • Bones
  • Telecom Animation Film
    		• Nobuo TomizawaNijū mensō no musume
    – RoboDz Kazagumo Hen26Toei AnimationDaisuke NishioRobo dīzu - RoboDz - kaze to kumo no shō
    – Ikki Tousen: Great Guardians12ArmsKoichi OhataIkkitōsen: Gurēto Guardians
    – Telepathy Shōjo Ran26TMS EntertainmentMasaharu OkuwakiTerepashī shōjo ran
    – Ultraviolet: Code 04412MadhouseOsamu DezakiUrutoravuaioretto kōdo 044
    – Sekirei12Seven ArcsKeizō KusakawaSekirei
    – Slayers Revolution13J.C.StaffTakashi WatanabeSureiyāzu
    – Someday's Dreamers: Summer Skies12Hal Film MakerOsamu KobayashiMahōtsukai ni taisetsu nakoto ~ natsu no Sora ~
    – Antique Bakery12
  • Nippon Animation
  • Shirogumi
    		• Yoshiaki OkumuraSeiyō kottō yōgashi-ten ~ antīku ~
    – Strike Witches12GonzoKazuhiro TakamuraSutoraikuu~itchīzu
    – Hidamari Sketch × 36513ShaftAkiyuki ShinboHida mari suketchi × 365
    – Birdy the Mighty: Decode13A-1 PicturesKazuki AkaneTetsuwan bādī
    – Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo13Doga KoboTarō IwasakiYakushiji ryōko no kaiki jikenbo
    – The Familiar of Zero: Rondo of Princesses12J.C.StaffYū KōZero no tsukaima ~ san biki no rinbu ~
    – Neo Angelique Abyss: Second Age13Yumeta CompanyShin KatagaiNeo anjerīku Abyss - Second Age -
    – Mission-E12Studio Deen
  • Ichiro Sakaki
  • Jukki Hanada
  • Junji Nishimura
  • Takuya Satō
  • Toshifumi Kawase
  • Toshiyuki Kato
    		• Misshon E
    – Natsume's Book of Friends13Brain's BaseTakahiro OmoriNatsume yūjinchō
    – World Destruction13Production I.GShunsuke TadaWārudo desutorakushon ~ sekai bokumetsu no rokunin ~
    – Koihime Musō12Doga KoboNobuaki NakanishiKohime† musō
    – Haruka Nogizaka's Secret12DiomedéaMunenori NawaNogizaka Haruka no himitsu
    – Blade of the Immortal13Bee TrainKōichi MashimoMugen no jūnin
    – Battle Spirits: Shounen Toppa Bashin50SunriseMitsuru HongoBatoru supirittsu shōnen toppa bashin
    – Mach Girl26Tatsunoko ProductionMasatsugu ArakawaMahha gāru
    – The Earl and the Fairy12ArtlandKōichirō SōtomeHakushaku to yōsei
    – Hyakko13Nippon AnimationMichio FukudaHyakko
    – Rosario + Vampire Capu213GonzoTakayuki InagakiRozario to banpaia Capu 2
    – Shikabane Hime: Aka13
  • Feel
  • Gainax
    		• Masahiko MurataShitai kare
    – Casshern Sins24
  • Madhouse
  • Tatsunoko Production
    		• Shigeyasu YamauchiKyashān SINS
    – Toradora!25J.C.StaffTatsuyuki NagaiTora dora!
    – Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka12TNKKeitaro MotonagaAkaneiro ni somaru saka
    – Yozakura Quartet12NomadKou MatsuoYozakura shijūsō ~ yozakura karutetto ~
    – Legends of the Dark King: A Fist of the North Star Story13SatelightMasashi AbeHokuto no kobushi Raō gaiden ten no haō
    – Linebarrels of Iron24GonzoMasamitsu HidakaKurogane no rainbareru
    – Black Butler24A-1 PicturesToshiya ShinoharaKuro shitsuji
    – Clannad After Story24Kyoto AnimationTatsuya IshiharaKuranado 〜 AFTER sutōrī 〜
    – Tales of the Abyss26SunriseKenji KodamaTeiruzu obu ji abisu
    – Astro Fighter Sunred26AIC ASTASeiji KishiTentai senshi Sanreddo
    – Kannagi13A-1 PicturesYutaka YamamotoKan nagi
    – Hell Girl: Three Vessels26Studio DeenHiroshi WatanabeDjigoku shōjo santei
    – Shugo Chara!! Doki—51SatelightKenji YasudaShugokyara! !Do ki~tsu
    – Kemeko Deluxe!12Hal Film MakerTsutomu MizushimaKemeko derakkusu!
    – A Certain Magical Index24J.C.StaffHiroshi NishikioriToaru majutsu no kinsho mokuroku
    – Mobile Suit Gundam 00 25SunriseSeiji MizushimaKidō senshi Gandamu 00 sekando shīzun
    – Live On Cardliver Kakeru51TMS EntertainmentHatsuki TsujiRaibuon CARDLIVER Shō
    – Inazuma Eleven127OLM
  • Katsuhito Akiyama
  • Yoshikazu Miyao
    		• Inazuma irebun
    – Ga-Rei: Zero12
  • AIC Spirits
  • Asread
    		• Ei AokiGarei: Zero
    – Macademi Wasshoi!12ZexcsTakaomi KanzakiMa ka de mi WAsshoi!
    – Kyō no Go no Ni13XebecTsuyoshi NagasawaKyō no go no ni
    – Skip Beat!25HAL Film MakerKiyoko SayamaSukippu bīto!
    – Ef: A Tale of Melodies12ShaftShin ŌnumaEf - merodī no monogatari.
    – Kurozuka12MadhouseTetsurō ArakiKurotsuka
    – Vampire Knight Guilty13Studio DeenKiyoko SayamaVuanpaia naito giruti
    – Mōryō no Hako13MadhouseRyosuke NakamuraMōryō no hako
    – Stitch!25MadhouseMasami HataSutitchi!
    – One Outs25MadhouseYuzo SatoWan'nautsu
    – Chaos;Head12MadhouseTakaaki IshiyamaKaosu heddo
    – Tytania26ArtlandNoboru IshiguroTaitania
    – Nodame Cantabile: Paris-Hen11J.C.StaffChiaki KonNo dame kantābire Pari-hen
    – Junjo Romantica 12Studio DeenChiaki KonJunjō romanchika 2
    – Michiko & Hatchin22ManglobeSayo YamamotoMichiko to hatchin

    Original net animations

    A list of original net animations that debuted between January 1 and December 31, 2008.
    First run start and end datesTitleEpisodesStudioDirectorAlternate titleRef
    – Ikuze! Gen-san24Nippon AnimationYoshiaki OkumuraIku ze ~tsu! Minamoto-san
    Yurumi to Shimeru1Opera HouseYurumi to shimeru
    – Penguin Musume♥Heart22Picture MagicHitoyuki MatsuiPengin musume ♥ ha~a to
    – Hennako-chan6GonzoHen'nako-chan
    – Candy Boy7AICTakafumi HoshikawaCandyboy ~ to aru futago shimai no nanigenai nichijō-banashi ~
    – Xam'd: Lost Memories26BonesMasayuki MiyajiBōnen' no zamudo
    – Time of Eve6Studio RikkaYasuhiro YoshiuraIvu no jikan

    Original video animations

    A list of original video animations that debuted between January 1 and December 31, 2008.
    First run start and end datesTitleEpisodesStudioDirectorAlternate titleRef
    School Days: Valentine Days1TNKKeitaro MotonagaSchool Days 「Valentine Days」
    – My-Otome 0: S.ifr3SunriseHirokazu HisayukiDance - YiHiME 0 ~ S. Ifr ~
    Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch Special Edition - Black Rebellion1SunriseGoro TaniguchiKōdo giasu hangyaku no rurūshu SPECIAL EDITION burakku REBELLION
    The iDOLM@STER Live For You!1ActasKeiichiro KawaguchiAidorumasutā raibu fō yū!
    – Yotsunoha2Hal Film MakerHiroshi NishikioriYotsunoha
    – Saint Seiya: The Hades Chapter - Elysion6Toei AnimationTomoharu KatsumataSeitōshi seiya meiō hādesu erishion-hen
    Kite Liberator1ArmsYasuomi UmetsuKaito ribereitā
    Fist of the North Star: The Legend of Toki1APPPKobun ShizunoMa kyūseishu densetsu hokuto no kobushi toki-den
    Saishuu Shiken Kujira Progressive1ZexcsNagisa MiyazakiSaishū shiken kujira Progressive
    School Days: Magical Heart Kokoro-chan1TNKKeitaro MotonagaSukūru deizu ~ majikaru hāto ☆ kokoro-chan ~
    – To Heart 2 AD2Chaos ProjectYasuhisa KatōTo~uhāto 2
    – Amuri in Star Ocean3Studio HibariYoshitomo YonetaniHoshi no umi no amuri
    Green vs. Red1TMS EntertainmentShigeyuki MiyaRupan sansei GREEN vs RED
    Detective Conan: Kudou Shinichi - The Case of the Mysterious Wall and the Black Lab1TMS EntertainmentYasuichiro YamamotoMeitantei konan Magic File 2 ~ kudō shin'ichi nazo no kabe to kuroirabu jiken ~
    – Naisho no Tsubomi3Studio KikanAkira ShiginoNaisho no tsubomi
    – The Prince of Tennis: The National Tournament Finals7M.S.CShunsuke TadaTenisu no ōjisama Original vu~ideo Animation zenkoku taikai-hen Final
    Batman: Gotham Knight6
  • Futoshi Higashide
  • Hiroshi Morioka
  • Jong-Sik Nam
  • Shōjirō Nishimi
  • Toshiyuki Kubooka
  • Yasuhiro Aoki
  • Yoshiaki Kawajiri
    		• Battoman gossamu naito
    Kodomo no Jikan Recap1DiomedéaEiji SuganumaKodomo no jikan
    – School Rumble 3rd Semester2Studio CometShinji TakamatsuSukūru ranburu san gakki
    Ranma ½: Nightmare! Incense of Spring Sleep1Studio DeenTakeshi MoriRan ma 1/ 2 akumu! Shunmin ka
    – Kaitō Tenshi Twin Angel2NomadTatsuyuki NagaiKaitō tenshi tsuin' enjeru
    – Detroit Metal City12Studio 4°CHiroshi NagahamaDetoroito metaru shiti
    – Magical Teacher Negima! ~The White Wing~3
  • Shaft
  • Studio Pastoral
  • Akiyuki Simbo
  • Hiroaki Tomita
  • Yukihiro Miyamoto
    		• Mahō sensei negima ~ shiroki tsubasa ALA ALBA ~
    Candy Boy Episode: EX01 - Mirai Yohouzu1AICTakafumi HoshikawaKyandī boy episode: EX 01 `mirai yosouzu'
    Renketsu Houshiki
    Ai no Katachi: Ecchi na Onnanoko wa Kirai... desu ka?
    Alignment You! You! The Animation
    Tsuma Shibori
    Ero Manga Mitai na Koi Shiyo
    Square Sisters
    Shakkin Shimai
    Cafe Junkie
    – Cobra the Animation6Magic BusBuichi TerasawaKobura THE animēshon za saikogan
    Quiz Magic Academy: The Original Animation1AIC PLUS+Keitaro MotonagaKuizu majikku akademī ~ The Original Animation ~
    Mushrambo2Toei AnimationTetsuo ImazawaMashuranbō
    Lucky☆Star OVA1Kyoto AnimationYasuhiro TakemotoRakisuta ovu~a
    Initial D Extra Stage 21A.C.G.T.Tsuneo TominagaKashiramoji D ekusutora sutēji 2
    – Goodbye Mr. Despair OAD3ShaftAkiyuki SimboGoku sayonara zetsubō-sensei
    Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino OVA2Artland
  • Hiroshi Ishiodori
  • Akira Mano
    		• Gansuringā gāru - IL TEATRINO - ovu~a
    – Switch2ActasNaoki OohiraSuitchi
    – MS IGLOO 2: Gravity Front3SunriseTakashi ImanishiKidō senshi Gandamu MS igurū 2 jūryoku sensen
    – Master of Martial Hearts5ArmsYoshitaka FujimotoZettai Shougeki~ Puratonikku hāto ~
    – My Bride is a Mermaid OVA2
  • AIC
  • Gonzo
    		• Seiji KishiSeto no hanayome ovu~a
    One Piece: Romance Dawn Story1Toei AnimationKatsumi TokoroWan pīsu romansu dōn sutōrī
    Kamen no Maid Guy: Ano Natsu, Ichiban Yutaka na Chichi.1MadhouseMasayuki SakoiKamen'no meido gai ano natsu, ichiban yutaka chichi.
    – Kissxsis12FeelMunenori NawaKisu × shisu
    – D.C.if: Da Capo if2ZexcsShinji UshiroD. C. If 〜 da kāpo ifu 〜