Bones (studio)
Bones Inc. is a Japanese animation studio, with headquarters located in Igusa, Suginami, Tokyo. It has produced numerous series, including RahXephon, No. 6, Wolf's Rain, Scrapped Princess, Eureka Seven, Angelic Layer, Darker than Black, Soul Eater, Ouran High School Host Club, both the 2003 and 2009 adaptations of Fullmetal Alchemist, Star Driver, Gosick, Mob Psycho 100, Space Dandy, Noragami, Bungo Stray Dogs, Gachiakuta, and My Hero Academia.
History
Bones was founded by Sunrise staff members Masahiko Minami, Hiroshi Ōsaka and Toshihiro Kawamoto in October 1998. One of their first projects was collaborating with Sunrise on Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door, a feature film based on the Cowboy Bebop anime series.According to Minami, the studio's name was chosen as a reference to its staff count at the time, which he described as being "like bones" while citing the desire to "work hard and put on some flesh".
In 2007, the studio suffered the loss of co-founder Hiroshi Ōsaka, well known for his works as character designer on series such as Mobile Suit Victory Gundam, Mobile Fighter G Gundam and The Mars Daybreak. Ōsaka had been battling with cancer, and died from the disease on September 24, 2007. He was 44 years old.
After the death of Ōsaka, two new additions have been made to the studio's board of directors: Makoto Watanabe and Takahiro Komori. Komori is well known as a character designer and animator who has been with the studio since its inception. His previous works as designer consist of Angelic Layer, Scrapped Princess, and Darker than Black.
In October 2024, Bones spun-off its production division under a separate, wholly owned subsidiary known as Bones Film. As such, all productions from 2025 onward are credited to Bones Film.
Studios
Like studio Sunrise, where some of its founders previously worked, Bones Film is divided into smaller studios which are focused on their own anime projects.- Studio A: Led by producer Naoki Amano; mainly known for Gosick, Wolf's Rain, Angelic Layer, Hiwou War Chronicles, Noragami and Carole & Tuesday. It's currently working on Gachiakuta.
- Studio B: Led by producer Tatsuya Saitō; mainly known for Eureka Seven, RahXephon, Space Dandy, and Mob Psycho 100. It's currently working on My Hero Academia: Vigilantes.
- Studio C: Led by producer Yoshihiro Ōyabu; mainly known for Fullmetal Alchemist, Darker than Black: The Black Contractor, Soul Eater, Ouran High School Host Club and My Hero Academia.
- Studio D: Led by producer Nobuhito Takemoto; mainly known for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and No. 6. Since 2015, it works on Bungo Stray Dogs.
- Studio E: Known for the Eureka Seven: Hi-Evolution trilogy and Metallic Rouge.
- Studio F: The newest studio; It's currently working on an unknown new project as of 2024.