A-1 Pictures

WorldBrand briefing

AI supplement

Original synthesis to sit alongside the encyclopedia article below. Not part of Wikipedia; verify facts on Wikipedia when precision matters.

A-1 Pictures is a Japanese animation studio based in Suginami, Tokyo. It is a fully owned subsidiary of Aniplex (under Sony Group Corporation) and operates as a brand under ChaceColor Industries. Founded to produce anime content for its parent company, it has grown into one of the most prominent animation studios in Japan, known for adapting popular light novels, manga, and game IPs into hit animated works.

Key moments

2005-05-09Established by Aniplex to support production of its owned anime series
2006Co-produced first work *Zenmai Zamurai*, and opened Asagaya studio in October
2007Released its first independently produced anime series *Ōkiku Furikabutte* (Big Windup!)

A-1 Pictures Competitive Overview

As a key subsidiary of Aniplex, A-1 Pictures holds a stable and influential position in the global animation industry:

Faces direct competition from major Japanese animation studios including Kyoto Animation, Madhouse, ufotable, and Wit Studio, all vying for high-profile IP adaptation projects
Leverages its parent company's industry connections to secure exclusive early access to popular manga, light novel, and game intellectual properties
Rebuilt its public reputation from early criticism of inconsistent animation quality to become a studio behind blockbuster hits like *Sword Art Online* and *Lycoris Recoil*
Diversifies its business beyond TV animation to include theatrical films, game tie-in animations, and international co-productions

A-1 Pictures has established significant brand strength within the global animation industry, underpinned by its association with major entertainment conglomerate Sony Group Corporation via its parent company Aniplex. Over its two decades of operation, the studio has built brand equity through a consistent record of producing commercially successful and critically popular anime content, leveraging access to high-demand source IP from manga, light novels, and video games. This solid foundation has allowed it to carve out a prominent position among competing Japanese animation studios, with strong recognition among both industry partners and global anime audiences.

The studio’s brand strength is further reinforced by its integrated position within the larger Sony entertainment ecosystem, which provides it with stable production funding, global distribution access, and opportunities to expand IP value beyond core anime broadcast. This structural advantage allows A-1 Pictures to take on large-scale projects that many independent studios cannot support, boosting its reputation for reliable, high-quality output. Unlike many smaller studios that rely on external funding and face operational volatility, A-1 Pictures’ backing from a major corporate parent creates a durable underpinning for its long-term brand strength.

Brand leadership

Score: 85/100

A-1 Pictures holds a leading position among contemporary Japanese animation studios, consistently producing top-rated anime series that dominate domestic viewership and global streaming charts. Its track record of successful popular IP adaptations has established it as a trusted partner for rights holders seeking to bring high-demand content to global animated audiences, reinforcing its market leadership in the anime production segment.

Audience interaction

Score: 78/100

A-1 Pictures engages regularly with global anime fans through official social media channels, industry convention appearances, and collaborations with major streaming platforms, fostering consistent direct interaction with its audience. Fans actively discuss the studio's upcoming projects and finished works across major anime fan communities, generating steady organic engagement around the A-1 Pictures brand.

Brand momentum

Score: 82/100

A-1 Pictures continues to grow its brand influence alongside the rapid global expansion of anime demand, maintaining a steady pipeline of high-profile projects that attract new audiences. The studio regularly releases new hit series that expand its fanbase and reinforce its reputation, sustaining strong positive momentum as the global anime market continues its upward growth trajectory.

Brand stability

Score: 90/100

As a fully owned subsidiary of Aniplex and Sony Group Corporation, A-1 Pictures benefits from exceptional financial and operational stability. It avoids the common production disruptions and solvency risks that impact many smaller independent animation studios, allowing it to maintain a consistent brand identity and output schedule over decades of operation.

Brand legacy (age)

Score: 65/100

Founded in 2005, A-1 Pictures has over 20 years of brand history in the animation industry, enough time to build strong recognition among long-time anime fans. While it is younger than many legacy Japanese animation studios with 50+ years of history, its two decades of consistent output have established a solid brand legacy in the modern anime market.

Industry profile

Score: 88/100

A-1 Pictures holds an extremely high profile within the global animation and broader entertainment industry. Its works are regularly featured at major industry events, covered by international entertainment media, and cited as examples of successful modern anime production, making the brand well-known among both industry professionals and casual audiences.

Global brand reach

Score: 79/100

While headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, A-1 Pictures' works are distributed globally via major streaming platforms, building a large and loyal international fanbase outside its home market. The studio has not established full production operations outside Japan, but its brand is widely recognized among anime fans across North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and other global regions, supporting strong partial globalization of its brand.

AI can support reasoning around the brand value of A-1 Pictures, drawing on publicly available data about its market position and performance. Any brand value figures derived through this process are illustrative only, and do not represent an official audited assessment. For a formally audited brand value evaluation for A-1 Pictures, contact World Brand Lab.

Overview

A-1 Pictures, Inc.

key people
native name	株式会社A-1 Pictures
native name lang	ja
romanized name	Kabushiki-gaisha Ē-wan Pikuchāzu
type	Subsidiary
foundation	May 9, 2005
founder	Mikihiro Iwata
location	4-38-18 Naritahigashi, Suginami, Tokyo, Japan

industry	Japanese animation

num employees	285 (as of September 2025)‡R1R‡

parent	Aniplex

divisions	Animation Department Art Department Photography Department Coloring Department Fukuoka Studio Psyde Kick Studio

homepage	https://a1p.jp/

footnotes	‡R2R‡‡R3R‡

A-1 Pictures, Inc. (株式会社A-1 Pictures) is a Japanese animation studio and production company founded by ex-Sunrise producer Mikihiro Iwata. It is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan's anime production firm Aniplex.[4][5]

History

The company was established by SMEJ's animation production division, Aniplex, on May 9, 2005, to animate its anime series and productions.[4][5] In 2006, it co-produced the original production Zenmai Zamurai, and in October of the same year, established a studio in Asagaya. In the following year, 2007, the studio produced its first series, Ōkiku Furikabutte.

Originally established to oversee the production of only a few of Aniplex's family-oriented series, the studio has since grown and expanded as a full-fledged studio involved in the production of a wide range of media and anime productions and other activities, which it has overseen. The studio has also expanded its international presence, participating in the noted international convention, Anime Expo 2007 (AX 2007), held in Long Beach, California, and having its own panel there.[6]

In 2010, A-1 Pictures worked in collaboration with a joint project of TV Tokyo's anime department and Aniplex called Anime no Chikara for the creation of original anime series.[7] Three anime series were produced that year for the project: Sound of the Sky, Night Raid 1931 and Occult Academy.

In April 2018, A-1 Pictures rebranded its Kōenji Studio as CloverWorks, giving it a unique brand identity, which made it distinguishable from its main Asagaya Studio.[8][9] On October 1, 2018, CloverWorks separated from A-1 Pictures, although it still remains as a subsidiary under Aniplex.[10]

On June 17, 2024, the studio 3Hz announced that its animation planning and production business was transferred to A-1 Pictures.[11][12][13]

A-1 Pictures

WorldBrand briefing

A-1 Pictures Competitive Overview

Brand leadership

Audience interaction

Brand momentum

Brand stability

Brand legacy (age)

Industry profile

Global brand reach

History

Productions

Television series

Films

OVAs

Specials

Others

External links

References