David Production

David Production, Inc. is a Japanese animation studio founded in September 2007 in Tokyo by Kōji Kajita and Taito Okiura, two producers who had previously worked at Gonzo. The company was established as a comparatively small studio with an ambition to create animation supported by strong storytelling and memorable characters. Its name refers to the biblical story of David and Goliath, expressing the idea that a smaller organization can make a significant creative impact despite competing with larger and better-known studios. The name has also been described as an abbreviation of “Design Audio & Visual Illusion Dynamics,” a phrase associated with the studio’s emphasis on visual and audiovisual expression. David Production initially worked as an animation subcontractor. Its first full television animation production as the primary contractor was Ristorante Paradiso in 2009. This transition from subcontracting to lead production provided the foundation for the studio’s later identity as a producer of complete television anime projects and adaptations of established manga and other Japanese properties. The studio’s international profile grew substantially through its work on JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Beginning with the 2012 television adaptation, David Production produced anime versions of multiple parts of Hirohiko Araki’s long-running manga, including Phantom Blood, Battle Tendency, Stardust Crusaders, Diamond Is Unbreakable, and Golden Wind. The adaptation became the company’s signature franchise and helped establish its reputation for distinctive character designs, stylized action, unusual color direction, expressive posing, and close engagement with the source material. The JoJo productions also contributed to the global visibility of the studio through international licensing, streaming, home-video releases, and fan communities. David Production has also produced or animated works outside the JoJo franchise. Its notable television projects include the 2018 adaptation of Captain Tsubasa, Cells at Work!, Fire Force, and the 2022 adaptation of Urusei Yatsura. These projects demonstrate a portfolio spanning action, sports, comedy, science-themed entertainment, and science fiction. The studio has therefore combined franchise continuity with work on different properties and genres rather than functioning solely as a single-series production house. Fuji Television acquired David Production on August 1, 2014. The acquisition placed the studio within a major Japanese media group while retaining David Production as an identifiable animation production company. Its work is created primarily for the Japanese anime market but is distributed internationally through rights holders, broadcasters, streaming services, and home-entertainment partners. Publicly available reference material identifies the studio through its productions and corporate history rather than through separately reported financial performance or a public stock listing.

David Production was founded in September 2007 by Kōji Kajita and Taito Okiura, former Gonzo producers who left that company to establish a new animation studio. The founders selected the name as an allusion to the biblical David and Goliath story. The reference conveys the studio’s intended identity: a relatively small creative organization seeking to produce compelling animation and storytelling despite operating alongside larger and more established studios. The name has also been interpreted as an abbreviation of “Design Audio & Visual Illusion Dynamics,” emphasizing the company’s interest in visual and audiovisual impact. During its early period, David Production worked as an animation subcontractor. This role is common in the Japanese animation industry, where different studios may contribute particular stages or episodes to a larger production. In 2009, the company reached an important operational milestone by serving as the primary contractor for Ristorante Paradiso, its first full animation production in that capacity. This established the studio as more than a supporting vendor and gave it a platform for developing its own production profile. The studio later became particularly associated with manga adaptations. Its most important breakthrough was the television anime version of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, which began in 2012. David Production handled multiple story parts of Hirohiko Araki’s long-running series, including Phantom Blood, Battle Tendency, Stardust Crusaders, Diamond Is Unbreakable, and Golden Wind. The franchise’s unusual characters, elaborate poses, supernatural battles, striking color choices, and changing historical settings required a strong and recognizable visual approach. The studio’s work on JoJo helped define its international reputation and made the company widely known beyond Japan. David Production’s output has not been limited to one franchise. The studio has produced anime connected with properties such as Cells at Work!, the 2018 television adaptation of Captain Tsubasa, Fire Force, and the 2022 adaptation of Urusei Yatsura. These projects cover different genres and production demands, including sports drama, science-themed comedy, action fantasy, and science-fiction comedy. The range indicates a business model based on commissioned and licensed intellectual-property adaptations as well as continuing franchise work. A major corporate change occurred on August 1, 2014, when Fuji Television acquired David Production. The acquisition connected the studio with a large Japanese broadcasting and media group. David Production continued to be identified as a distinct animation studio, while its corporate setting gave it a relationship with a broader entertainment organization. Its productions have primarily served the Japanese market, but the international popularity of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and other anime has made the studio part of the global anime distribution ecosystem. Public reference material does not establish a separate stock listing, independently reported financial results, or a detailed current executive roster for the studio.

• 2022

  Urusei Yatsura adaptation

  [1]David Productionen.wikipedia.org

  The studio produces the 2022 anime adaptation of Urusei Yatsura.

• 2018

  Captain Tsubasa adaptation

  [1]David Productionen.wikipedia.org

  David Production produces the 2018 anime adaptation of Captain Tsubasa.

• 2014

  Acquisition by Fuji Television

  [1]David Productionen.wikipedia.org

  Fuji Television acquires David Production on August 1.

• 2012

  JoJo's Bizarre Adventure television adaptation begins

  [1]David Productionen.wikipedia.org

  David Production begins the anime adaptation of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, the work that becomes its defining international franchise.

• 2009

  First full primary production

  [1]David Productionen.wikipedia.org

  Ristorante Paradiso becomes the studio’s first full animation production as the primary contractor after its initial subcontracting work.

• 2007

  David Production is founded

  [1]David Productionen.wikipedia.org

  Former Gonzo producers Kōji Kajita and Taito Okiura establish David Production in Tokyo.

A creator-led Japanese animation studio positioned around adaptation quality, distinctive visual direction, expressive action, and strong storytelling. Its international identity is closely associated with faithful yet highly stylized adaptations of major manga properties, particularly JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.

• Television anime franchise · 2012

  JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

  David Production’s signature franchise is its television adaptation of Hirohiko Araki’s JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga. The studio has animated several parts of the multigenerational story, including Phantom Blood, Battle Tendency, Stardust Crusaders, Diamond Is Unbreakable, and Golden Wind. The production is recognized for highly stylized character presentation, unusual action choreography, expressive posing, dramatic color treatment, and sustained attention to the source material’s distinctive tone.

• Television anime

  Cells at Work!

  Cells at Work! is a science-themed anime property depicting the human body through personified cells and biological processes. David Production’s work on the series broadened its portfolio beyond action-oriented manga adaptations and demonstrated its ability to combine educational concepts, comedy, character-driven storytelling, and conventional television anime production.

• Television anime

  Fire Force

  Fire Force is an action-oriented anime adaptation centered on specialized firefighters confronting supernatural combustion phenomena. The title represents David Production’s work in large-scale fantasy action, with production demands involving combat animation, effects, ensemble characters, and a serialized narrative.

• Television anime · 2018

  Captain Tsubasa

  David Production produced the 2018 television adaptation of Captain Tsubasa, the long-running football manga and anime property. The project added sports animation to the studio’s notable body of work and required the depiction of competition, team dynamics, athletic movement, and serialized character development.

• Television anime · 2022

  Urusei Yatsura

  The 2022 adaptation of Urusei Yatsura is based on Rumiko Takahashi’s science-fiction comedy manga. Its inclusion in David Production’s portfolio reflects the studio’s work across genres and its involvement in new television interpretations of established Japanese intellectual properties.

• Television anime · 2009

  Ristorante Paradiso

  Ristorante Paradiso was David Production’s first full animation production as the primary contractor. The title marks the company’s transition from early subcontracting activity to leading a complete anime production.

• 2014

  Join the Fuji Television organizationM&A

  Background

  David Production had developed from a subcontracting studio into a producer of complete anime projects and had gained visibility through major adaptations.

  Action taken

  Fuji Television acquired David Production on August 1, 2014.

  Aftermath

  The studio continued operating under the David Production name within the wider Fuji media structure.

  Source

• 2014

  Fuji Television acquires David Production[1]David Productionen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Fuji Television acquired the animation studio, bringing it into the wider Fuji media organization.

• 2009

  David Production begins primary animation production with Ristorante Paradiso[1]David Productionen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The studio moved beyond subcontracting and handled its first full animation production as the primary contractor.

• 2007

  David Production is established by former Gonzo producers[1]David Productionen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Kōji Kajita and Taito Okiura founded the Tokyo animation studio after leaving Gonzo.

1. 1David Productionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2David Production official websitedavidproduction.jp