Science Saru

Science Saru, Inc.
Native name
株式会社サイエンスSARU
Kabushiki-gaisha Saiensu SARU
Company typeSubsidiary (Kabushiki gaisha)
IndustryFilm
Japanese animation
FoundedFebruary 4, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-02-04) in Tokyo, Japan[1]
Founders
Headquarters
Kichijōji, Tokyo
,
Japan
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Eunyoung Choi (president and CEO)[2]
ProductsAnimated feature films
Animated series
Number of employees
50
ParentToho (2024–present)
Websitewww.sciencesaru.com

Science Saru, Inc. (Japanese: 株式会社サイエンスSARU, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Saiensu SARU), stylized as Science SARU, is a Japanese animation studio headquartered in Kichijōji, Tokyo. Established on February 4, 2013, by producer Eunyoung Choi and director Masaaki Yuasa,[1] the studio has produced four feature films and five animated series, as well as co-productions, a compilation film, and episodes of series for other studios. Science Saru's first animation was the "Food Chain" episode of the American animated series Adventure Time (2014);[3] its most recent projects are the animated feature film Inu-Oh (2021),[4] two short films for the animated anthology project Star Wars: Visions (2021),[5] and the animated series The Heike Story (2021), Yurei Deco (2022), and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023).[6][7][8]

The studio's work has received critical acclaim both within Japan and internationally, winning awards from Annecy,[9][10] the Japan Academy Film Prize,[11] the Mainichi Film Awards,[12][13] and the Japan Media Arts Festival.[14][15]

Science Saru utilizes a hybrid animation production method which combines cell animation and digital animation (including Flash animation), a technique not previously used in Japanese animation.[16] The studio is currently led by Eunyoung Choi.[2]

On May 23, 2024, it was announced that Toho would buy all of Science SARU's shares and make it a subsidiary, which was completed by June 19 the same year.[17]

  1. ^ a b "Science SARU - About". Science SARU Official Website (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Harding, Daryl (April 2, 2020). "Eunyoung Choi Becomes the CEO of Anime Studio Science SARU After Masaaki Yuasa Retires". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  3. ^ Loo, Egan (April 21, 2014). "Ping Pong/Kick-Heart's Yuasa Directs Adventure Time Episode". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  4. ^ Mateo, Alex (July 26, 2021). "Masaaki Yuasa's Inu-Oh Anime Film Reveals Trailer, Cast, Staff, Early Summer 2022 Opening". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  5. ^ "Anime Expo Lite: 20 Things We Learned from the Star Wars: Visions Panel". Lucasfilm. July 3, 2021. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  6. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 2, 2021). "Science SARU Reveals The Heike Story TV Anime by Naoko Yamada". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  7. ^ @sciencesaru (February 20, 2022). 11/11 2022 Summer Science SARU New original TV animation series "YUREI DECO". We will deliver a lot of "love" to everyone this year. @YUREIDECO #ユーレイデコ #YUREIDECO (Tweet). Retrieved July 28, 2022 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Gustines, George Gene (2023-11-15). "'Scott Pilgrim' Is Back, Now in Anime Form". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  9. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (June 18, 2017). "Lu Over the Wall, In This Corner of the World anime films win awards at Annecy". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "2021 Winning Selection, Television | Japan Sinks: 2020: "The Beginning of the End"". Annecy International Animated Film Festival (in French). Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  11. ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (March 2, 2018). "Masaaki Yuasa's The Night Is Short, Walk on Girl Wins Japan Academy Prize's "Animation of the Year"". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  12. ^ Inoa, Christopher (May 18, 2018). "Devilman Crybaby's Masaaki Yuasa might be the most important voice in anime right now". SYFY WIRE. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "「第77回毎日映画コンクール」『ケイコ 目を澄ませて』最多5冠 沢田研二、岸井ゆきのら受賞". Oricon (in Japanese). January 19, 2023. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  14. ^ "Grand Prize - Lu Over the Wall | Animation Division | 2018 [21st]". Japan Media Arts Festival. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  15. ^ "Grand Prize - Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! | Animation Division | 2021 [24th]". Japan Media Arts Festival. Archived from the original on March 16, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  16. ^ Shukla, Ajay (May 21, 2020). "How Science SARU Animation Studio is Redefining the Japanese Animation Industry". Adobe Inc. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  17. ^ "株式会社サイエンス SARU の株式取得（子会社化）に関するお知らせ" (PDF). Toho Co., Ltd. (in Japanese). 23 May 2024.