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| Science SARU | |
|---|---|
| Name | Science SARU |
| Native name | サイエンスSARU |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Eunyoung Choi; Masaaki Yuasa |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
| Industry | Animation |
| Notable works | Mind Game; Lu Over the Wall; Night Is Short, Walk On Girl; Devilman Crybaby; Ride Your Wave; Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! |
Science SARU
Science SARU is a Tokyo-based animation studio known for experimental techniques, hybrid workflows, and auteur-driven projects that bridge independent animation and mainstream streaming. The company emerged from a collaboration between creators with backgrounds in both commercial animation and festival-circuit films, producing works that have circulated through international film festivals and global streaming platforms. Science SARU's portfolio spans feature films, television series, original net animations, and commercial collaborations with music artists and corporations.
Founded in 2013, the studio grew out of earlier associations between creators who previously worked on projects such as Mind Game and Kaiba. Early milestones include participation in international festivals like Annecy International Animated Film Festival and collaborations with broadcasters including NHK and streaming services such as Netflix. The studio's profile rose sharply after releases screened at events including the Berlin International Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival. Over time, the studio expanded its staff and infrastructure in Tokyo while maintaining ties to freelance networks across Osaka and Kyoto.
Founding figures include producers and directors with prior credits on works associated with studios like Studio 4°C and individuals connected to projects such as The Tatami Galaxy and Kaiba. Leadership has involved creatives who have collaborated with filmmakers from Studio Ghibli alumni networks, veterans of Gainax and Madhouse, and staff who trained under directors that contributed to Yokohama Animation Lab initiatives. Notable directors who have led productions for the studio have participated in panels at Anime Expo and Comic-Con International. Executive producers have navigated partnerships with corporations such as Toho and streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Hulu.
Science SARU's catalogue includes theatrical features that screened alongside films from auteurs associated with Studio Ponoc and projects that received distribution through companies like GKIDS and Aniplex. The studio produced television work that aired on networks comparable to Fuji Television slots and streamed on global services such as Netflix and Crunchyroll. Short-form projects have been presented at festivals including Sundance Film Festival and SXSW, and original net animations were commissioned by international brands and music labels such as Sony Music Entertainment Japan and Universal Music Group. The studio's filmography intersects with franchises and creators tied to Devilman, Space Dandy, and other notable anime properties.
The studio is recognized for blending hand-drawn aesthetics with digital processes, often invoking workflows pioneered by animators associated with Mamoru Hosoda and Hayao Miyazaki-era practitioners. Techniques include rapid, improvisational storyboarding reminiscent of methods used by directors from Gainax and compositing approaches similar to those employed at Production I.G. The visual language frequently references expressionist line work seen in independent films screened at Venice Film Festival and experimental animation programs curated by institutions like the Rotterdam Film Festival. The studio’s use of digital tools aligns with trends promoted at conferences such as SIGGRAPH.
Collaborations span partnerships with streaming platforms such as Netflix, film distributors like GKIDS and Toho, and music collaborations with labels tied to artists featured at Fuji Rock Festival and Coachella. The studio has worked with writers and designers who previously contributed to productions by Shaft, P.A.Works, and Bones, and has entered co-production arrangements with international outfits similar to Studio Deen-era alliances. Corporate commissions include branded shorts for companies in sectors represented at Tokyo Motor Show and tie-ins with franchises distributed by Kadokawa Corporation and Shueisha-linked properties.
The studio’s works have received nominations and awards at festivals such as Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, and the Japan Academy Prize-adjacent circuits. Individual directors and projects have been honored in categories at ceremonies comparable to the Annie Awards and recognized by film critics who cover offerings from entities like The New York Times’s film desk and outlets including Variety and The Guardian. Several titles have appeared on year-end lists compiled by critics at Sight & Sound and programming curated by organizations such as BFI.
Operating as a private studio headquartered in Tokyo, the company maintains a hybrid staffing model combining in-house teams and freelance talent drawn from networks around Osaka, Kyoto, and international hubs like Los Angeles and London. The studio’s production pipeline integrates digital animation software discussed at industry expos such as SIGGRAPH and uses project management practices influenced by approaches adopted at studios like Sunrise and Toei Animation. Revenue streams include theatrical distribution deals with firms like Toho and international licensors, streaming commissions from platforms including Netflix and Hulu, and commercial work for corporations that exhibit at trade events such as the CEATEC Japan exhibition.
Category:Animation studios in Japan