Studio Pierrot

Studio Pierrot was founded in May 1979 by Yuji Nunokawa, Hisayuki Toriumi, Mitsuo Kaminashi, and Masami Annou, all former animators from Tatsunoko Production and Mushi Production. The studio's first television work was The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (1980-1981), followed closely by Urusei Yatsura, which aired from January 8, 1980 to March 17, 1981. Over the following decades, Pierrot built a reputation for producing some of the most globally recognized shonen anime franchises, including Naruto, Bleach, YuYu Hakusho, and Tokyo Ghoul.

The company changed its corporate name to Pierrot Co., Ltd. in 2002, then reverted to Studio Pierrot Co., Ltd. in August 2025. The studio operates four divisions: Pierrot DAR, Pierrot Design Room, Pierrot Animation Room, and Pierrot Films (rebranded from the second studio in July 2024). As of April 2025, the studio employs 240 people. Its headquarters are located in Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo.

Pierrot has faced criticism for inconsistent animation quality in long-running weekly series, particularly during later episodes of Naruto and Bleach. In response, the studio has shifted toward seasonal production models. Recent partnerships include a joint production agreement with South Korean studio Red Dog Culture House (August 2024) and a collaboration with Asahi Production (October 2024) to strengthen stable output. The studio's value derives largely from its intellectual property portfolio, which generates ongoing licensing and merchandise revenue. [edit]