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Studio Bind
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Studio Bind, Inc. (Japanese: 株式会社スタジオバインド, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Sutajio Baindo), is a Japanese animation studio founded in November 2018 as a joint venture by Egg Firm and White Fox. It is best known for the adaptation of the light novel series Mushoku Tensei.
Key Information
History
[edit]The company was founded in November 2018 as a joint venture between animation studio White Fox and production, planning and management company Egg Firm. The first work of the studio was on the anime Karakuri Circus for the episodes 22 and 31, while the first work of the company as a lead animation studio is Mushoku Tensei, which debuted in 2021.[1][2]
On January 31, 2021, Egg Firm CEO and Mushoku Tensei chief producer Nobuhiro Osawa stated that he built the new production studio for Mushoku Tensei.[3] In October 2019, production company Egg Firm explained their rationale for setting up a separate studio from the existing White Fox studio, stating they "needed a system that would allow us to move forward with the project in a continuous, long-term, and systematic manner" so they "will be able to concentrate more on the production of Mushoku Tensei." Egg Firm noted that "Studio Bind will use Mushoku Tensei as a launchpad for its full-scale animation production business."[1]
Works
[edit]Television series
[edit]| Title | Director(s) | First run start date | First run end date | Eps | Note(s) | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mushoku Tensei | Manabu Okamoto | January 11, 2021 | December 20, 2021 | 23 | Based on a light novel series written by Rifujin na Magonote and illustrated by Shirotaka. | [4] |
| Onimai: I'm Now Your Sister! | Shingo Fujii | January 5, 2023 | March 23, 2023 | 12 | Based on a manga series written and illustrated by Nekotofu. | [5] |
| Mushoku Tensei II | Hiroki Hirano (part 1) Ryōsuke Shibuya (part 2) |
July 3, 2023 | July 1, 2024 | 25 | Sequel to Mushoku Tensei. | [6] [7] |
| Flower and Asura | Ayumu Uwano | January 7, 2025 | March 26, 2025 | 12 | Based on a manga series written by Ayano Takeda and illustrated by Musshu. | [8] [9] |
| Ruri Rocks | Shingo Fujii | July 6, 2025 | September 21, 2025 | 12 | Based on a manga series written and illustrated by Keiichirō Shibuya. | [10] |
| Mushoku Tensei III | Ryōsuke Shibuya | July 2026 | TBA | TBA | Sequel to Mushoku Tensei II. | [11] |
OVAs
[edit]| Title | Director(s) | Release date | Eps | Note(s) | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mushoku Tensei | Manabu Okamoto | March 16, 2022 | 1 | Based on a light novel series written by Rifujin na Magonote and illustrated by Shirotaka. | [12] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b WHITE FOXとEGG FIRMが共同出資で設立 制作会社スタジオバインド. Animation Business Journal (in Japanese). October 19, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 19, 2019). "White Fox, Egg Firm Invest in New Anime Company Studio Bind". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- ^ アニメ質問状:「無職転生」 ファンタジー世界の大河ドラマ 新スタジオ設立の裏側. Mantan Web (in Japanese). January 31, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
- ^ Sherman, Jennifer (October 18, 2019). "Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Anime's Promo Unveils Staff, 2020 Premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 11, 2022). "ONIMAI: I'm Now Your Sister! Anime's Video Reveals More Cast, January 2023 Premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
- ^ Haddick, Alicia (March 25, 2023). "Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season II's Video Announces Updated Staff, July Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ アニメ2期『無職転生』の第2クールが4月7日より放送開始。ルーデウスとシルフィらの姿を描いたキービジュアル、ティザーPVが解禁. Famitsu (in Japanese). February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
- ^ Cayanan, Joanna (December 4, 2024). "FLOWER AND ASURA Anime's New Video Reveals More Cast, January 7 TV Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ 武田綾乃×むっしゅ「花は咲く、修羅の如く」TVアニメ化!藤寺美徳&島袋美由利が出演. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 12, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ^ Cayanan, Joanna (May 29, 2025). "Introduction to Mineralogy Anime's New Video Unveils More Staff, Theme Songs, July 6 Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
- ^ 「無職転生」第3期は7月から放送、エリスが剣を構えるティザービジュアル公開. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 10, 2026. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
- ^ Loo, Egan (November 13, 2021). "Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Anime's Blu-ray Disc to Include Unaired Episode". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Official website (in Japanese)
Studio Bind
View on GrokipediaOverview
Founding and Establishment
Studio Bind was established in November 2018 as a joint venture between the animation studio White Fox and the production and management company Egg Firm.[2] The primary motivation for the venture was to integrate White Fox's specialized animation production expertise with Egg Firm's strengths in project planning, production management, and overall coordination to enable the creation of high-quality anime projects.[2][7] The studio's initial headquarters were located in Suginami, Tokyo, Japan, operating as a collaborative entity under the joint oversight of its parent companies.[8] Nobuhiro Osawa, CEO of Egg Firm, played a key role in driving the establishment of the studio.[2]Corporate Structure
Studio Bind functions as a joint venture between Egg Firm, a company focused on anime production planning and management, and White Fox, an established animation studio. In this ownership model, Egg Firm oversees production planning and related operations, while White Fox contributes animation production support, allowing Studio Bind to maintain semi-independent status in its day-to-day activities.[1] In July 2025, White Fox was acquired by the publishing company AlphaPolis and became its wholly-owned subsidiary, affecting the ownership structure of the joint venture.[9] The studio benefits from shared resources including staff and facilities across the partner entities to streamline operations and resource allocation.[1] As of 2025, Studio Bind employs 51 to 200 individuals, organized into key departments such as animation, production, and planning teams to handle its workflow efficiently.[10]History
Early Development (2018–2020)
Following its establishment in November 2018 as a joint venture between the animation studio White Fox and the production company Egg Firm, Studio Bind prioritized internal team building and recruitment efforts, drawing on personnel and resources from its partners to assemble a dedicated staff for animation production. The studio's initial activities included preparatory work and minor contributions to external anime projects to develop technical expertise in key animation and in-between processes. Its first official credit was providing production cooperation for episodes 22 and 31 of Karakuri Circus, a 36-episode action series produced by Studio VOLN that aired from October 2018 to June 2019.[2][11] Throughout 2019 and 2020, Studio Bind continued offering support roles in select anime, such as in-between animation tasks, which helped refine its workflows while relying on resource sharing with White Fox amid the challenges of transitioning to independent operations within the joint venture structure. The public announcement of the studio in October 2019 highlighted its focus on systematic, long-term production capabilities.Major Productions and Growth (2021–present)
Studio Bind achieved its breakthrough with the animation production of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, which debuted as a television series in January 2021.[2] This marked the studio's first major credit as the lead animation producer for a full TV series, having been established specifically to handle the long-term adaptation of the light novel systematically.[3] The project's success, including high viewership and praise for its visual quality, established Studio Bind's reputation in the isekai genre and beyond.[12] Following the debut, the studio expanded its portfolio, continuing production on subsequent seasons of Mushoku Tensei through 2024 while taking on additional projects.[3] In 2023, Studio Bind led the adaptation of Onimai: I'm Now Your Sister!, its first project outside of Mushoku Tensei, which aired from January to March and received positive reception for its character animation. By 2023–2025, the studio handled multiple simultaneous productions, including support roles in international efforts like 2nd key animation for Netflix's Terminator Zero in 2024, signaling growth into global co-productions.[3] This period saw an implied increase in staff capacity to manage the workload, as evidenced by the shift from a single flagship project to diversified output.[2] Recent milestones include announcements for 2025 releases, with Studio Bind leading Flower and Asura, a slice-of-life drama premiering in January, and Ruri Rocks, an educational adventure series set for summer.[13][14] These projects highlight the studio's broadening scope beyond isekai adaptations. In July 2025, restructuring occurred when AlphaPolis acquired White Fox, Studio Bind's joint venture partner holding half ownership, potentially influencing future operations though no direct changes to Bind were reported as of November 2025.[9] No new facility investments were publicly detailed during this timeframe.Key Personnel
Leadership and Founders
Studio Bind was established in November 2018 as a joint venture between the animation studio White Fox and the production company Egg Firm, with the primary aim of producing long-term anime adaptations such as Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.[2] Nobuhiro Osawa, CEO of Egg Firm since its founding in 2015, played a pivotal role in creating Studio Bind, drawing on his extensive background in anime production management and chief producing duties for titles like Mushoku Tensei.[2] Osawa's vision emphasized systematic, continuous production to elevate adaptation quality, and he has remained a key figure in joint oversight, leveraging Egg Firm's planning and management expertise.[5] Toshiya Ōtomo serves as the president and CEO of Studio Bind, a position he has held since its inception. Previously an animation producer at studio 8-bit, where he contributed to projects like Knight's & Magic (2017), Ōtomo was selected for leadership due to Osawa's admiration for his production capabilities in handling complex anime workflows.[2] Under his direction, the studio has focused on high-fidelity adaptations, with no reported changes to his role as of November 2025 following White Fox's acquisition by AlphaPolis.[15][9] White Fox contributes to Studio Bind's leadership through shared governance, providing animation production expertise rooted in its founding by Gaku Iwasa in 2007 and successes in series like Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World. This collaboration ensures integrated planning, with White Fox's technical oversight complementing Egg Firm's strategic management. As of November 2025, following White Fox's acquisition by publisher AlphaPolis in July 2025, there have been no reported changes to Studio Bind's leadership or key personnel.[2][9]Notable Directors and Animators
Manabu Okamoto serves as a prominent director at Studio Bind, best known for helming the studio's debut project, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (2021), where he also handled series composition.[5] Prior to joining Bind, Okamoto directed Gamers! (2017) at Pine Jam and contributed to storyboarding and episode direction on Akame ga KILL! (2014).[16] His selection for Mushoku Tensei was personally endorsed by Bind's leadership, reflecting his experience in adapting complex narratives for television anime.[17] Key animators at Studio Bind include Ryo Imamura, who has specialized in dynamic action sequences and served as animation director and key animator on episodes of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation since 2021.[2] Imamura, previously credited on Shaft productions like Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011) and Bakemonogatari (2009), also contributed to Bind's promotional visuals and character designs for Onimai: I'm Now Your Sister! (2023).[18] Another notable figure is Shingo Fujii, a director and animator who led key animation for Mushoku Tensei's teaser PV and directed Onimai at Bind, earning lead credits for fluid action and character-driven scenes since the studio's early years.[5] Fujii, an AIC alumnus with prior work in live-action video production, has continued directing at Bind, including Ruri Rocks (2025).[19] This influx included core staff experienced in White Fox's high-profile adaptations, such as Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World, enabling Bind to assemble a specialized team for long-term project continuity.[2] Examples include key animators like Hiroyuki Takashima, who handled key animation on action-heavy episodes of Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 1 (2021), drawing on prior industry expertise to elevate Bind's output.[20]Works
Television Series
Studio Bind's television anime output has primarily focused on fantasy isekai adaptations and slice-of-life stories, with Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation serving as its flagship production. As the studio's debut project, it established Bind's reputation for high-quality animation in long-form series. Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation (2021–present)The series, adapted from Rifujin na Magonote's light novel, premiered its first season on January 10, 2021, and ran for 23 episodes until December 25, 2021, with Studio Bind handling full animation production under director Manabu Okamoto. The second season, directed by Hiroki Hirano for Part 1 and Ryōsuke Shibuya for Part 2, aired from July 3, 2023, to June 24, 2024, comprising 25 episodes across two cours. A third season was announced on June 30, 2024, for a 2026 release, with Studio Bind continuing as the primary animation studio. The plot centers on a 34-year-old unemployed man who dies in a traffic accident and is reincarnated as Rudeus Greyrat, a baby in a fantasy world of magic and demons; leveraging memories from his previous life, Rudeus pursues mastery in magic and swordsmanship while navigating family bonds, adventures, and personal redemption in this new existence. Onimai: I'm Now Your Sister! (2023)
Adapted from Nekotofu's manga, this 12-episode series aired from January 5 to March 23, 2023, with Studio Bind as the animation studio under director Shingo Fujii, series composition by Michiko Yokote, character designs by Ryo Imamura, and music by Alisa Okehazama. Key staff included chief animation director Ryo Imamura, who also contributed to key animation. The story follows Mahiro Oyama, a reclusive adult obsessed with erotic games, who is transformed into a middle school girl by his genius younger sister Mihari's scientific experiment; as Mahiro adapts to life as "Mahiro-chan" in school and society, the series explores themes of gender identity, sibling dynamics, and personal growth through comedic and heartfelt scenarios. Reception highlighted Bind's fluid animation and expressive character designs, earning praise for elevating the source material's ecchi elements with polished visuals, though some critics noted pacing issues in later episodes; it holds a weighted average rating of 7.40 on Anime News Network from over 300 viewers.[21] Flower and Asura (2025)
This 12-episode slice-of-life drama, based on the manga by Ayano Takeda and Musshu, aired from January 7 to March 25, 2025, produced by Studio Bind with direction by Ayumu Uwano, series composition by Kazuyuki Fudeyasu, and music by Masaru Yokoyama. The narrative tracks first-year high school student Hana Haruyama, an avid reader who joins her school's broadcasting club after impressing president Mizuki Usurai with her natural voice talent; through club activities, Hana forms bonds with members like the energetic Anne and reserved Shudai, discovering her passion for voice work amid school life challenges and personal insecurities in a coming-of-age tale set on a scenic island. Bind's contributions emphasized detailed backgrounds and subtle emotional animations, contributing to its positive early reception for heartfelt character interactions.[22] Ruri Rocks (2025)
Airing from July 6 to September 28, 2025, for 13 episodes, this educational slice-of-life series adapted from Makiko Tanaka's manga was animated by Studio Bind, directed by Shingo Fujii, with series composition by Michiko Yokote and character designs by Mayu Fujii. The plot revolves around high schooler Ruri Tanigawa, fascinated by shiny jewelry, who encounters graduate student Nagi and delves into mineralogy; joining a rock-hunting club, Ruri explores Japan's mountains for crystals and gems, learning about geology, friendship, and perseverance through hands-on adventures that blend excitement with scientific facts. Bind's production showcased vibrant environmental animations to highlight mineral visuals, receiving acclaim for its accessible educational content and engaging character development.[14]