Pierrot (company)

Pierrot Co., Ltd. (株式会社ぴえろ, Kabushiki-gaisha Piero) is a Japanese animation studio established in May 1979 by Yuji Nunokawa, previously an animator and director for Tatsunoko Production. Its headquarters are located in Mitaka, Tokyo.[2] Pierrot is renowned for several worldwide popular anime series, such as Naruto, Bleach, Tokyo Ghoul, Yu Yu Hakusho, Black Clover, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Ghost Stories, Great Teacher Onizuka and Saiyuki.

Pierrot Company, Ltd.
Native name
株式会社ぴえろ
Kabushiki-gaisha Piero
TypeKabushiki gaisha
IndustryMedia and Entertainment
FoundedMay 1979 (1979-05)
FounderYuji Nunokawa[1]
HeadquartersMitaka, Tokyo, Japan
Key people
Michiyuki Honma (CEO)
ProductsAnime, film, television, OVA, video games
Number of employees
158 (as of the end of November 2019)
SubsidiariesStudio Signpost
Websiteen.pierrot.jp

The company's logo is the face of a clown. "Piero" is a Japanese loanword for clown, adopted from the classical character of Pierrot.

Yu Yu Hakusho and Saiyuki, two of the company's anime series, won the Animage Anime Grand Prix Award in 1994 and 1995, and 2000, respectively.

Productions

1980s
Title Years Network Director(s) Eps. Note(s)
The Wonderful Adventures of Nils Jan. 1980–Mar. 1981 NHK Hisayuki Toriumi 52 Adaptation of the 1906 novel The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by the Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf.[3]
Miss Machiko Oct. 1981–Oct. 1983 TV Tokyo Masami Anno 95 Adaptation of the manga by Takeshi Ebihara.
Urusei Yatsura Oct. 1981–Mar. 1986 Fuji TV Mamoru Oshii
Kazuo Yamazaki		 194 Adaptation of the manga by Rumiko Takahashi.
Episodes 1-106 only, Studio Deen took over the animation role starting with episode 107.
Esteban, Child of the Sun
(The Mysterious Cities of Gold)		 Jun. 1982–Jun. 1983 NHK
Antenne 2		 Hisayuki Toriumi 39 Very loosely based on the 1966 novel The King's Fifth by Scott O'Dell.[4] Co-produced with DIC.
Mrs. Pepper Pot Apr. 1983–Mar. 1984 NHK Keiji Hayakawa 130 Adaptation of children's books by Alf Prøysen. Co-produced with Studio Gallop.
Creamy Mami, the Magic Angel Jul. 1983–Jun. 1984 Nippon TV Osamu Kobayashi 52 Original work.
Chikkun Takkun Apr. 1984–Sep. 1984 Fuji TV Keiji Hayakawa (eps. 1-14)
Masami Anno (eps. 15-23)		 23 Adaptation of the manga by Shotaro Ishinomori.
Persia, the Magic Fairy Jul. 1984–May. 1985 Nippon TV Takashi Anno 48 Adaptation of the manga Persia ga Suki! by Takako Aonuma.
Star Musketeer Bismark Oct. 1984–Sep. 1985 Masami Anno 51 Original work. Dubbed and rewritten in the United States by World Events Productions under the name Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs.[5]
Magical Emi, the Magic Star Jun. 1985–Feb. 1986 Takashi Anno 38 Original work.
Ninja Robot Tobikage Oct. 1985–Jul. 1986 Masami Anno 43 Original work.
Pastel Yumi, the Magic Idol Mar. 1986–Aug. 1987 Akira Shigino 26 Original work.
Anmitsu Hime Oct. 1986–Sep. 1987 Fuji TV Masami Anno 51 Adaptation of the manga by Shosuke Kurakane. A remake of the manga by Izumi Takemoto is serialized simultaneously with the anime adaptation.
Ganbare, Kickers! Oct. 1986–Mar. 1987 NTV Akira Shigino 23 Adaptation of the manga by Noriaki Nagai.
Kimagure Orange Road Apr 1987–Mar. 1988 Osamu Kobayashi 48 Adaptation of the manga by Izumi Matsumoto.
Norakuro-kun Oct. 1987–Oct. 1988 Fuji TV Masami Anno 50 Second television adaptation of the manga Norakuro by Suiho Tagawa, with the first being in 1970 by TCJ.
Osomatsu-kun Feb. 1988–Dec. 1989 Akira Shigino 86 Second television adaptation of the manga by Fujio Akatsuka, with the first being in 1966 by Children's Corner and Studio Zero.
The Burning Wild Man Mar. 1988–Sep. 1988 Nippon TV Osamu Kobayashi 24 Adaptation of the manga by Tadashi Sato.
Magical Hat Oct. 1989–Jul. 1990 Fuji TV Akira Shigino 33 Adaptation of the manga by Yoji Katakura.

1990s
Title Years Network Director(s) Eps. Note(s)
Heisei Tensai Bakabon Jan. 1990–Dec. 1990 Fuji TV Hiroshi Sasagawa 46 Third television adaptation of the manga Tensai Bakabon by Fujio Akatsuka, previously adapted twice by TMS Entertainment in 1971 and 1975 respectively, the second series being titled as Ganso Tensai Bakabon.
Musashi, the Samurai Lord Oct. 1990–Sep. 1991 NTV Akira Shigino 50 Original work.
Tasuke, the Samurai Cop Oct. 1990–Mar. 1991 TV Tokyo Takeshi Mori 22 Adaptation of the manga by Manavu Kashimoto.
Chokkaku, the Stubborn Samurai Boy Jan.–Oct. 1991 Fuji TV Masami Anno 36 Adaptation of the manga by Yu Koyama.
Little Ghosts, There, Here and Where Apr. 1991–Apr. 1992 NTV Osamu Kobayashi 50 Adaptation of children's picture books by Eiko Kadono and Yoko Sasaki.
Marude Dameo Nov. 1991–Sep. 1992 Fuji TV Akira Shigino 47 Adaptation of the manga by Kenji Morita.
Nontan Oct. 1992–Mar. 1994 263 Adaptation of children's picture books by Sachiko Kiyono.
Yu Yu Hakusho Oct. 1992–Jan. 1995 Noriyuki Abe 112 Adaptation of the manga by Yoshihiro Togashi.
Tottemo! Luckyman Apr. 1994–Mar. 1995 TV Tokyo Osamu Nabeshima 50 Adaptation of the manga by Hiroshi Gamo
Ninku Jan. 1995–Feb. 1996 Fuji TV Noriyuki Abe 55 Adaptation of the manga by Koji Kiriyama.
Fushigi Yûgi Apr. 1995–Mar. 1996 TV Tokyo Hajime Kamegaki 52 Adaptation of the manga by Yuu Watase.
Midori no Makibaō Mar. 1996–Jul. 1997 Fuji TV Noriyuki Abe 61 Adaptation of the manga by Tsunomaru.
Gon, the Stone-Age Boy Apr. 1996–Jan. 1997 NHK Yutaka Kagawa 39 Adaptation of the manga by Shunji Sonoyama.
Baby and Me Jul. 1996–Mar. 1997 TV Tokyo Takahiro Omori 35 Adaptation of the manga by Marimo Ragawa.
Hyper Police Apr. 1997–Sep. 1997 25 Adaptation of the manga by Minoru Tachikawa.
Clamp School Detectives May. 1997–Oct. 1997 Osamu Nabeshima 26 Adaptation of the manga by Clamp.
Flame of Recca Jul. 1997–Jul. 1998 Fuji TV Noriyuki Abe 42 Adaptation of the manga by Nobuyuki Anzai.
Takoyaki Mantoman Apr. 1998–Sep. 1998 TV Tokyo Akira Shigino 77 Adaptation of children's picture book by Hiroo Takada and Yasutoshi Nakamura.
Fancy Lala, the Magic Stage Apr. 1998–Sep. 1998 TV Osaka Takahiro Omori 26 Original work.
Neo Ranga Apr. 1998–Sep. 1999 WOWOW Jun Kamiya (eps 1–24)

Toshiyuki Tsuru (eps 25–48)

 48 Original work.
Dokkiri Doctor Oct. 1998–Jun. 1999 Fuji TV Kazunori Mizuno 26 Adaptation of the manga by Fujihiko Hosono.
Yoiko Nov. 1998–Mar. 1999 TBS Takahiro Omori 20 Adaptation of the manga by Yugo Ishikawa.
Microman, the Little Giant Jan. 1999–Dec. 1999 TV Tokyo Noriyuki Abe 52 Adaptation of the manga by Hisashi Matsumoto.
Power Stone Apr. 1999–Sep. 1999 TBS Takahiro Omori 26 Adaptation of the video game by Capcom.
I'm Gonna Be An Angel! Apr. 1999–Sep. 1999 TV Tokyo Hiroshi Nishikiori 26 Original work.
Great Teacher Onizuka Jun. 1999–Sep. 2000 Fuji TV Noriyuki Abe 43 Adaptation of the manga by Tooru Fujisawa.
Guru Guru Town Hanamaru-kun Oct. 1999–Sep. 2001 TV Osaka Jun Kamiya 101 Original work.
Rerere no Tensai Bakabon Oct. 1999–Mar. 2000 TV Tokyo Hayato Date 24 Fourth television adaptation of Tensai Bakabon following Heisei Tensai Bakabon, which was already produced by Pierrot.

2000s
Title Years Network Director(s) Eps. Note(s)
OH! Super Milk-chan Jan. 2000–Apr. 2000 WOWOW Takahiro Omori 12 Sequel to Super Milk-chan.
Gensomaden Saiyuki Apr. 2000–Mar. 2001 TV Tokyo Hayato Date 50 Based on a manga by Kazuya Minekura.
Ceres, Celestial Legend Apr. 2000–Sep. 2000 WOWOW Hajime Kamegaki 24 Based on a manga by Yuu Watase.
Ghost Stories Oct. 2000–Mar. 2001 Fuji TV Noriyuki Abe 20 Based on a manga by Toru Tsunametsu.
Super Gals! Apr. 2001–Mar. 2002 TV Tokyo Tsuneo Kobayashi 52 Based on a manga by Mihona Fujii.
Kaze no Yojimbo Oct. 2001–Mar. 2002 NTV Hayato Date 25 Based on Akira Kurosawa's film Yojimbo.
Hikaru no Go Oct. 2001–Mar. 2003 TV Tokyo Susumu Nishizawa (eps 1–15)

Jun Kamiya (eps 16–58)
Tetsuya Endo (eps 59–75)

 75 Based on a manga by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata.
Kogepan Nov. 2001 Animax Hidekazu Ohara 10 Based on a media mix project by San-X.
Tokyo Underground Apr. 2002–Sep. 2002 TV Tokyo Hayato Date 26 Based on a manga by Akinobu Uraku.
Tokyo Mew Mew Apr. 2002–Mar. 2003 TV Aichi Noriyuki Abe 52 Based on a manga by Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi.
The Twelve Kingdoms Apr. 2002–Aug. 2003 NHK Tsuneo Kobayashi 45 Based on a light novel by Fuyumi Ono and Akihiro Yamada.
Naruto Oct. 2002–Feb. 2007 TV Tokyo Hayato Date 220 Based on a manga by Masashi Kishimoto.
E's Otherwise Apr. 2003–Sep. 2003 Masami Shimoda 26 Based on a manga by Satoru Yuiga.
Detective School Q Apr. 2003–Mar. 2004 TBS Noriyuki Abe 45 Based on a manga by Shin Kibayashi and Fumiya Satō.
Saiyuki Reload Oct. 2003–Mar. 2004 TV Tokyo Tetsuya Endo 25 Based on Saiyuki manga sequel by Kazuya Minekura.
Saiyuki Reload Gunlock Apr. 2004–Sep. 2004 26 Sequel to Saiyuki Reload.
Midori Days Apr. 2004–Jun. 2004 TV Kanagawa Tsuneo Kobayashi 13 Based on a manga by Kazurou Inoue.
Bleach Oct. 2004–Mar. 2012 TV Tokyo Noriyuki Abe 366 Based on a manga by Tite Kubo.
Emma – A Victorian Romance Apr. 2005–Jun. 2005 TBS Tsuneo Kobayashi 12 Based on a manga by Kaoru Mori.
Sugar Sugar Rune Jul. 2005–Jun. 2006 TV Tokyo Yukihiro Matsushita 51 Based on a manga by Moyoco Anno.
Naruto: Shippuden Feb. 2007–Mar. 2017 TV Tokyo Hayato Date (eps 1–479)

Osamu Kobayashi (eps 480–483)
Chiaki Kon (eps 484–488)
Toshinori Watanabe (eps 489–493)
Masahiko Murata (eps 494–500)

 500 Sequel to Naruto.
Blue Dragon Apr. 2007–Mar. 2008 TV Tokyo Yukihiro Matsushita 51 Based on a video game by Mistwalker and Artoon.
Blue Dragon: Trials of the Seven Shadows Apr. 2008–Mar. 2009 51 Sequel to Blue Dragon.
Hanasakeru Seishōnen Apr. 2009–Feb. 2010 NHK Hajime Kamegaki 39 Based on a manga by Natsumi Itsuki.

2010s
Title Years Network Director(s) Eps. Note(s)
Level E Jan. 2011–Apr. 2011 TV Tokyo Toshiyuki Kato 13 Based on a manga by Yoshihiro Togashi. Co-produced with David Production.
Kingdom Jul. 2012–Feb. 2013 NHK Jun Kamiya 38 Based on a manga by Yasuhisa Hara.
Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals Apr. 2012–Mar. 2013 TV Tokyo Masahiko Murata 51 Based on Naruto spin-off manga by Kenji Taira
Polar Bear Café Apr. 2012–Mar. 2013 Mitsuyuki Masuhara 50 Based on a manga by Aloha Higa.
Kingdom Season 2 Jun. 2013–Mar. 2014 NHK Akira Iwanaga 39 Season 2 of Kingdom.
Gaist Crusher Oct. 2013–Oct. 2014 TV Tokyo Yoshihiro Takamoto 51 Based on a video game by Capcom.
The World Is Still Beautiful Apr. 2014–Jun. 2014 NTV Hajime Kamegaki 12 Based on a manga by Dai Shiina.
Baby Steps Apr. 2014–Sept. 2014 NHK Masahiko Murata 25 Based on a manga by Hikaru Katsuki.
Tokyo Ghoul Jul. 2014–Sep. 2014 Tokyo MX Shuhei Morita 12 Based on a manga by Sui Ishida.
Yona of the Dawn Oct. 2014–Mar. 2015 AT-X Kazuhiro Yoneda 24 Based on a manga by Mizuho Kusanagi.
Tokyo Ghoul √A Jan. 2015–Mar. 2015 Tokyo MX Shuhei Morita 12 Season 2 of Tokyo Ghoul.
Baby Steps Season 2 Apr. 2015–Sep. 2015 NHK Masahiko Murata 25 Season 2 of Baby Steps.
Mr. Osomatsu Oct. 2015–Mar. 2021 TV Tokyo Yoichi Fujita 75 Based on Fujio Akatsuka's 1962 manga series, Osomatsu-kun.
Divine Gate Jan. 2016–Mar. 2016 Tokyo MX Noriyuki Abe 12 Based on a smartphone game by Acquire.
Twin Star Exorcists Apr. 2016–Mar. 2017 TV Tokyo Tomohisa Taguchi 50 Based on a manga by Yoshiaki Sukeno.
Puzzle & Dragons X Jul. 2016–Mar. 2018 Hajime Kamegaki 89 Based on a 3DS game by GungHo Online.
Tsukiuta. The Animation Jul. 2016–Sept. 2016 Tokyo MX Itsuro Kawasaki 13 Based on a media mix project by Movic.[lower-alpha 1]
Soul Buster Oct. 2016–Dec. 2016 Toshinori Watanabe 12 Based on a manhua by Bai Mao.[lower-alpha 1]
ēlDLIVE Jan. 2017-Mar. 2017 Joji Furuta 12 Based on a manga by Akira Amano.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Apr. 2017–Mar. 2023 TV Tokyo Hiroyuki Yamashita (eps 1–66)

Toshiro Fujii (eps 67–104)
Masayuki Kouda (eps 105–281, 287–293)
Noriyuki Abe (eps 282–286)

 293 Based on Naruto manga sequel by Masashi Kishimoto and Mikio Ikemoto.
Convenience Store Boy Friends Jul. 2017–Sep. 2017 TBS Hayato Date 12 Based on a media mix project by Kadokawa.[lower-alpha 1]
Black Clover Oct. 2017–Mar. 2021 TV Tokyo Tatsuya Yoshihara (eps 1–152)

Ayataka Tanemura (eps 153–170)

 170 Based on a manga by Yuki Tabata.
Dynamic Chord Oct. 2017–Dec. 2017 TBS Shigenori Kageyama 12 Based on a visual novel by Honeybee Black.[lower-alpha 1]
Sanrio Boys Jan. 2018–Mar. 2018 Tokyo MX Masashi Kudo 12 Based on a media mix project by Sanrio.[lower-alpha 1]
Puzzle & Dragons Apr. 2018–present TV Tokyo Hajime Kamegaki TBA Based on a smartphone game by GungHo Online.
Tokyo Ghoul:re Apr. 2018–Jun. 2018 Tokyo MX Toshinori Watanabe 12 Based on Tokyo Ghoul manga sequel by Sui Ishida.[lower-alpha 1]
Tokyo Ghoul:re Season 2 Oct. 2018–Dec. 2018 12 Season 2 of Tokyo Ghoul:re.[lower-alpha 1]

2020s
Title Years Network Director Eps. Note(s)
Kingdom Season 3 Apr. 2020–Oct. 2021 NHK Kenichi Imaizumi 26 Season 3 of Kingdom. Co-produced with Studio Signpost.
Akudama Drive Oct. 2020–Dec. 2020 AT-X Tomohisa Taguchi 12 Original work. Co-produced with Too Kyo Games.
Kingdom Season 4 Apr. 2022–Oct. 2022 NHK Kenichi Imaizumi 26 Season 4 of Kingdom. Co-produced with Studio Signpost.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Oct. 2022–TBA TV Tokyo Tomohisa Taguchi TBA Sequel to Bleach.
Play It Cool, Guys Oct. 2022–Mar. 2023 Chiaki Kon 24 Based on a manga by Kokone Nata.
Kingdom Season 5 Jan. 2024–TBA NHK Kenichi Imaizumi TBA Season 5 of Kingdom. Co-produced with Studio Signpost.[6]

Anime films
Year Title Director Dur.
1983 Urusei Yatsura: Only You Mamoru Oshii 89m
1984 Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer 97m
1987 Lullaby for Wednesday's Cinderella Motosuke Takahashi 52m
Bari Bari Densetsu Osamu Uemura 84m
1988 Kimagure Orange Road: I Want to Return to That Day Tomomi Mochizuki 69m
1989 Osomatsu-kun: Greetings from the Watermelon Planet! Akira Shigino 24m
1990 Maroko Mamoru Oshii 90m
1991 The Earring of Moonlight Takeshi Mori 70m
1993 Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie Noriyuki Abe 25m
1994 Yu Yu Hakusho: Poltergeist Report Masakatsu Iijima 93m
Ninku: Tomb of Knives Noriyuki Abe 34m
1995 Ninku: The Movie Noriyuki Abe 25m
1996 Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning Kunihiko Yuyama 95m
1999 Daigekisen! Microman vs. Saikyou Senshi Gorgon Noriyuki Abe 30m
2001 Saiyuki: Requiem Hayato Date 95m
2003 Ryoukan-san Masami Anno 70m
2004 Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow Tensai Okamura 83m
2005 Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel Hirotsugu Kawasaki 97m
2006 Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom Toshiyuki Tsuru 95m
Bleach: Memories of Nobody Noriyuki Abe 93m
2007 Naruto Shippuden the Movie Hajime Kamegaki 95m
Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion Noriyuki Abe 92m
2008 Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds Hajime Kamegaki 93m
Bleach: Fade to Black Noriyuki Abe 94m
2009 Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Will of Fire Masahiko Murata 95m
2010 Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower 99m
Bleach: Hell Verse Noriyuki Abe 94m
2011 Legend of the Millennium Dragon Hirotsugu Kawasaki 98m
Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison Masahiko Murata 94m
2012 Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie Hayato Date 110m
2014 The Last: Naruto the Movie Tsuneo Kobayashi 162m
2015 Boruto: Naruto the Movie Hiroyuki Yamashita 96m
2019 Mr. Osomatsu: The Movie Yoichi Fujita 108m
2022 Mr. Osomatsu: The Hipipo Tribe and the Glistening Fruit Yoshinori Odaka 75m
2023 Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King Ayataka Tanemura 113m
Mr. Osomatsu: The Soul's Takoyaki Party and the Legendary Sleepover Party Hikaru Yamaguchi 59m

OVAs and specials

Note: This may not be a complete list.

ONAs
Year Title Director Eps. Note(s)
2018 Hero Mask Hiroyasu Aoki 15 Original work. Released on Netflix.
2019 Hero Mask Season 2 9 Season 2 of Hero Mask. Released on Netflix.
2021 Mr. Osomatsu: Valentine's Day Shorts Yoichi Fujita 3 Short series of Mr. Osomatsu. Released on dTV.
Mr. Osomatsu: White Day Shorts

Video games

Note: This may not be a complete list.

Title Years Publisher Notes
Keio Flying Squadron 1993 JVC Musical Industries Animated cutscenes
TIZ: Tokyo Insect Zoo 1996 General Entertainment Animated cutscenes
Keio Flying Squadron 2 1996 JVC Musical Industries Animated cutscenes
Rami-chan no Ōedo Sugoroku: Keiō Yūgekitai Gaiden 1998 Victor Interactive Software Animated cutscenes
Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament 2004 Digital Fiction Animated cutscenes
Flame of Recca: Final Burning 2004 Konami Animated cutscenes
Battle Stadium D.O.N 2005 Bandai Namco Games Animated cutscenes
Bleach: Soul Resurrección 2011 Sony Interactive Entertainment Animated cutscenes
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations 2012 Bandai Namco Games Animated cutscenes

Outsourced Western animation
Title Years Network Notes
Green Lantern: Emerald Knights Jun. 2011 Warner Home Video Co-animated with Studio 4°C and JM Animation
The Legend of Korra Apr. 2012–Dec. 2014 Nickelodeon Eps. 13–18, 21

Notes
  1. Animation Production Cooperation (アニメーション制作協力) – Pierrot Plus

References
  1. Rumic World
  2. "Pierrot Official Website". en.pierrot.jp. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  3. Jonathan Clements, Helen McCarthy. The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917. Revised and Expanded Edition. — Berkeley, CA: Stone Bridge Press, 2006. — P. 450. — ISBN 978-1-933330-10-5
  4. "Buried Treasure - Mysterious Cities of Gold". Anime News Network.
  5. "Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs". Otaku USA. Archived from the original on 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
  6. 『キングダム』5期が2024年1月6日よりNHK総合で放送開始。桓騎は伊藤健太郎、黒桜は永峰遙が演じる. Famitsu (in Japanese). September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
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