Japan remains a global animation superpower, with studios that have defined the visual language of anime and expanded into global streaming, gaming, and advertising.
Toei Animation
One of Japan’s largest and most influential animation studios, Toei is behind globally recognised franchises including Dragon Ball, One Piece, Sailor Moon, and Digimon. With a history spanning over 70 years, Toei produces feature films, TV series, and licensed content for global distribution partners including Netflix, Crunchyroll, and broadcasters across 40+ countries. The studio’s output has shaped global anime culture and influenced advertising and entertainment aesthetics worldwide.
Polygon Pictures
A Tokyo-based 3D CG animation studio that has produced content for major global franchises including Transformers (Transformers: Prime), Star Wars (Star Wars Resistance), and Godzilla (Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters for Netflix). Polygon specialises in cel-shaded 3D that preserves the aesthetic of traditional 2D anime while leveraging modern CG production pipelines. The studio’s work appears on Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+.
Studio Trigger
Known for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners — the critically acclaimed Netflix anime series based on CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 — Studio Trigger has become one of Japan’s most internationally recognised animation studios. Their work spans original anime series, game cinematic production, and advertising animation for global brands seeking a distinctive, high-energy visual style.
Production I.G
Production I.G has contributed animation to major global IP including Ghost in the Shell, Attack on Titan (co-production), and Star Wars: Visions for Disney+. The studio’s reputation for high-quality animation and international co-production capability has made it a frequent partner for Western streaming platforms and game publishers.
Science SARU
Science SARU gained international attention for their work on Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (Netflix), Star Wars: Visions (Disney+), and the acclaimed feature film Inu-Oh. The studio’s fluid, expressive animation style and willingness to experiment with unconventional visual language has attracted partnerships with major global streaming platforms.