Typically, the spotlight and the attention of anime fans would be upon their favorite anime titles, and not so much on the studios that produced them. For example, you’ve got popular animes like “Boku no Hero Academia” and “Jujutsu Kaisen” that have blown away the minds of viewers. But these animes are made by equally great anime studio production companies. For those animes, the company behind them is TOHO animation.
Headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Toho is a Japanese entertainment company principally engaged in producing and distributing films, as well as creating and exhibiting stage plays. Though TOHO animation has only been around since 2012, Toho has been a name in Japanese movie distribution since 1932, you read that right, when it was still referred to as the Tokyo-Takarazuka Theatre Company.
TOHO animation celebrated its 10th anniversary last March 2023, and to commemorate this milestone occasion, they released five music videos that anime fans will also love. Here is a rundown of those music videos.
TOHO animation Celebrates 10 Years With A Set Of Music Videos
‘Stargazing’ By loundraw & BUMP OF CHICKEN
BUMP OF CHICKEN is actually a rock group that has been behind various anime opening themes and music videos. For instance, over the last few years, this rock group created the opening of “Spy x Family,” as well as the Pokémon music video, “GOTCHA!”
For TOHO animation’s 10th anniversary, BUMP OF CHICKEN released “Stargazing,” the group’s third single. Together with Loundraw, an illustrator, animator, and founder of Flat Studio, they created a very captivating music video for the fans.
‘COLORs’ By Tetsuro Araki & SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]
Undoubtedly, Hiroyuki Sawano is among the most beloved anime composers famous for his unique mix of genres, such as “COLORs.” The music of “COLORs” features an electronic and poppy sound different from many of the other works of Hiroyuki, giving this new track a very refreshing take.
Plus, the video accompanying the song is also very riveting. It follows a high school girl who becomes convinced that the girl she’s enamored with and the new boy in their class are one.
‘Neko To Wakaise Na’ By Mizuki Itou & Hentai Shinshi Club
On the other hand, “Neko to Wakaise na,” though a music video, appears more like a short film than a music video. English language speakers might find it hard to follow the video’s story since it provides no English subtitles. But we’re here for you.
The summary of the story goes like there’s a young man looking for his lost cat and reminiscing about the time when he was still younger. Both these stories happen at the same time, and since “Wakaise” means “reconciliation,” you can expect that this is the overall theme of the video.
‘Nana’s Secret Garden’ By Namiko Ishidate & Ryokoushouku Shakai
Namiko Ishidate is an animation director who, in 2018, worked on the movie “Penguin Highway.” But things become different in his music video, “Nana’s Secret Garden.”
In this music video, Namiko tells the story of a young girl whose magical journey reveals her strained relationships with her mom and grandmother.
However, despite this heavy story, the style is cute, and the pencil-drawn art will have the video touching the lives of its viewers.
‘Melodrama In A Random World’ by China & CreepHyp
While the previous videos seem to have embraced a more modern look and feel to their art, this last music video for TOHO animation’s 10th anniversary, “Melodrama in a Random World,” brings viewers back in time. Characterized by its retro feel, the video is also composed with a 4:3 aspect ratio, contributing more to this attribute.
Also, “Melodrama in a Random World” is the only video created entirely in-house by TOHO animation, which will make viewers really fall in love with this work of art.
Bonus Section: Some Of The Animes Under TOHO animation
As bonus content, we’ll present some of the animes produced by TOHO animation. Let’s get to it.
‘Godzilla’
Perhaps the most famous work from TOHO animation is “Godzilla.” Dubbed the “King of the Monsters,” Godzilla is a fictional monster, or kaiju, that debuted in the eponymous 1950s movie, directed and co-written by Ishirō Honda.
Since then, Godzilla has become an international pop culture icon, appearing in various media, such as American movies, video games, novels, comic books, TV shows, and in 33 Japanese films produced by Toho.
Some of the “Godzilla” titles from TOHO animation are “Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle,” “Godzilla: The Planet Eater,” and “Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters.”
‘Boku No Hero Academia’
Another remarkable anime from TOHO animation is “Boku no Hero Academia,” translated into English as “My Hero Academia.”
Set in a world where superpowers, known as “Quirks,” are ordinary, the story of “Boku no Hero Academia” follows Izuku Midoriya, a boy born without a Quirk or superpower, which is pretty rare in their world, but still aspires to become a superhero himself. Thus, he is scouted by All Might, regarded as the world’s greatest hero, who bestows his Quirk on Izuku after seeing his potential and helps enroll him in a prestigious academy where superheroes train.
‘Jujutsu Kaisen’
If you are a frequent watcher of animes and a fan, there’s no way you can miss out on “Jujutsu Kaisen,” as it is a very popular anime.
Its story follows high school pupil Yuji Itadori as he joins a secret organization comprised of Jujutsu Sorcerers to defeat a powerful Curse, Ryomen Sukuna, of whom Yuji becomes the host. It is a thrilling anime that everybody has to watch.
Conclusion
Happy 10th anniversary, TOHO animation! We hope we’re not yet too late to greet you. These music videos were created to commemorate the brand and showcase how far it has come in a decade. Each music video shows that this animation studio is one of the most potent and dynamic studios in the industry. The legacy of TOHO animation will live on.
