In 2018, the Koenji branch of A-1 Pictures established a new brand, Cloverworks.
Still under the Aniplex umbrella, this studio handles recent shows like Fate/Grand Order
Babylonia, Persona 5: The Animation, The Promised Neverland, and much more.
With the ability to handle lots of different shows at the same time, it’s become a place
filled with talented anime creators.
Here are 5 things you need to know about the studio.
When we see the staff list on an anime, it’s natural to just gravitate towards looking
at the studio.
Sometimes this can be helpful, but other times, studios are so large that it doesn’t really
tell us anything at all.
This was the case with A-1 Pictures.
Not only are there a load of different producers at the studios, but there are also two studios
and no easy way to tell which building a show was made at.
In this way, the term Cloverworks makes it clear that this is a show made by the team
at Koenji, and we can expect animators and directors that worked with the Koenji studio
in the past, to continue working there.
Few things have changed internally, so this was all about branding.
However, when it comes to the contents that A-1 and Cloverworks, you’re not likely to
see a major difference.
They handle their own franchises, but ultimately they both exist based on their variety.
In fact, this video was kind of hard to make, since Cloverworks is by definition, unremarkable.
Instead of having a distinctive brand like Trigger or P.A.
Works, they want to preserve an image of being able to do anything.
In fact, in an interview with the studio’s leads, when asked what their mission as a
studio is, they just said, to complete work on anime.
The most milquetoast answer possible.
And yet, they do just that.
And with some great production values too.
The production values are the result of a great production staff who are able to form
relationships with animation creators and convince them to be a part of their productions.
With an increasing amount of anime being made each year, that’s no easy feat.
But one production assistant who’s made a stir is Shota Umehara, an ex-Dogakobo staffer
who built a reputation for finding animators who might not have the experience and trusting
in them to take on ambitious roles.
He achieved this at Dogakobo, bringing on a whole bunch of new talents who continue
to work with the studio, and producer Yuichi Fukushima invited him to join Cloverworks
and achieve the same thing.
Many fans have noticed that any episode Umehara works on is guaranteed to have better animation.
The Darling in the FRANXX project was kind of a weird production.
I mean, the show was weird, but it was also a collaboration between Cloverworks and TRIGGER,
which seems like an odd combination.
But the roots are actually pretty clear.
In 2007, Atsushi Nishigori designed the characters for the GAINAX show Gurren Lagann.
At the time, Aniplex’s Yosuke Toba served as associate producer.
Then, Nishigori was invited to leave GAINAX and direct an adaptation of The Idolmaster
at A-1 Pictures with Toba.
So Darling in the FRANXX is an ensemble of this director and producer’s history.
The creators of Gurren Lagann, who now form Trigger and the A-1 Pictures team that made
The Idolmaster now known as Cloverworks.
Together, they made a really weird show.
Studios are often distant entities.
Literally, if you live outside of Asia.
They spend so much time making stuff that they don’t really have the time to engage
with fans in any way.
Sure, they might show up at an anime convention, but they only really get the chance to answer
a couple of questions before jetting off back home.
So it’s quite cool that Cloverworks actually holds Ask Me Anything sessions on Reddit with
a few of the production assistants at the studio.
There’s a lot of stuff they’re not allowed to say, and a lot of stuff that’s above
their station, but it’s a good chance to learn more about production at the studio.
Unfortunately, their upcoming session was delayed due to the coronavirus, but I’d
check the /r/anime schedule in the future to get your questions answered.