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 former employees of both Tatsunoko Production and Mushi Production. Its headquarters are located in Mitaka, Tokyo.[1] Pierrot is renowned for several worldwide popular anime series, such as Naruto, Bleach, Yu Yu Hakusho, Black Clover, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Tokyo Ghoul, and Great Teacher Onizuka.

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 (Chairman)
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 has a logo of 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 Based on 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 Based on the manga series by Takeshi Ebihara.
Urusei Yatsura Oct. 1981–Mar. 1986 Fuji TV Mamoru Oshii
Kazuo Yamazaki		 195 First television adaptation on the manga series by Rumiko Takahashi, expected to get a second TV adaptation in 2022 by David Production.
Episodes 1-106 only, Studio Deen took over the animation role starting with episode 107.
Esteban, a Boy from the Sun 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 Based on children's books by Alf Prøysen.
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 Based on the manga series by Shotaro Ishinomori.
Persia, the Magic Fairy Jul. 1984–May. 1985 Nippon TV Takashi Anno 48 Based on the manga series Persia ga Suki! by Takako Aonuma.
Bismark Oct. 1984–Sep. 1985 Nippon TV 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 Nippon TV Takashi Anno 38 Original work.
Ninja Robot Tobikage Oct. 1985–Jul. 1986 Nippon TV Masami Anno 43 Original work.
Pastel Yumi, the Magic Idol Mar. 1986–Aug. 1987 Nippon TV Akira Shigino 26 Original work.
Anmitsu Hime Oct. 1986–Sep. 1987 Fuji TV Masami Anno 51 Based on the manga series 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 Based on the manga series by Noriaki Nagai.
Kimagure Orange Road Apr 1987–Mar. 1988 NTV Osamu Kobayashi 48 Based on the manga series by Izumi Matsumoto.
Norakuro-kun Oct. 1987–Oct. 1988 Fuji TV Masami Anno 50 Second television adaptation of the manga series Norakuro by Suiho Tagawa, with the first being in 1970 by TCJ.
Osomatsu-kun Feb. 1988–Dec. 1989 Fuji TV Akira Shigino 86 Second television adaptation of the manga series 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 Based on the manga series by Tadashi Sato.
Magical Hat Oct. 1989–Jul. 1990 Fuji TV Akira Shigino 33 Based on the manga series by Yoji Katakura.

1990s
Title Years Network Director(s) Eps. Note(s)
Heisei Tensai Bakabon Jan. 1990–Dec. 1990 Fuji TV Hiroshi Sasagawa 46 Based on a manga by Fujio Akatsuka
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 Based on a manga by Manavu Kashimoto.
Chokkaku, the Stubborn Samurai Boy Jan. 1991–Oct. 1992 Fuji TV Masami Anno 36 Based on a manga by Yu Koyama.
Little Ghosts, There, Here and Where Apr. 1991–Apr. 1992 NTV Osamu Kobayashi 50 Based on children's picture books by Eiko Kadono and Yoko Sasaki.
Marude Dameo Nov. 1991–Sep. 1992 Fuji TV Akira Shigino 47 Based on a manga by Kenji Morita.
Nontan Oct. 1992–Mar. 1994 263 Based on children's picture books by Sachiko Kiyono.
Yu Yu Hakusho Oct. 1992–Jan. 1995 Noriyuki Abe 112 Based on a manga by Yoshihiro Togashi.
Lucky man Apr. 1994–Mar. 1995 TV Tokyo Osamu Nabeshima 50 Based on a manga by Hiroshi Gamo
Ninku Jan. 1995–Feb. 1996 Fuji TV Noriyuki Abe 55 Based on a manga by Koji Kiriyama.
Fushig Yugi Apr. 1995–Mar. 1996 TV Tokyo Hajime Kamegaki 52 Based on a manga by Yuu Watase.
Midori no Makibao Mar. 1996–Jul. 1997 Fuji TV Noriyuki Abe 61 Based on a manga by Tsunomaru.
Gon, the Stone-Age Boy Apr. 1996–Jan. 1997 NHK Yutaka Kagawa 39 Based on a manga by Shunji Sonoyama.
Aka-chan to Boku Jul. 1996–Mar. 1997 TV Tokyo Takahiro Omori 35 Based on a manga by Marimo Ragawa.
Hyper Police Apr. 1997–Sep. 1997 25 Based on a manga by Minoru Tachikawa.
Clamp Gakuen Tanteidan May. 1997–Oct. 1997 Osamu Nabeshima 26 Based on a manga by Clamp.
Flame of Recca Jul. 1997–Jul. 1998 Fuji TV Noriyuki Abe 42 Based on a manga by Nobuyuki Anzai.
Takoyaki Mantle Man Apr. 1998–Sep. 1998 TV Tokyo Akira Shigino 77 Based on 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. Fifth installment of Pierrot magical girl series.
Neoranga Apr. 1998–Sep. 1998 WOWOW Jun Kamiya 24 Original work.
Dr. Dokkiri Oct. 1998–Jun. 1999 Fuji TV Kazunori Mizono 26 Based on a manga by Fujihiko Hosono.
Yoiko -That Girl!- Nov. 1998–Mar. 1999 TBS Takahiro Omori 20 Based on a manga by Yugo Ishikawa.
Microman Jan. 1999–Dec. 1999 TV Tokyo Noriyuki Abe 52 Based on a manga by Hisashi Matsumoto.
Power Stone Apr. 1999–Sep. 1999 TBS Takahiro Omori 26 Based on a video game by Capcom.
Neoranga Season 2 Apr. 1999–Sep. 1999 WOWOW Jun Kamiya 24 Season 2 of Neoranga.
Tenshi ni Narumon Apr. 1999–Sep. 1999 TV Tokyo Hiroshi Nishikiori 26 Original work.
Great Teacher Onizuka Jun. 1999–Sep. 2000 Fuji TV Noriyuki Abe 43 Based on a 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 Sequel to Heisei Tensai Bakabon.

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 at School 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 Fuuji.
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 Sato.
Saiyuki Reload Oct. 2003–Mar. 2004 TV Tokyo Tetsuya Endo 25 Based on Saiyuki manga sequel by Kazuya Minekura.
Saiyuuki 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 Inoe.
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 Koboyashi 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 Sequel to Blue Dragon.
Hanasakeru Seishonen 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 Cafe 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 Nobuhiro 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 Shuuhei 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 Shuuhei 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. 2016 TV Tokyo Youichi Fujita 25 New work 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 video game by GungHo Online.
Tsukiuta. The Animation Jul. 2016–Sept. 2016 Tokyo MX Itsurou Kawasaki 13 Based on a media mix project by Movic.
Soul Buster Oct. 2016–Dec. 2016 Toshinori Watanabe 12 Based on a manhua by Bai Mao.
ēlDLIVE Jan. 2017-Mar. 2017 Jouji Furuta 12 Based on a manga by Akira Amano.
Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Apr. 2017–present TV Tokyo Noriyuki Abe (eps. 1-66)

Toshiro Fujii (eps. 67-104)

Masayuki Kouda (eps. 105-)

 TBA 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.
Mr. Osomatsu Season 2 Oct. 2017–Mar. 2018 TV Tokyo Youichi Fujita 25 Season 2 of Mr. Osomatsu.
Black Clover Oct. 2017–Mar. 2021 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.
Sanrio Boys Jan. 2018–Mar. 2018 Tokyo MX Masashi Kudo 12 Based on a media mix project by Sanrio.
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.
Tokyo Ghoul:re Season 2 Oct. 2018–Dec. 2018 12 Season 2 of Tokyo Ghoul:re.

2020s
Title Years Network Director(s) 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.
Mr. Osomatsu Season 3 Oct. 2020–Mar. 2021 TV Tokyo Youichi Fujita 25 Season 3 of Mr. Osomatsu.
Kingdom Season 4 Apr. 2022–TBA NHK Kenichi Imaizumi TBA 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–TBA TBA Chiaki Kon TBA Based on a manga by Kokone Nata.

Anime films

Note: This may not be a complete list

Year Title Director(s)
1983 Urusei Yatsura: Only You Mamoru Oshii
1984 Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer Mamoru Oshii
1987 Aitsu to Lullaby: Suiyobi no Cinderella Motosuke Takahashi
Bari Bari Densetsu Osamu Uemura
1988 Kimagure Orange Road Movie: I Want to Return to That Day Tomomi Mochizuki
1990 Maroko Mamoru Oshii
1993 Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie Noriyuki Abe
1994 Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie: Poltergeist Report Masakatsu Iijima
1995 Ninku the Movie Noriyuki Abe
1996 New Kimagure Orange Road: Summer's Beginning Kunihiko Yuyama
1999 Daigekisen! Microman vs. Saikyou Senshi Gorgon Noriyuki Abe
2001 Saiyuki: Requiem - For the One Not Chosen Hayato Date
2004 Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow Tensai Okamura
2005 Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel Hirotsugu Kawasaki
2006 Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom Toshiyuki Tsuru
Bleach: Memories of Nobody Noriyuki Abe
2007 Naruto Shippuden the Movie Hajime Kamegaki
Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion Noriyuki Abe
2008 Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds Hajime Kamegaki
Bleach: Fade to Black Noriyuki Abe
2009 Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Will of Fire Masahiko Murata
2010 Naruto Shippuden the Movie: The Lost Tower
Bleach: Hell Verse Noriyuki Abe
2011 Legend of the Millennium Dragon Hirotsugu Kawasaki
Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison Masahiko Murata
2012 Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie Hayato Date
2014 The Last: Naruto the Movie Tsuneo Koboyashi
2015 Boruto: Naruto the Movie Hiroyuki Yamashita
2019 Mr. Osomatsu: The Movie Youichi Fujita
2022 Mr. Osomatsu: The Hipipo Tribe and the Glistening Fruit Yoshinori Odaka
2023 Untitled Black Clover film TBA
Untitled Mr. Osomatsu film TBA

OVAs

Note: This may not be a complete list

ONAs
Year Title Director(s) 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 Youichi 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 Animated cut scenes
TIZ: Tokyo Insect Zoo 1996 Animated cut scenes
Keio Flying Squadron 2 1996 Animated cut scenes
Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament 2004 Animated cut scenes
Flame of Recca: Final Burning 2004 Animated cut scenes
Battle Stadium D.O.N 2005 Animated cut scenes
Bleach: Soul Resurrección 2011 Animated cut scenes
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations 2012 Animated cut scenes

Outsourced for 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

References
  1. "Pierrot Official Website". en.pierrot.jp. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
  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.
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