Mushi Production
Encyclopedia
Mushi Production or Mushi Pro for short, is a Japanese animation studio headquartered in Nerima
, Tokyo
, Japan
.
Osamu Tezuka
started it in rivalry with Toei Animation
, Tezuka's former employer, after Tezuka's contract with Toei expired. The studio pioneered TV animation in Japan, and was responsible for many successful TV anime
, such as Astro Boy
, Gokū no Daibōken
, Princess Knight, Kimba the White Lion
, Dororo
, and Ashita no Joe
, as well as more adult-oriented feature films such as 1001 Nights, Cleopatra
(the first X-rated
animated film), and The Belladonna of Sadness
.
Mushi Production, plagued by financial difficulties, declared bankruptcy
in 1973 and its assets were divided. Tezuka had already left the company by then, having stepped down as acting director in 1970 and formed a new animation studio, Tezuka Productions
(which made such works as Marvelous Melmo
and Unico
). A new Mushi Production company was later founded in 1977. This company continues to operate today.
Nerima, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it calls itself Nerima City.As of August 1, 2007, the ward has an estimated population of 703,005 , and a density of 14,443 persons per km². 12,897 foreign residents are registered in the ward. 18.4% of the ward's population is over the...
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Osamu Tezuka
Osamu Tezuka
was a Japanese cartoonist, manga artist, animator, producer, activist and medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine. Born in Osaka Prefecture, he is best known as the creator of Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion and Black Jack...
started it in rivalry with Toei Animation
Toei Animation
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio owned by Toei Co., Ltd. The studio was founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films . In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and it was reincorporated under its current name...
, Tezuka's former employer, after Tezuka's contract with Toei expired. The studio pioneered TV animation in Japan, and was responsible for many successful TV anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
, such as Astro Boy
Astro Boy (1960s)
is a Japanese manga series first published in 1952 and television program first broadcast in Japan in 1963. The story follows the adventures of a robot named Astro Boy and a selection of other characters along the way....
, Gokū no Daibōken
Goku no Daiboken
is a Japanese anime series that was directed by Gisaburō Sugii. Made by Mushi Productions, the anime's 39 episodes were broadcast on Fuji TV between January 7, 1967 and September 30, 1967. The anime is based on the Chinese epic Journey to the West....
, Princess Knight, Kimba the White Lion
Kimba the White Lion
, known in the United States as Kimba the White Lion, is an anime series from the 1960s. Created by Osamu Tezuka and based on his manga of the same title which began publication in 1950, it was the first color animated television series created in Japan. The manga was first published in serialized...
, Dororo
Dororo
is a Japanese manga series from the critically acclaimed manga creator Osamu Tezuka in the late 1960s. The anime television series based on the manga consists of 26 half-hour episodes. It was made into a live-action film in 2007....
, and Ashita no Joe
Tomorrow's Joe
is a critically acclaimed boxing manga written by Ikki Kajiwara and illustrated by Tetsuya Chiba in 1968 that was later adapted into an anime series and movie. It is most commonly referred to as Ashita no Joe. Outside Japan it is also referred to as Rocky Joe or Joe...
, as well as more adult-oriented feature films such as 1001 Nights, Cleopatra
Cleopatra (1970 film)
is a 1970 Japanese anime film directed by Osamu Tezuka and Eiichi Yamamoto. When the film was released in the United States, American distributors changed the title to Cleopatra: Queen of Sex and released it with a self-applied X rating in an attempt to repeat the success of Fritz the Cat...
(the first X-rated
X-rated
In some countries, X is or has been a motion picture rating reserved for the most explicit films. Films rated X are intended only for viewing by adults, usually legally defined as people over the age of 17.-United Kingdom:...
animated film), and The Belladonna of Sadness
Kanashimi no Belladonna
, also known as "The Tragedy of Belladonna", is a 1973 feature film produced by the Japanese animation studio Mushi Production and distributor Nippon Herald Films...
.
Mushi Production, plagued by financial difficulties, declared bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
in 1973 and its assets were divided. Tezuka had already left the company by then, having stepped down as acting director in 1970 and formed a new animation studio, Tezuka Productions
Tezuka Productions
Tezuka Productions is a company created by Osamu Tezuka. His son, Makoto Tezuka has the goal to extend Tezuka's manga series with new issues and publish posthumous works...
(which made such works as Marvelous Melmo
Marvelous Melmo
is a magical girl manga and anime by Osamu Tezuka. This series centered around Melmo, a nine-year-old girl whose mother is killed in an auto accident and has to then take care of her two younger brothers . While in Heaven the children's mother is given one wish...
and Unico
Unico
is a manga and anime character by Osamu Tezuka. Unico is a baby unicorn with white fur, a pink mane, and little cinnamon bun-shaped ears, who was born with the very special gift of making all living creatures lighthearted and happy....
). A new Mushi Production company was later founded in 1977. This company continues to operate today.
Original productions
(based on the works of Osamu Tezuka)- Astro Boy (1963–1966)
- Ginga Shonen Tai (Galaxy Boys Squad) (1963–1965)
- Astro Boy: Hero of Space (movie; 1964)
- Shin Takara Jima (New Treasure IslandTreasure IslandTreasure Island is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of "pirates and buried gold". First published as a book on May 23, 1883, it was originally serialized in the children's magazine Young Folks between 1881–82 under the title Treasure Island; or, the...
) (TV special; 1965) - The Amazing 3The Amazing 3The Amazing 3, known in Japan as , is an Osamu Tezuka manga and a black and white anime series from the 1960s. It involves the adventures of three agents from outer space who are sent to Earth to determine whether the planet, a potential threat to the universe, should be destroyed...
(1965–1966) - Kimba the White LionKimba the White Lion, known in the United States as Kimba the White Lion, is an anime series from the 1960s. Created by Osamu Tezuka and based on his manga of the same title which began publication in 1950, it was the first color animated television series created in Japan. The manga was first published in serialized...
(1965–1966) - Son GokuSon GokuSon Goku or Son-Goku may refer to:*Son Goku or Sun Wukong, the main character in Journey to the West*Son Goku , the main character in Dragon Ball media*Son Goku, a lead character in Saiyuki media...
ga Hajimaruyō (TV special; 1966) - Kimba the White Lion: the Movie (1966)
- Leo the LionLeo the Lion (anime)is a sequel to the Japanese-American co-produced series "Jungle Emperor", or Kimba the White Lion. Osamu Tezuka had always wanted his story of Kimba to follow Kimba's entire life, and the Jungle Emperor/Kimba series was such a hit in Japan that Dr...
(1966–1967) - Princess KnightPrincess Knightis a Japanese manga that ran through four serializations from 1954 to 1968, as well as a 1967 Japanese children's animated series. It was dubbed into English and brought over to Western audiences in 1970, where it was called Choppy and the Princess. In 1973, this series was dubbed in Portuguese and...
(TV special; 1966) - Gokū no DaibōkenGoku no Daibokenis a Japanese anime series that was directed by Gisaburō Sugii. Made by Mushi Productions, the anime's 39 episodes were broadcast on Fuji TV between January 7, 1967 and September 30, 1967. The anime is based on the Chinese epic Journey to the West....
(The Adventures of Goku) (Jan.-Sept.1967) - Princess KnightPrincess Knightis a Japanese manga that ran through four serializations from 1954 to 1968, as well as a 1967 Japanese children's animated series. It was dubbed into English and brought over to Western audiences in 1970, where it was called Choppy and the Princess. In 1973, this series was dubbed in Portuguese and...
(1967–1968) - Vampire (1968–1969)
- DororoDororois a Japanese manga series from the critically acclaimed manga creator Osamu Tezuka in the late 1960s. The anime television series based on the manga consists of 26 half-hour episodes. It was made into a live-action film in 2007....
(original TV series) (Apr.-Sept.1969) - Wansa-kun (1973)
Non-original productions
(original TV/film productions, or adaptations of other material)- Wanpaku Tanteidan (Naughty Detectives) (1968–1969)
- Sabu to Ichi Torimono HikaeSabu to Ichi Torimono Hikae, sometimes translated as Sabu & Ichi's Arrest Warrant, is a manga series by Shotaro Ishimori originally published in Weekly Shōnen Sunday beginning in 1966. In April 1968, the series moved to serialization in the first issue of Big Comic, where it was published until the series ended four years...
(Sabu and Ichi's Arrest Warrant) (co-production with Toei AnimationToei AnimationToei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio owned by Toei Co., Ltd. The studio was founded in 1948 as Japan Animated Films . In 1956, Toei purchased the studio and it was reincorporated under its current name...
and Studio Zero; 1968–1969) - Animal 1 (1968–1969)
- Frosty the SnowmanFrosty the Snowman (TV program)Frosty the Snowman is an American animated television special based on the popular song of the same title. The program, which first aired on December 7, 1969 on CBS , was produced for television by Rankin/Bass and featured the voices of comedians Jimmy Durante as narrator and Jackie Vernon as the...
(1969) (American production by Rankin Bass with animation by Mushi Production) - Ashita no Joe (original; second series was created by TMSTokyo Movie Shinsha, formerly known as , is a Japanese animation studio, founded on October 1946. One of the oldest and most prominent anime studios in Japan, it has also produced numerous animated series airing in other countries such as France, the United States, and Italy. The company currently uses "TMS...
) (1970–1971) - Andersen MonogatariAnderson Monogatariis a Japanese anime series by Mushi Productions and aired on Fuji TV from January 3 to December 21, 1971....
(1971) - Wandering SunWandering Sunwas a televised anime series created, written and directed by Keisuke Fujikawa, and which ran for 26 episodes in 1971. Both Yoshiyuki Tomino and Yasuhiko Yoshikazu were involved in the production of Wandering Sun, and would later team up for the ground-breaking and genre defining series Mobile Suit...
(1971) - Kunimatsu-sama no Otōridai (1971–1972)
- AnimeramaAnimeramais a series of thematically-related adult anime feature films originally conceived and initiated by Osamu Tezuka and made at his Mushi Production animation studio from the late 1960s to early 1970s, perhaps intended as animated counterparts to the then-emergent pink films .As well as the erotic...
(film series)- One Thousand and One Arabian NightsOne Thousand and One Arabian Nights (film)is a 1969 anime feature film directed by Eiichi Yamamoto, conceived by Osamu Tezuka. The film is part of Mushi Production's Animerama, a series of films aimed at an adult audience....
(1969) - Cleopatra: Queen of SexCleopatra (1970 film)is a 1970 Japanese anime film directed by Osamu Tezuka and Eiichi Yamamoto. When the film was released in the United States, American distributors changed the title to Cleopatra: Queen of Sex and released it with a self-applied X rating in an attempt to repeat the success of Fritz the Cat...
(1970; given self-applied "X" rating in U.S.) - BelladonnaKanashimi no Belladonna, also known as "The Tragedy of Belladonna", is a 1973 feature film produced by the Japanese animation studio Mushi Production and distributor Nippon Herald Films...
(1973)
- One Thousand and One Arabian Nights
- Vicky the VikingVicky the VikingVicky the Viking, known as in Germany and Austria and in Japan, is an Austrian-German-Japanese cartoon series which tells the adventures of Vicky, a young Viking boy who uses his wits to help his Viking fellows...
(1974; first six episodes only)