TV Asahi’s anime producer and WIT STUDIO, the animation production company known for “Spy x FAMILY,” are teaming up to produce a TV anime — or rather, a corporate commercial for a comprehensive housing manufacturer.
In a commercial for comprehensive housing manufacturer Aqura Home (AQ Group Co., Ltd.) that began airing on September 17th. The official giraffe mascot, “Akyurin,” talks with her sheep and owl friends about their “ideal home” while promoting Aqura Home’s wooden construction technology. In recent years, a growing trend has emerged in commercials using animation to target younger generations.
The commercial for Taisei Corporation, directed by Makoto Shinkai, is one prime example. Still, it’s rare to hear of a TV station acting as a producer and connecting a company with a production company. How did this unique teamwork come about? We spoke with TV Asahi anime producer Endo Kazuki, who is responsible for such shows as “My Dangerous Wife” and “The Petty Man Series,” independent creator Tanaka Masaaki, who has worked on the Anime Store commercials and TV anime ending videos and directed this commercial, and production company WIT STUDIO’s Yamanaka Kazuki and Agematsu Takahiro.
Endo Kazuki: Joined TV Asahi in 2016. He served as producer for “Doraemon” in 2019 and has since been in charge of planning multiple late-night anime shows. “My Dangerous Wife,” for which he served as planner and producer, gained incredible popularity both domestically and internationally.
Tanaka Masaaki: Animation director and animator. Born in 1991. After graduating from the University of Tsukuba’s School of Art and Design, he worked at WIT STUDIO for seven years. He went independent in 2023. His most recent work includes the anime store commercial “Anime to Susume!” and the ending credits for the second season of the TV anime “Ao no Hako.”
Yamanaka Kazuki: Animation producer. Joined WIT STUDIO in 2013. A producer who is highly trusted by Attack on Titan director Araki Tetsuro. His works include SPY×FAMILY, Ao no Hako, and After School Breath.
Agematsu Takahiro: Production desk. Joined WIT STUDIO in 2017. He is such a big anime fan that when he was a student, he would record anime commercials and burn them onto DVDs. On the day of the interview, he was wearing a T-shirt that was on sale at an exhibition by animator/illustrator Yoneyama Mai. Interview and text: Ota Yoshiteru (oriminart) Editing: Onda YutaWIT STUDIO, the animation production company known for works such as “SPY×FAMILY,” has teamed up to produce a TV anime…or rather, to produce a corporate commercial for a general housing manufacturer.
One prominent example is the Taisei Corporation commercial, directed by Makoto Shinkai. Even so, it’s rare to hear of a TV station acting as a producer and connecting a company with a production company. How did this unique teamwork come about? We spoke with several people involved: TV Asahi anime producer Kazuki Endo, who has worked on shows like “My Dangerous Wife” and “The Petty Man Series”; independent creator Masaaki Tanaka, who directed this commercial and has worked on d Anime Store commercials and TV anime ending videos; and production company WIT STUDIO’s Kazuki Yamanaka and Takahiro Agematsu.
Kazuki Endo: Joined TV Asahi in 2016. Since 2019, he has served as producer for “Doraemon” and has since been responsible for planning multiple late-night anime shows. “My Dangerous Wife,” for which he served as planner and producer, has garnered widespread popularity both domestically and internationally.
Masaaki Tanaka: Animation director and animator. Born in 1991. After graduating from the School of Art and Design at the University of Tsukuba, he worked at WIT STUDIO Co., Ltd. for seven years. He went independent in 2023. His most recent work includes the anime store commercial “Anime to Susume!” and the ending theme for the second season of the TV anime “Ao no Hako.”
Yamanaka Kazuki: Animation producer. Joined WIT STUDIO in 2013. A producer who is highly trusted by “Attack on Titan” director Araki Tetsuro. His work includes “SPY x FAMILY,” “Ao no Hako,” and “After School Breath.”
Agematsu Takahiro: Production desk. Joined WIT STUDIO in 2017. He is such a big anime fan that when he was a student, he would record anime commercials and burn them onto DVDs. On the day of the interview, he was wearing a T-shirt that was on sale at an exhibition by animator/illustrator Yoneyama Mai. Interview and text: Ota Yoshiteru (oriminart) Editing: Onda Yuta