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How did you grow from a small house to an internationally renowned animation studio? What is the struggle story of Science SARU?
In Kichijoji, Tokyo, there is an extraordinary animation studio - Science SARU. This studio was founded in 2013 and started from a small house. Through continuous efforts and innovation, it eventually became an internationally renowned animation production company and attracted many fans. Faced with fierce competition and rapid changes in the market, the evolution story of Science SARU has attracted the attention and praise of many people.
Behind the unique name
The name Science SARU literally translates to "Science Monkey", reflecting the founder's pursuit of creativity and wisdom.
Founders Masaaki Yuasa and Eunyoung Choi chose the name because Yuasa often portrayed himself as a monkey, but he wanted the studio to be smarter than the monkey. For this reason, he put the word "science" before "monkey", aiming to create a company atmosphere that combines instinct and wisdom.
Building the foundation step by step
The origins of Science SARU can be traced back to 2013 as a small entrepreneurial venture. Yuasa and Choi have collaborated on other animation projects and successfully funded the short film Kick-Heart on Kickstarter. This allowed them to set up their own studio. Their first work was the 2014 episode "Food Chain" in the "Adventure Time" series, which received positive reviews and successfully established their position in the industry.
Continuously expanding business
Science SARU's work has become more diverse over time. In 2017, their first animated feature film, Lu Over the Wall, received international recognition and was followed by Night is Short, Walk On Girl. These works have won the studio a series of awards and gradually formed the unique style of Science SARU.
Increase in international influence
With the Netflix collaboration, Science SARU is taking its work global with astonishing success.
In 2018, Science SARU received widespread international recognition for its animated series Devilman Crybaby. The success of the series brought the studio to new heights of popularity and quickly amassed a large international fan base. This proves that their work is not only loved in Japan, but can also resonate across cultures.
New leadership and future opportunities
In 2020, Yuasa stepped down as president and Eunyoung Choi took over. This change brings new opportunities to the studio. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Science SARU flexibly utilized new technologies to maintain production capabilities and successfully launched several series such as Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! and Japan Sinks: 2020. These works have received acclaim worldwide, further demonstrating the strength of the studio.
Unique animation style
Science SARU adopts the "digital assisted animation" production method, making the animation production process efficient and innovative.
Different from traditional hand-drawn animation, the production method of Science SARU combines hand-drawn and digital technology, which enables their animation to maintain high efficiency and the flexibility of a small team without losing the artistic sense. In the context of globalization, the multicultural team of Science SARU adds a rich story perspective to the work.
As the journey of Science SARU shows, any animation studio can start with a small team and eventually become international through unremitting efforts. This makes us wonder, does a studio’s success come from innovative technology and unique perspectives, or does it come from the leader’s unique vision and unwavering belief?
