Mushi Production

Mushi Production refers to two Japanese anime studios.

Old Mushi Production

The original KK Mushi Production (Japanese株式会社 虫 プロダクション, Kabushiki - gaisha Mushi Purodakushon ) was founded by Osamu Tezuka in competition with Toei Animation in June 1961, initially as Tezuka Production Doga (手塚 動画 プロダクション, dt " animation production Tezuka " ). In January 1962 it was called into Mushi Production, which refers to Tezuka's fondness for insects ( mushi ) and the kanji for those can be traced back in his name. One of the first productions of the studio included the 38 -minute color film Aru Machikado no Monogatari, who won the Ofuji - Noburo price on the Mainichi Film Contest, the roughly two-minute movie times and the first episode of Astro Boy, based on the eponymous manga by Tezuka. All three productions were presented to an audience in November first time in 1962.

On January 1, 1963 was the first black and white episode of Astro Boy, the first anime television series, on Japanese television. The series aired until December 1966 and has 193 episodes. Astro Boy was developed in Japan a huge success and ran in 1964 on foreign TV stations. It was followed by the 92- part series Ginga Shōnen Tai from April 1963, when they used both animated and stop motion. The 52 episodes comprehensive, based on a manga by Tezuka anime Kimba the White Lion, which celebrated its Original Air Date on October 6, 1965 was the first colored television series in Japan.

Other successful or important productions of the studio were, for example, Ribon no Kishi (1967 ), The Moomins (1969 ), Cleopatra (1970) Ashita no Joe (1970), Pixi in cloud cuckoo land (1971 ), Umi no Triton (1972) and Wansa -kun (1973).

In 1973, the company had to file for bankruptcy, due to the failing guarantees by Tezuka's resignation as chairman in 1971. 1968 he had founded Tezuka Production in contrast to Mushi Production Manga had a business field, but from 1971 to Fushigi na Melmo also produced anime.

Many famous animators, manga artist and directors have worked in the 1960s and 1970s at Mushi Productions, including Shingo Araki, Shinji Nagashima Akihiro Kaneyama, Hisashi Sakaguchi, Ryosuke Takahashi, Yoshiyuki Tomino, Yoshikazu Yasuhiko and Rintaro.

Productions

New Mushi Production

In November 1977, the new Mushi Production KK (虫 プロダクション 株式会社Mushi Purodakushon Kabushiki - gaisha ) was founded, produced the anime for the cinema and the rights to the productions of the old Mushi Production managed that it all took over from Tezuka.