When did MAPPA open its doors and where is it located?
MAPPA opened its doors on the 14th of June 2011 in Suginami, Tokyo. Masao Maruyama founded the studio at the age of 70 after leaving Madhouse.
Questions about MAPPA
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who founded MAPPA and what was their initial goal for the company?
Masao Maruyama founded MAPPA with the initial goal to produce Sunao Katabuchi's film In This Corner of the World. Financial difficulties at his previous company forced him and Katabuchi to establish a new entity for this project.
What are the locations and purposes of MAPPA satellite offices?
The studio expanded beyond its Nakano headquarters with a satellite office in Sendai that opened in April 2018 to specialize in in-betweening and finishing work. A second location followed in Osaka in March 2022 focusing on 3DCGI tasks to decentralize animation production away from Tokyo.
Which major anime series has MAPPA produced since 2014?
MAPPA produced Terror in Resonance in 2014 under director Shinichiro Watanabe and Yuri!!! on Ice arrived in 2016 as an original work directed by Sayo Yamamoto. The studio took over Attack on Titan season 4 in 2020 following Yuichiro Hayashi's direction and Chainsaw Man premiered in 2022 with Ryū Nakayama at the helm.
Who is the current CEO of MAPPA and when did leadership changes occur?
Masao Maruyama resigned as CEO of MAPPA in April 2016 and Animation producer Manabu Otsuka took over as CEO after his official departure. Hiroya Hasegawa became executive vice president in 2024 while Yasuteru Iwase left the company in 2025 after serving as board director since 2024.
What controversies surround MAPPA regarding worker treatment and compensation?
Veteran animator Hisashi Eguchi criticized MAPPA for offering low pay to its workers and Animator Mushiyo quit the studio citing a culture of overwork and lack of proper training. Animator Ippei Ichii claimed that an anime produced by MAPPA under Netflix suggested a pay rate per cut below the minimum cost animators should negotiate.