Studio Kajino
Studio Kajino is a quiet corner of one of Japan's most celebrated animation houses, a subsidiary of Studio Ghibli that most people have never heard of. It was created before the year 2000 by a Ghibli animator named Yoshiyuki Momose, and its purpose was specific from the start: handle live action films for the parent studio. Not animation. Live action. That single distinction sets Kajino apart from everything Ghibli is known for. Who built it, what it has made, and how its most significant credit went uncredited are the questions worth following.
Yoshiyuki Momose, a Ghibli animator by trade, founded Kajino with a clear and narrow brief. The studio would exist to produce live action work on behalf of Ghibli, a task outside the parent company's core identity. Toshio Suzuki, Ghibli's president, runs Kajino, which places it firmly within the studio's executive structure. The founding predates 2000, making it an institution that existed quietly before its first film ever reached an audience.
Shiki-Jitsu arrived in 2000 as Kajino's debut release. It marked the studio's first public moment, a live action film carried under the Kajino name. The release gave the subsidiary a foothold in a mode of filmmaking that separates it entirely from its parent studio's legacy of drawn worlds and hand-painted skies.
In 2001, Kajino co-produced Satorare, a film directed by Katsuyuki Motohiro. Despite the studio's real involvement in making the film, its name does not appear in the credits. The acknowledgment came later, buried in an extra feature on the R3 DVD release, a segment simply titled "Ghibli Studio." That DVD extra is the only formal record tying Kajino to the production, a paper trail tucked into a regional disc release rather than the film itself.
Beyond film, Kajino's catalogue includes music videos for the Japanese electronic act capsule. Three videos are documented: "Portable Airport," "Space Station No.9," and "A Flying City Plan." These titles, each with a travel or transit sensibility, represent Kajino's work outside the feature film format and its connection to music-driven visual production.
Common questions
What is Studio Kajino and how is it related to Studio Ghibli?
Studio Kajino is a subsidiary of Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation company. It was created to handle live action film production for Ghibli, and is run by Ghibli's president Toshio Suzuki.
Who founded Studio Kajino?
Studio Kajino was founded by Yoshiyuki Momose, an animator at Studio Ghibli. It was established prior to 2000 with the specific purpose of producing live action films for the studio.
What was Studio Kajino's first film?
Studio Kajino's first release was Shiki-Jitsu in 2000.
Why was Studio Kajino not credited on Satorare?
Studio Kajino co-produced Satorare in 2001 but received no on-screen credit. Its involvement is acknowledged only through an extra feature on the R3 DVD release, titled "Ghibli Studio."
What music videos has Studio Kajino produced?
Studio Kajino has produced music videos for the Japanese electronic act capsule, including "Portable Airport," "Space Station No.9," and "A Flying City Plan."
What kind of films does Studio Kajino make?
Studio Kajino specializes in live action films, distinguishing it from its parent company Studio Ghibli, which is known for animation. Its credited features include Shiki-Jitsu and the uncredited co-production Satorare.