Topcraft

Topcraft (トップクラフト Toppukurafuto, also written as "Top Craft") was an animation studio established in 1971 by former Toei Animation producer Toru Hara, and located in Tokyo, Japan. It was famous for the production of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and for doing animation for hand-drawn animation titles by Rankin/Bass Productions (New York City, USA). The studio went bankrupt and dissolved on June 15, 1985, essentially splitting the studio in half. Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki and Isao Takahata bought the studio while laying off most of its animation staff, changing its name to Studio Ghibli.. Topcraft's animators later formed another studio, called Pacific Animation Corporation, to continue working with Rankin/Bass on television shows like ThunderCats and Silverhawks, but eventually joined Ghibli once the studio was bought out by The Walt Disney Company and became Walt Disney Animation Japan.[1] Some animators, like Tsuguyuki Kubo, went to work for other studios, such as Studio Pierrot, working on Naruto and Bleach for them. In the end the buy out of Topcraft made the studio into the birth of Studio Ghibli. Topcraft's founder, Toru Hara, became Studio Ghibli's first manager.[2]

Topcraft Limited Company
Native name
トップクラフト
IndustryAnimated films, Animated television shows
FateBankruptcy
SuccessorStudio Ghibli
Pacific Animation Corporation
Founded1971 (1971)
FounderToru Hara
DefunctJune 15, 1985 (June 15, 1985)
Headquarters
Japan
ProductsAnime, animated feature films, Television animated series

Anime

Production
TitleYearIn partnership with
Barbapapa1974-1975KSS
The Wizard of Oz1982Toho
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind1984Tokuma Shoten Publishing
Hakuhodo
Adventures of the Little Koala1984-1985Tohokushinsha Film
Button Nose1985-1986Sanrio

Co-productions
TitleYearMain studio
Onbu Obake1972-1973Eiken
Adventures of Korobokkle1973-1974
Jim Button1974-1975
Time Bokan1975-1976Tatsunoko
Paul's Miraculous Adventure1976-1977
Ippatsu Kanta-kun1977-1978

Contributive works
Title Year Company Notes
Mazinger Z 1972-1974 Toei Animation Top Craft was the main animation studio for episodes 55, 60, 64, 70, 76, 82, 84, 87 and 89.
Gatchaman Tatsunoko
Maya the Bee 1975-1976 Nippon Animation
Lupin III: Part II 1977-1980 Telecom Animation Film Top Craft was the main animation studio for episodes 24, 29, 109, 114, 119, 122, 124 and 128.
Jarinko Chie 1981-1983 Tokyo Movie Shinsha eps 42, 45, 49 and 51
Kojika Mongatari 1983-1985 MK Company eps 11, 12, 14, 22, 23, 27, 29 and 32
Lensman 1984 Madhouse Studios and MK Company Was one of the Animation Cooperation and Photography Studios.
Magical Fairy Persia 1984-1985 Studio Pierrot Key Animation
Sherlock Hound TMS Entertainment ep 24 only
Galactic Patrol Lensman' Madhouse Studios and Office Academy Was one of the animation cooperation studios.
Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs Studio Pierrot eps 27 and 29 only
Sangokushi 1985 Shin-Ei Animation Was one of the production cooperation studios.

Western cartoons

Cooperative

Animation
Title Year Studio(s) Notes
The Jackson 5ive 1971-1972 Rankin/Bass
The Osmonds 1972-1973
Festival of Family Classics 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Tom Sawyer
Kid Power 1972-1974
The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie 1972-1973 The Red Baron
Willie Mays and the Say-Hey Kid
That Girl in Wonderland
’Twas the Night Before Christmas 1974
The First Easter Rabbit 1976
Frosty's Winter Wonderland
The Hobbit 1977
The Stingiest Man in Town 1978
Doctor Snuggles 1979-1980 PolyScope Production and DePatie-Freleng
Easter Fever 1980 Nelvana
The Return of the King Rankin/Bass
The Flight of Dragons 1982
The Last Unicorn
The Coneheads 1983 Rankin/Bass and Broadway Video

References
  1. http://xoomer.virgilio.it/fedgrame/english.htm,
  2. http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/miyazaki/miyazaki_biography.txt
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