, known as between 2002 and 2025, is a Japanese animation studio established in May 1979 by Yuji Nunokawa, Hisayuki Toriumi, Mitsuo Kaminashi and Masami Annou, previously animators for Tatsunoko Production and Mushi Production. Its headquarters are located in Mitaka, Tokyo. Pierrot is renowned for several worldwide popular anime series, such as Naruto, Bleach, Tokyo Ghoul, Creamy Mami, YuYu Hakusho, Urusei Yatsura, Fushigi Yûgi, and many others. Aside from animation production, the company also handles character licensing.
Yu Yu Hakusho and Saiyuki, two of the company's anime series, won the Animage Anime Grand Prix Award in 1994 and 1995, and 2000, respectively.
History The studio was founded in 1979 by Yuji Nunokawa, Hisayuki Toriumi, , and . Prior to the studio's founding, all four animators previously worked at Tatsunoko Production and Mushi Production. Nunokawa was the studio's first president and CEO, a position which he held until 2012. That year, Nunokawa retired and was elected as chairman of the board; and Michiyuki Honma, the senior managing director, succeeded him as president. Nunokawa remained with the company as chairman until his death in 2022, and two years later in July 2024, Honma retired from his position as CEO in which he was also elected to chairman. Pierrot's director of sales, Kazumichi Ueda, succeeded Honma as CEO and president. The company took on a dual representative structure and Keiro Itsumi, the company's senior managing director, was promoted as a second president to the company (with Ueda).
On April 18, 2025, the company entered into a capital and business partnership with Asahi Production.
Productions TV series 1980s Title Years Network Director(s)Eps. Note(s)The Wonderful Adventures of NilsJan. 1980 – Mar. 1981NHKHisayuki Toriumi52Adaptation of the 1906 novel The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by the Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf.Jonathan Clements, Helen McCarthy. The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917. Revised and Expanded Edition. — Berkeley, CA: Stone Bridge Press, 2006. — P. 450. — Miss MachikoOct. 1981 – Oct. 1983TV TokyoMasami Anno95Adaptation of the manga by Takeshi Ebihara.Urusei YatsuraOct. 1981 – Mar. 1986Fuji TVMamoru OshiiKazuo Yamazaki194Adaptation of the manga by Rumiko Takahashi.Episodes 1-106 only, Studio Deen took over the animation role starting with episode 107.Esteban, Child of the Sun(The Mysterious Cities of Gold)Jun. 1982 – Jun. 1983NHKAntenne 2Hisayuki Toriumi39Very loosely based on the 1966 novel The King's Fifth by Scott O'Dell. Co-produced with DIC.Mrs. Pepper Pot Apr. 1983 – Mar. 1984NHKKeiji Hayakawa130Adaptation of children's books by Alf Prøysen. Co-produced with Studio Gallop. Creamy Mami, the Magic AngelJul. 1983 – Jun. 1984Nippon TVOsamu Kobayashi52Original work.Chikkun TakkunApr. 1984 – Sep. 1984Fuji TVKeiji Hayakawa (eps. 1–14)Masami Anno (eps. 15–23)23Adaptation of the manga by Shotaro Ishinomori.Persia, the Magic FairyJul. 1984 – May 1985Nippon TVTakashi Anno48Adaptation of the manga Persia ga Suki! by Takako Aonuma.Star Musketeer BismarkOct. 1984 – Sep. 1985Masami Anno51Original work. Dubbed and rewritten in the United States by World Events Productions under the name Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs.Magical Emi, the Magic StarJun. 1985 – Feb. 1986Takashi Anno38Original work.Ninja Robot TobikageOct. 1985 – Jul. 1986Masami Anno43Original work.Pastel Yumi, the Magic IdolMar. 1986 – Aug. 1987Akira Shigino26Original work.Anmitsu HimeOct. 1986 – Sep. 1987Fuji TVMasami Anno51Adaptation of the manga by Shosuke Kurakane. A remake of the manga by Izumi Takemoto is serialized simultaneously with the anime adaptation.Ganbare, Kickers!Oct. 1986 – Jan. 1988NTVAkira Shigino26Adaptation of the manga by Noriaki Nagai.Kimagure Orange RoadApr 1987 – Mar. 1988Osamu Kobayashi48Adaptation of the manga by Izumi Matsumoto.Norakuro-kunOct. 1987 – Oct. 1988Fuji TVMasami Anno50Second television adaptation of the manga Norakuro by Suiho Tagawa, with the first being in 1970 by TCJ.Osomatsu-kunFeb. 1988 – Dec. 1989Akira Shigino86Second television adaptation of the manga by Fujio Akatsuka, with the first being in 1966 by Children's Corner and Studio Zero.The Burning Wild ManMar. 1988 – Sep. 1988Nippon TVOsamu Kobayashi24Adaptation of the manga by Tadashi Sato.Magical HatOct. 1989 – Jul. 1990Fuji TVAkira Shigino33Adaptation of the manga by Yōji Katakura.
1990s Title Years Network Director(s)Eps. Note(s)Heisei Tensai BakabonJan. 1990 – Dec. 1990Fuji TVHiroshi Sasagawa46Third television adaptation of the manga Tensai Bakabon by Fujio Akatsuka, previously adapted twice by TMS Entertainment in 1971 and 1975 respectively, the second series being titled as Ganso Tensai Bakabon.Musashi, the Samurai LordOct. 1990 – Sep. 1991NTVAkira Shigino50Original work.Tasuke, the Samurai CopOct. 1990 – Mar. 1991TV TokyoTakeshi Mori22Adaptation of the manga by Manavu Kashimoto.Chokkaku, the Stubborn Samurai BoyJan.–Oct. 1991Fuji TVMasami Anno36Adaptation of the manga by Yu Koyama.Little Ghosts, There, Here and WhereApr. 1991 – Apr. 1992NTVOsamu Kobayashi50Adaptation of children's picture books by Eiko Kadono and Yoko Sasaki.Marude DameoNov. 1991 – Sep. 1992Fuji TVAkira Shigino47Adaptation of the manga by Kenji Morita.NontanOct. 1992 – Mar. 1994263Adaptation of children's picture books by Sachiko Kiyono.YuYu HakushoOct. 1992 – Jan. 1995Noriyuki Abe112Adaptation of the manga by Yoshihiro Togashi.Tottemo! LuckymanApr. 1994 – Mar. 1995TV TokyoOsamu Nabeshima50Adaptation of the manga by Hiroshi GamoNinkuJan. 1995 – Feb. 1996Fuji TVNoriyuki Abe55Adaptation of the manga by Koji Kiriyama.Fushigi YûgiApr. 1995 – Mar. 1996TV TokyoHajime Kamegaki52Adaptation of the manga by Yuu Watase.Midori no MakibaōMar. 1996 – Jul. 1997Fuji TVNoriyuki Abe61Adaptation of the manga by Tsunomaru.Gon, the Stone-Age BoyApr. 1996 – Jan. 1997NHKYutaka Kagawa39Adaptation of the manga by Shunji Sonoyama.Baby and MeJul. 1996 – Mar. 1997TV TokyoTakahiro Omori35Adaptation of the manga by Marimo Ragawa.Hyper PoliceApr. 1997 – Sep. 199725Adaptation of the manga by Minoru Tachikawa.Clamp School DetectivesMay 1997 – Oct. 1997Osamu Nabeshima26Adaptation of the manga by Clamp.Flame of ReccaJul. 1997 – Jul. 1998Fuji TVNoriyuki Abe42Adaptation of the manga by Nobuyuki Anzai.Takoyaki MantomanApr. 1998 – Sep. 1999TV TokyoAkira Shigino77Adaptation of children's picture book by Hiroo Takada and Yasutoshi Nakamura.Fancy Lala, the Magic StageApr. 1998 – Sep. 1998TV OsakaTakahiro Omori26Original work.Neo RangaApr. 1998 – Sep. 1999WOWOWJun Kamiya Toshiyuki Tsuru 48Original work.Dokkiri DoctorOct. 1998 – Jun. 1999Fuji TVKazunori Mizuno26Adaptation of the manga by Fujihiko Hosono.YoikoNov. 1998 – Mar. 1999TBSTakahiro Omori20Adaptation of the manga by Yugo Ishikawa.Microman, the Little GiantJan. 1999 – Dec. 1999TV TokyoNoriyuki Abe52Adaptation of the manga by Hisashi Matsumoto.Power StoneApr. 1999 – Sep. 1999TBSTakahiro Omori26Adaptation of the video game by Capcom.I'm Gonna Be An Angel!Apr. 1999 – Sep. 1999TV TokyoHiroshi Nishikiori26Original work.Great Teacher OnizukaJun. 1999 – Sep. 2000Fuji TVNoriyuki Abe43Adaptation of the manga by Tooru Fujisawa.Guru Guru Town Hanamaru-kunOct. 1999 – Sep. 2001TV OsakaJun Kamiya101Original work.Rerere no Tensai BakabonOct. 1999 – Mar. 2000TV TokyoHayato Date24Fourth television adaptation of Tensai Bakabon following Heisei Tensai Bakabon, which was already produced by Pierrot.
2000s Title Years Network Director(s) Eps.Note(s)OH! Super Milk-chanJan. 2000 – Apr. 2000WOWOWTakahiro Omori12Sequel to Super Milk-chan.Gensomaden SaiyukiApr. 2000 – Mar. 2001TV TokyoHayato Date50Based on a manga by Kazuya Minekura.Ceres, Celestial LegendApr. 2000 – Sep. 2000WOWOWHajime Kamegaki24Based on a manga by Yuu Watase.Ghost StoriesOct. 2000 – Mar. 2001Fuji TVNoriyuki Abe20Based on a manga by Toru Tsunametsu.Super Gals!Apr. 2001 – Mar. 2002TV TokyoTsuneo Kobayashi52Based on a manga by Mihona Fujii.Kaze no YojimboOct. 2001 – Mar. 2002NTVHayato Date25Based on Akira Kurosawa's film Yojimbo.Hikaru no GoOct. 2001 – Mar. 2003TV TokyoSusumu Nishizawa Jun Kamiya Tetsuya Endo 75Based on a manga by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata.KogepanNov. 2001AnimaxHidekazu Ohara10Based on a media mix project by San-X.Tokyo UndergroundApr. 2002 – Sep. 2002TV TokyoHayato Date26Based on a manga by Akinobu Uraku.Tokyo Mew MewApr. 2002 – Mar. 2003TV AichiNoriyuki Abe52Based on a manga by Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi.The Twelve KingdomsApr. 2002 – Aug. 2003NHKTsuneo Kobayashi45Based on a light novel by Fuyumi Ono and Akihiro Yamada.NarutoOct. 2002 – Feb. 2007TV TokyoHayato Date220Based on a manga by Masashi Kishimoto.E's OtherwiseApr. 2003 – Sep. 2003Masami Shimoda26Based on a manga by Satoru Yuiga.Detective School QApr. 2003 – Mar. 2004TBSNoriyuki Abe45Based on a manga by Shin Kibayashi and Fumiya Satō.Saiyuki ReloadOct. 2003 – Mar. 2004TV TokyoTetsuya Endo25Based on Saiyuki manga sequel by Kazuya Minekura.Saiyuki Reload GunlockApr. 2004 – Sep. 200426Sequel to Saiyuki Reload.Midori DaysApr. 2004 – Jun. 2004TV KanagawaTsuneo Kobayashi13Based on a manga by Kazurou Inoue.BleachOct. 2004 – Mar. 2012TV TokyoNoriyuki Abe366Based on a manga by Tite Kubo.Emma – A Victorian RomanceApr. 2005 – Jun. 2005TBSTsuneo Kobayashi12Based on a manga by Kaoru Mori.Sugar Sugar RuneJul. 2005 – Jun. 2006TV TokyoYukihiro Matsushita51Based on a manga by Moyoco Anno.Naruto: ShippudenFeb. 2007 – Mar. 2017TV TokyoHayato Date Osamu Kobayashi Chiaki Kon Toshinori Watanabe Masahiko Murata 500Sequel to Naruto.Blue DragonApr. 2007 – Mar. 2008TV TokyoYukihiro Matsushita51Based on a video game by Mistwalker and Artoon.Blue Dragon: Trials of the Seven ShadowsApr. 2008 – Mar. 200951Sequel to Blue Dragon.Hanasakeru SeishōnenApr. 2009 – Feb. 2010NHKHajime Kamegaki39Based on a manga by Natsumi Itsuki.
2010s Title Years Network Director(s)Eps. Note(s)Level EJan. 2011 – Apr. 2011TV TokyoToshiyuki Kato13Based on a manga by Yoshihiro Togashi. Co-produced with David Production.KingdomJul. 2012 – Feb. 2013NHKJun Kamiya38Based on a manga by Yasuhisa Hara.Rock Lee & His Ninja PalsApr. 2012 – Mar. 2013TV TokyoMasahiko Murata51Based on Naruto spin-off manga by Kenji TairaPolar Bear CaféApr. 2012 – Mar. 2013Mitsuyuki Masuhara50Based on a manga by Aloha Higa.Kingdom Season 2Jun. 2013 – Mar. 2014NHKAkira Iwanaga39Season 2 of Kingdom.Gaist CrusherOct. 2013 – Oct. 2014TV TokyoYoshihiro Takamoto51Based on a video game by Capcom.The World Is Still BeautifulApr. 2014 – Jun. 2014NTVHajime Kamegaki12Based on a manga by Dai Shiina.Baby StepsApr. 2014 – Sep. 2014NHKMasahiko Murata25Based on a manga by Hikaru Katsuki.Tokyo GhoulJul. 2014 – Sep. 2014Tokyo MXShuhei Morita12Based on a manga by Sui Ishida.Yona of the DawnOct. 2014 – Mar. 2015AT-XKazuhiro Yoneda24Based on a manga by Mizuho Kusanagi.Tokyo Ghoul √AJan. 2015 – Mar. 2015Tokyo MXShuhei Morita12Season 2 of Tokyo Ghoul.Baby Steps Season 2Apr. 2015 – Sep. 2015NHKMasahiko Murata25Season 2 of Baby Steps.Mr. Osomatsu (season 1)Oct. 2015 – Mar. 2016TV TokyoYoichi Fujita25Based on Fujio Akatsuka's 1962 manga series, Osomatsu-kun.Divine GateJan. 2016 – Mar. 2016Tokyo MXNoriyuki Abe12Based on a smartphone game by Acquire.Twin Star ExorcistsApr. 2016 – Mar. 2017TV TokyoTomohisa Taguchi50Based on a manga by Yoshiaki Sukeno.Puzzle & Dragons XJul. 2016 – Mar. 2018Hajime Kamegaki89Based on a 3DS game by GungHo Online.Tsukiuta. The AnimationJul. 2016 – Sep. 2016Tokyo MXItsuro Kawasaki13Based on a media mix project by Movic.Soul BusterOct. 2016 – Dec. 2016Toshinori Watanabe12Based on a manhua by Bai Mao.ēlDLIVEJan. 2017 – Mar. 2017Joji Furuta12Based on a manga by Akira Amano.Boruto: Naruto Next GenerationsApr. 2017 – Mar. 2023TV TokyoHiroyuki Yamashita Toshiro Fujii Masayuki Kouda