Studio Review: BONES

As I said in my last studio review, studios play a huge role in the anime industry, and the one that I’m about to talk about is no exception. It’s mostly known for the adaptation of two of the most iconic and popular animes of recent years. I’m talking about not other than BONES.

Fullmetal Alchemist

The first adaptation of this anime came out in 2003. It was a risky inversion for the studio because the manga haven’t ended up yet so the mangaka had to make a new ending for the anime series. It became quite successful. So successful indeed that they even decided to make a remake in 2009 called Fullmetal alchemist: Brotherhood, which included the original ending. And they really hit the jackpot with this one. 

To this date, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is the highest-rated anime in history, with an average of 9,16/10 in MyAnimeList (the most official anime-rating website, click here for the source). Consisting of 52 episodes of pure story, no fillers in, is also one of my favourite anime. His opening theme is also one of the most popular and praised ever. Video below

My hero academia

My Hero academia has been one of THE anime series in the recent years. It also has a lot of haters and that’s why it doesn’t have much of good grades but it is a really well done superhero anime series. The story of a nerd teenager that doesn't have any superpowers in a society where 80% of the population has but he still want to become a hero. It’s emotional, it’s inspirational, it’s exciting, it’s relatable, it’s easy to understand. It just has everything you’d want in an anime, and that has led to My Hero Academia becoming one of the most popular superhero shows in the west.

I’d say this is pretty much my favourite anime series. It has over 120 episodes to this date and counting, with 5 seasons and 2 movies, so I expect it to be over 250 episodes when it ends. So it has a lot of promising moments coming. 

Other anime

But those are not the only shows that BONES has created and meant an impact on the anime industry, we shouldn't forget about Mob Psycho 100, Noragami or Soul Eater

I think this is pretty much it. Hope you enjoyed this review and see you in the next one!

Studio Review: Ufotable

Studios are a key par of the anime industry. The studio is the entity that hires the employees (animators, voice actors, etc.) and acquires the rights of the manga they're making the adaptation of. Studios are associated with a certain style of animation. That's why there's certain always pressure under some studios of making a good adaptation, since if it's not the case, it WILL have repercussions on the studio's reputation.

Today, I'm talking about a studio that stayed in the shadows for a long time, but now is one of the most popular ones. It's not any other than Ufotable. A studio that started with just 3 guys drawing and buying a table that had a UFO form, to one of the most prestigious studios out there.

Fate/Zero

The first masterpiece that the studio created was Fate/Zero, in 2012. An adaptation of visual novel very popular in Japan. This series, made up of 24 episodes, had astonishing animation. Ufotable is one of the few studios whose animators are actually well-paid. Today, it's one of the top 70 most popular anime series ever. It's also available to watch on Netflix.

Fate/Stay Night

After Fate/Zero, it's sequel, Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works, which came out 2 years later, also had astonishing animation and lived up to the expectations of the Fate/Zero fans. So is that, that it was called by some "Unlimited Budget Works". The soundtrack was also top-tier, with japanese singer Aimer singing one of her most famous songs "Brave Shine" for the opening theme, according to many fans, the best anime opening ever. Link to one of her songs below!

Demon Slayer

But, over all of the studio's masterpieces, the one that stands out the most is, undoubtely, "Demon Slayer". An adaptation of the manga that goes by the same name, which stayed at the top 10 mangas in japan's shonen jump magazine (one of, if not, the most popular in japan), that after his release, in 2019, skyrocketed in popularity to become the first anime series in voer 20 years to surpass One Piece as the most selled manga. 

The studio did another one of his regular works. Top-tier animation, soundtrack, story, voice acting, etc. Today, its the 13th most popular anime of all time, being extremely popular in japan, with personalities such as the prime minister himself, Fumio Kishida, accepting they love the series. The most recent sequel, the movie "Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The movie: Mugen train", which came out the last 2020 year, made history as being the most seen anime movie in theatres ever, and also the highest-grossing film of the year, surpassing movies such as Sonic the Hedgehog or Tenet, and being qualified as the 5th highest rated anime movie ever.

I think that's pretty much it. It'd be impossible to tell you about all the series Ufotable made, so I'm not putting all of them here. Clicking here you can listen to one of Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works' OSTs (or in the video below) and here to the demon slayer opening. 

Have a great day and stay tuned for more reviews and content!