[Interview with Studio BONES co-founder Toshihiro Kawamoto] “Studio F is currently working on a project that will be announced over the next year… we’re currently fully booked until 2026 and even 2027. We could get into trouble if a title becomes so successful that a sequel is absolutely necessary.”

by AashyLarry

AashyLarry on October 3, 2024 1:37 am

**The original text is in German, the English translation is below (via Google Translate):**

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During AnimagiC 2024, I had the opportunity to conduct a 20-minute interview with Studio BONES co-founder Toshihiro Kawamoto on the Saturday of the fair to mark the anime studio’s 20th anniversary. Enjoy reading!

**Thank you for the opportunity to do this interview, Kawamonto-san. How do you like Germany so far?**

>My initial impression of Germany was always that the country is strongly influenced by design. I’ve always wanted to go to Germany and I really like what I’ve seen so far. I’m also a big fan of Porsche Design. *laughs*

**Recently, Studio BONES started a partnership with the Sasayuri Douga Training Center to give young animators the opportunity to work with veterans. How actively involved are you in this?**

>At Studio BONES we have a department that is responsible for sakuga scenes. Douga are the precursor to these scenes, so to speak. The problem was simply that this department had a lot to do. That’s how the collaboration came about.

>I am also a little involved in training the animators. In the area of Genga, or keyframes, I give the newbies tasks and when they complete them, I give them feedback.

**Many anime fans don’t know that Studio BONES consists of six sub-studios, referred to as “Studio A” through “Studio F.” How did this come about, and how are projects distributed at Studio BONES?**

>When Minami-san (Masahiko Minami, current director and co-founder of BONES, editor’s note) and I worked at Studio Sunrise, there were Sunrise sub-studios “1” and “2”. When we founded BONES, we wanted to do things a little differently and named the studios after the alphabet. *laughs*

>Studio F is currently the newest and smallest studio. Originally, Studio A was planned to be used only for original anime. Studio B then took over with *RahXephon* . The first anime at Studio C was the 2003 adaptation of *Fullmetal Alchemist* , the film sequel *Conqueror of Shamballa* was first assigned to Studio A and then back to Studio B.

>Projects will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Studio E has been busy producing *Metallic Rouge* , and Studio F is currently working on a project that will be announced later next year.

**Are these studios really called A to F, or are there other names internally, such as “Studio Watanabe”?**

>We also call the studios that internally. The reason is relatively simple: the employees involved also work on other projects, and it would be problematic to name a studio after a person who is not currently employed there.

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