Tokyo, Japan – Japanese anime production powerhouse TMS Entertainment announced on Thursday a new business partnership with R. Animation, a burgeoning animation studio based in Taipei, Taiwan. The collaboration aims to strengthen anime production capabilities, share crucial knowledge and techniques, and address growing concerns within the anime industry regarding an aging workforce and animator shortages.
The alliance, formally announced on January 9, 2026, by TMS Entertainment, signifies a proactive step towards building a more stable and sustainable production pipeline for high-quality anime. This move is part of TMS Entertainment’s broader strategy to establish robust partnerships both domestically and internationally to supplement its ongoing animator training efforts and combat the challenges facing the Japanese anime industry.
Addressing Industry Challenges Through International Collaboration
The Japanese anime market has seen significant expansion, fueled by increasing overseas popularity and the widespread adoption of streaming platforms, resulting in over 300 anime titles being produced annually. However, this growth has also put a strain on production sites, exacerbating a pre-existing shortage of animators and the aging of veteran creators.
TMS Entertainment, a company with a rich history dating back to 1946 and known for iconic franchises like Detective Conan and Lupin III, has been actively working on initiatives like “Anime SDGs” to foster a sustainable future for the industry. This partnership with R. Animation is a direct manifestation of that vision, seeking to alleviate production bottlenecks and ensure a continuous supply of skilled animators.
R. Animation: A Rising Force in Hand-Drawn Anime
Established in November 2018, R. Animation has quickly made a name for itself in the animation landscape, specializing in hand-drawn animation that adheres to the style and methods of the Japanese anime industry. Based in Taipei, the studio boasts a core team of over 40 members and offers a comprehensive range of services including key art, in-betweens, finishing, line production, storyboarding, design, and post-production.
The Taiwanese studio has already demonstrated its expertise by contributing key animation to several notable Japanese anime titles. These include popular series such as My Dress-Up Darling, Spy×Family, The Elusive Samurai, One Piece, takt op. Destiny, and Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation II. Their strong track record, particularly their close collaboration with studios like CloverWorks, underscores their technical proficiency and commitment to quality.
Focus on Talent Development and Stable Production
A significant aspect of R. Animation’s philosophy, highlighted by its representative Huang Chiao-Hsin, is the equal importance placed on “establishing a stable production system” and “human resource development” since its inception. The studio actively invests in talent cultivation, offering internships to university art students and providing post-hire training periods to develop animators.
This focus aligns perfectly with TMS Entertainment’s objectives. Through this partnership, TMS Entertainment aims to ensure a stable supply of animation production work, while R. Animation will further its efforts in developing highly skilled personnel.
The Scope of the Collaboration
The partnership between TMS Entertainment and R. Animation will involve several key areas:
- Production Collaboration: Both studios will work together on anime production projects, leveraging their combined creative and technical strengths.
- Knowledge and Technique Sharing: A crucial element is the exchange of production knowledge and animation techniques, which will benefit both teams and contribute to higher quality outputs.
- Human Resource Development: Beyond direct production, the collaboration is expected to include technical and personnel exchanges, further expanding the scope of talent development and training.
The leadership at both companies expressed optimism for the future of this alliance. Ippei Takemura, Executive Officer and Deputy Head of the Production Division at TMS Entertainment, praised R. Animation’s dedication to creator development and their commitment to providing high-quality animation in a supportive environment. Huang Chiao-Hsin of R. Animation emphasized the collaborative nature of animation production, stating expectations for deeper discussions on production flow, technical insights, and communication.
This strategic alliance is poised to not only address immediate industry challenges but also contribute to the long-term, healthy development of the animation industry by fostering international cooperation and nurturing new talent.
