, often shortened to , is a Japanese animation company founded in 1962 by legendary Anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida along with his brothers Kenji and Toyoharu (Toyoharu adopted the pen name to distinguish himself from his brothers). The studio's name has a double Japanese meaning of "Tatsu's child" (Tatsu being a nickname for Tatsuo) and "seadragon" which was the inspiration for its Seahorse corporate logo.
Since the studio's inception, Tatsunoko has specialized in television production, as opposed to rival studio Toei Animation , who focused chiefly on feature films and was just beginning to move into TV production when Tatsunoko was formed. The studio debuted in 1965 with the TV series '' Space Ace ''. Since then, many legendary figures in the anime industry have worked with Tatsunoko, including Mizuho Nishikubo , Hiroshi Sasagawa , Koichi Mashimo , Katsuhisa Yamada , Hideaki Anno (Tatsunoko provided animation work on the '' Neon Genesis Evangelion '' TV series), and Kazuo Yamazaki . Sasagawa, in particular, is notable for bringing his fondness for "gag" or comedy animation to the forefront in Tatsunoko series such as the ''Time Bokan'' (1975) franchise.
The translated and edited versions of the studio's more successful animated series, such as Hiroshi Sasagawa's '' Speed Racer '' (1967), '' Gatchaman '' (1972), '' Macross '' (1982, adapted as part of 1985's '' Robotech ''), and '' Samurai Pizza Cats '' (1990), are credited with bringing international attention to Japanese animation. Nicknamed for its strong roster of action and science-fiction anime titles, Tatsunoko has nevertheless become well-known also for several widely-acclaimed fairy tale and fantasy-based series for younger children, such as ''Minashigo Hutch'' (1970), '' The Adventures Of Pinocchio '' (1972), ''Temple the Balloonist'' (1977), '' The Littl' Bits '' (1980), and the Bible-based '' Superbook '' (1981). Tatsunoko has not had as much success as other studios in the Shōjo (girls') anime field, although the studio's adaptation of the rhythmic gymnastics manga '' Hikari No Densetsu '' (1986) was a hit in Europe.
In June 2005 Japanese toy company, Takara Co., Ltd. took a majority stake in the studio and with the subsequent merger of Takara and TOMY Co., Ltd. in 2006, Tatsunoko became a complete subsidiary of TOMY (aka ''TAKARATOMY'' in Japan).
Tatsunoko's studios are located in the Kokubunji district of Tokyo .
Several of today's top Japanese animation studios have their roots in Tatsunoko. Studio Pierrot was founded in 1979 by former Tatsunoko employees. Production I.G. was established in 1987 as I.G. Tatsunoko. Studio XEBEC also traces its history to Tatsunoko, as it is an offshoot of Production I.G.
- '' Space Ace '' (Uchuu Ace) (1965)
- '' Mach Go Go ( Speed Racer )'' (original) (1967)
- '' Guzula '' (Oraa Guzula Dado) (original) (1967)
- '' Dokachin The Primitive Boy '' (or simply, "Dokachin") (1968)
- '' Judo Boy '' (Kurenai Sanshiro) (1969)
- '' The Genie Family '' (Hakushon Daimaoh) (1969)
- '' The Adventures Of Hutch The Honeybee '' (Mitsubachi Monogatari Minashigo Hacchi, or "The Story of Hutch the Orphaned Bee") (1970)
- '' The Funny Judo Champion '' (Inakappe Taisho) (1970)
- '' Hippo And Thomas '' (Kabatotto) (1971)
- '' Animentari Ketsudan ''(1971)
- '' Saban's Adventures Of Pinocchio '' (1972)
- '' Kagaku Ninja Tai Gatchaman ( G-Force , Battle Of The Planets )'' (1972)
- '' Tamagon The Counselor '' (Kaiketsu Tamagon) (1972)
- '' Demetan Croaker, The Boy Frog '' (Kerokko Demetan, U.S.: ''The Brave Frog'') (1973)
- '' Shinzo Ningen Casshan '' (or simply, "Casshan") (1973)
- '' Shin Minashigo Hutch '' (New Honeybee Hutch) (1974)
- '' Hariken (or "Hurricane") Polymer (or "Polymar")'' (1974)
- '' The Song Of Tentomushi [http://www.tatsunoko.co.jp/Works/English/Box04.html#1 (''Tentomushi no Uta''; Italian: ''Coccinella'') (1974)
- '' Time Bokan '' (1974)
- '''') (1975)
- '' Goliath The Super Fighter '' ( Gowapper 5 Godam ) (1976)
- '' Paul's Miraclous Adventures '' (''Poru no Mirakuru Daisakusen'') (1976) (Very popular in Italy as ''Il Fantastico Mondo di Paul'')
- '' Yatterman '' (or Yattaman ) (1977)
- '' Temple The Balloonist '' (''Fuusen Shoujo Tenpuru-chan'') (1977) - This series was to have been dubbed into English by Harmony Gold under the titles ''Tiffany's Traveling Band'' or ''Sabrina's Journey'', but the sale fell through. However, the show was dubbed into Italian, French (''Shirley la petite fille en ballon''), and Spanish (''Sabrina y sus amigos'').
- '' Ippatsu Kanta-kun '' ("Home Run" Kanta-kun) (It.: ''Il fichissimo del baseball'') (1977)
- '' Tobidase! Machine Hiryuu '' (1977)
- '' Kagaku Ninja Tai Gatchaman II'' (Eagle Riders) (1978)
- '' Zenderman '' (or " Zendaman ") (1979)
- '' Gordian The Warrior '' (Toushi Gordian) (1979)
- '' Kagaku Ninja Tai Gatchaman F'' (1979)
- '' Daddy-Long-Legs '' ''(Ashinaga Ojisan)'' (1979 - TV special)
- '' The Littl' Bits '' (''Mori no Yoki na Kobitotachi: Berufi to Rirubitto'') (1980)
- '' Rescueman '' (Time Patrol Tai Otasukeman) (1980)
- '' Muteking, The Dashing Warrior '' (Tondemo Senshi Muteking) (1980)
- '' Firebird '' ( Yattodetaman ) (1981)
- '' Gold Lightan, The Gold Warrior '' (Ougon Senshi Gold Lightan) (1981)
- '' Superbook '' (''Anime Oyako Gekijou'' - ''Anime Parent and Child Theatre'') (1981)
- '' Dashu Kappei '' (''Dash! Kappei'', It.: ''Gigi la Trottola'', Sp.: ''Chicho Terremoto'') (1981)
- '' Gyakuten! Ippatsuman '' (1982)
- '' The Super Dimension Fortress Macross '' (1982) (Producer credit only, show created by Studio Nue )
- '' The Flying House '' (''Taimu Kyoshitsu: Tondera Haosu no Daiboken'' - ''The Great Adventures of Time Classroom Tondera House'') (1982)
- '' Mirai Keisatsu Urashiman '' (1983)
- '' Itadakiman '' (1983)
- '' Genesis Climber Mospeada '' (1983)
- '' Superbook II'' (''Pasokon Toraberu Tanteidan'' - ''Personal Computer Travel Detectives'') (1983)
- '''' (1983)
- '' Okawari Boy Starzan S '' (1984)
- '' Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross '' (1984)
- '''' (1984) (Production credit only, created by Studio Nue )
- '' Yoroshiku Mekadokku '' (''What's Up Mechadoc?''; It.: ''A Tutto Gas'') (1984)
- '' Honou No Alpine Rose '' (a.k.a. ''Judy and Randy'') (1985)
- '''' (1985)
- '' Robotech '' adaptation of ''Macross, Southern Cross,'' and ''Mospeada'' (1985)
- '' Hikari No Densetsu '' (''Legend of Light'', ''Tale of Hikari'', It: ''Hilary'', Fr.: ''Cynthia ou le rythme de la vie'', Sp.: ''Piruetas'') (1986)
- '' Doteraman '' (1986)
- '' Outlanders (animated by AIC on Tatsunoko's behalf; is not listed on Tatsunoko's website) (1986)
- '' Akai Kodan Zillion '' (1987)
- '' Guzula '' (color remake) (1987)
- '' Shurato '' ( Tenkuu Senki Shurato ) (1989)
- '''' (new series) (1989)
- '' Samurai Pizza Cats '' (''Kyatto Ninden Teyande'') (1990)
- '' Robin Hood No Daibōken '' (1990)
- '''' (1991)
- '' Uchu No Kishi Tekkaman Blade (Space Knight Tekkaman Blade; Teknoman in the U.S.)'' (1992)
- '''' (1993)
- '' Video Girl Ai '' (1993; produced by IG Tatsunoko)
- '''' (Episode 2) (1994)
- '' Shirayuki-hime No Densetsu (" The Legend Of Princess Snow White ")'' (1994)
- '' Tekkaman Blade II (1994)
- '' Gatchaman '' (1994)
- ''Dokkan! Robotendon'' (1995)
- '' Neon Genesis Evangelion '' (1995) (animation production on the series, created and idealized by Gainax )
- '' Cinderella Monogatari'' (1996)
- ''New Hurricane Polymer'' (1996)
- '' Mach Go Go '' ( Speed Racer X ) (1997)
- '' Generator Gawl '' (1998)
- ''Seikimatsu Densetsu: Wonderful Tatsunoko Land (1999)
- ''Time Bokan 2000: Kaitou Kiramekiman'' (2000)
- '' The SoulTaker '' (2001)
- '' Yobarete Tobedete! Akubi-chan '' (2001)
- '' Nurse Witch Komugi '' (co-production with Kyoto Animation) (2002)
- '' Karas '' (2005) - Tatsunoko's 40th Anniversary work
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