A to Z of Animation Studios: T Is for TMS Entertainment
The Japanese studio that quietly animated some of your favorite American cartoons.
T is for TMS Entertainment
Founded: REAL: the studio began as Tokyo Movie in 1964. Today it's called TMS Entertainment, and it's one of the oldest animation studios in Japan.
The secret: You've probably watched TMS animation without knowing it. In the 1980s and '90s, American studios often hired Japanese studios to do the actual animating, and TMS was one of the best.
Greatest hits
Lupin III (1971 onward). A gentleman thief who always escapes, with a long-suffering detective always one step behind.
The Castle of Cagliostro (1979). REAL: the first feature film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, years before Studio Ghibli. It's a Lupin adventure with a rooftop chase that animators still study.
Batman: The Animated Series (1992). REAL: TMS animated some of the show's most beloved episodes. When an episode looks extra smooth and cinematic, there's a good chance TMS drew it.
Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989). A dreamy feature based on Winsor McCay's classic comic strip.
Sonic X (2003). Sonic and friends, crash-landed on Earth.
The TMS formula
Smooth, detailed movement. TMS was known for spending its effort on motion.
Cinematic camera work. Dramatic angles, like a live-action film.
Working across borders. TMS proved a Japanese studio and an American studio could make one great show together.
Honorable mention: Toei Animation
REAL: Toei Animation was founded in 1956 and is often called the "Disney of Japan." It's behind Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, One Piece, Digimon and the Pretty Cure series, plus some of the earliest Japanese animated features.
The lesson
The name in the opening credits isn't always the team that drew the show. Animation is a team sport, and sometimes the team is on the other side of the world. If you love how something moves, look up who animated it.
Up next
U is for UPA.
New episodes drop on YouTube first. Subscribe to Mr. Bray Labs so you never miss one.
