Matt Schley
October 20, 2016 
What do Tom Cruise, Jon Bon Jovi and animation studio Tatsunoko Production have in common? It’s right there in the headline, dude.
Tatsukoko is gearing up to celebrate its 55th, and it’s unveiled a visual that rings in a year of celebration at the studio, one of the oldest in Japan.
Tatsunoko was founded by brothers Tatsuo (Tatsunoko literally means “Tatsu’s child”), Kenji and Toyoharu Yoshida in 1962. Their first series was Space Ace, an adaptation of Tatsuo Yoshida’s manga that anime historian Jonathan Clements described as an “imitation of Tezuka’s Astro Boy.”
Unlike Tezuka’s studio Mushi Pro, however, Tatsunoko embraced a wider range of styles and genres, hitting it big with early series like Mach Go Go Go (Speed Racer), Gatchaman and Time Bokan.
Unfortunately, Tatsuo Yoshida passed away in 1977, but the studio continued under his brothers, animating classic series like Macross, Mospeada, and Megazone 23. Recent Tatsunoko productions include Wake Up, Girls!, Ping Pong, and continuations of the studio’s Gatchman and Yatterman franchises.
55 can be pronounced “go go” in Japanese, and Tatsunoko is promising an exciting year for its fans.
タツノコプロは皆様に愛されて来年10月19日に創立55周年を迎えます。そこで本日より2年間「タツノコ55（ゴーゴー）YEAR」をスタート!まずは、記念ビジュアルをお披露目します！#タツノコ55 pic.twitter.com/nhH5hy95wx
— タツノコプロ（公式） (@tatsunoko_pro) October 19, 2016
Source: Yaraon, Anime: A History
Related Posts
