Entertainment · K-Culture & Anime · 2 hrs ago
MAPPA leaders discuss 15 years of growth and longer anime production timelines
MAPPA marked its 15th anniversary with events at AnimagiC, a convention in Germany.
President and CEO Manabu Otsuka and director Kaori Makita spoke about the studio’s history and the anime industry.
Otsuka said several series shaped MAPPA’s growth, including Terror in Resonance, Yuri!!!
on ICE, JUJUTSU KAISEN and Chainsaw Man.
He said a TV anime once took about two years from planning to broadcast, but at least three years is now standard.
For major productions, five years or more is not unusual, counting from the planning stage.
Otsuka and Makita also reflected on work they miss from their earlier production roles, while discussing how the studio has changed.
Their comments show how larger productions take longer to make; they did not announce a specific next step.
MAPPA President and CEO Manabu Otsuka said the studio now typically allows at least three years to produce a TV anime, up from about two years in its early days.
For bigger titles, five years or more from the planning stage is not unusual, he said.
Otsuka linked the longer timelines to the much larger budgets and changed working conditions of major productions.
He described Terror in Resonance in 2014 and Yuri!!! on ICE in 2016 as major turning points in MAPPA’s history.
Otsuka and animation director Kaori Makita discussed the studio’s 15th anniversary and growth in an interview at Germany’s AnimagiC convention.
- Who
- MAPPA President and CEO Manabu Otsuka and animation director Kaori Makita.
- What
- They discussed MAPPA’s growth and anime production, including longer production timelines.
- When
- The interview was published on October 17, 2026. The convention date is not stated.
- Where
- AnimagiC, a convention in Germany.
- Why
- The interview was held to mark MAPPA’s 15th anniversary and discuss the studio’s trajectory.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Otsuka identified Terror in Resonance as an important turning point for MAPPA.
Otsuka said Yuri!!! on ICE was another major turning point for the studio.
Otsuka said at least three years of production time is now standard for a TV anime at MAPPA.
- Anniversary
- MAPPA’s 15th
- Early production timeframe
- About two years from planning to TV broadcast
- Current standard timeframe
- At least three years of production time
- Big-title timeframe
- Five years or more from the planning stage is not unusual
- Turning points
- Terror in Resonance (2014); Yuri!!! on ICE (2016)
What people are saying
today, at least three years of production time is the standard.
for the bigger titles, five years or more—counting from the planning stage—is not unusual at all.
An important turning point was certainly in 2014 with Terror in Resonance.
Then, Yuri!!! on ICE came in 2016, which really was another major turning point for us.