Studio Signpost

Japanese animation studio

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St. Signpost

Native name

| 株式会社スタジオ サインポスト

Romanized name

| Kabushiki-gaisha Sutajio Sainposuto
Formerly| Studio Kikan (1993–2009)
Pierrot Plus (2009–2019)
Company type| Kabushiki-gaisha
Industry| Animation studio
Founded| March 10, 1959; 65 years ago (1959-03-10)
Founder|

* Keiji Kusano (as Studio Kikan)
* Yoshikazu Tochihira (as Studio Kikan)

Headquarters| 2-19-5 Igusa, Suginami, Tokyo, Japan

Key people

| Ken Hagino (CEO)
Revenue| ¥ 1,160,000,000 (2018)
Total equity| ¥ 10,000,000

Number of employees

| 38 (as of August 2023)
Parent| Pierrot
Website| www.st-signpost.co.jp

St. Signpost Co., Ltd. (Japanese: 株式会社スタジオ サインポスト, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Sutajio Sainposuto) is an animation studio subsidiary of Pierrot. The studio is an associate-member of The Association of Japanese Animations.[1]

## History[edit]

The company was founded in 1959 as an magazine advertising agency and stepped into the anime industry in 1989 by Keiji Kusano and Yoshikazu Tochihira. In 1993, the company took on the name Studio Kikan and released their first animated works Shima Shima Tora no Shimajirou. In 1996, the company established Arms as a separate studio to focus on adult animation and subcontracted animation work.

The studio became a subsidiary of Pierrot in 2008 and changed its name to Pierrot Plus in 2009. Kusano stepping down as CEO to become a chairman, and was replaced by CEO of Arms, Osamu Shimizu.

On September 20, 2019, the company changed its name to Studio Signpost. Ken Hagino, who had worked at Pierrot as animation producer was appointed as the new CEO. In conjunction with this change, the official website of Arms was closed down, and the company was later dissolved on October 6, 2020.

## Works[edit]

### Television series[edit]

Year  | Title  | Director(s)  | Animation producer(s) | Source  | Eps. | Refs.

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1993–2008  | Shima Shima Tora no Shimajirō | Hisayuki Toriumi | Producer:
Shintarou Kozaki
Yoshikazu Tochihira  | Manga  | 726  |
1994–1995  | Karaoke Senshi Mike Jiro [ja] | Tsutomu Shibayama | Producer:
Yoshikazu Tochihira  | Manga  | 20  |
Chō Kuse ni Narisō | Tetsuya Endo | Producer:
Yoshikazu Tochihira  | Manga  | 39  |
2008–2010  | Hakken Taiken Daisuki! Shimajirou |  |  | Manga  | 101  |
2009–2010  | Letter Bee | Akira Iwanaga  | Osamu Shimizu  | Manga  | 25  | [2]
2010–2011  | Letter Bee Reverse | Akira Iwanaga  | Osamu Shimizu  | Manga  | 25  | [3]
2010–2012  | Shimajirou Hesoka |  |  | Manga  | 101  |
2011–2012  | Beelzebub | Yoshihiro Takamoto [ja] | Osamu Shimizu  | Manga  | 60  | [4]
2014  | Survival Game Club! | Masahiko Ohta | Kazuyoshi Ozawa  | Manga  | 12  | [5]
2015  | Re-Kan! | Masashi Kudō | Osamu Koshinaka
Kazuyoshi Ozawa  | Manga  | 13  | [6]
2016  | Onigiri | Takashi Yamamoto  | Shingo Chiba  | Video game  | 13  | [7]
The Morose Mononokean | Akira Iwanaga  | Shintarou Nozaki  | Manga  | 13  | [8]
2018  | Magical Girl Ore | Itsuro Kawasaki | Kazuyoshi Ozawa
Shingo Chiba  | Manga  | 12  | [9]
Shinya! Tensai Bakabon | Tooru Hosokawa [ja] |  | Manga  | 12  | [10]
2019  | The Morose Mononokean II | Itsoru Kawasaki  | Osamu Shimizu
Shingo Chiba  | Manga  | 13  | [11]
Ultramarine Magmell | Hayato Date  | Kazuyoshi Ozawa  | Manhua | 13  | [12]
2020  | Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga | Hideotoshi Takahashi  | Shingo Chiba  | Manga  | 12  | [13]
2020–2021  | Kingdom Season 3
(co-animated with Pierrot)  | Kenichi Imaizumi
Kazuya Monma  | Yasuyuki Ogoshi  | Manga  | 26  | [14]
2022  | Kingdom Season 4
(co-animated with Pierrot)  | Kenichi Imaizumi
Kazuya Monma  | Yasuyuki Ogoshi  | Manga  | 26  | [15]
2023  | My Clueless First Friend | Shigenori Kageyama | Osamu Shimizu  | Manga  | 13  | [16]
2024  | Kingdom Season 5
(co-animated with Pierrot)  | Kenichi Imaizumi  | Yasuyuki Ogoshi  | Manga  | 13  | [17]
Tsuma, Shōgakusei ni Naru | Noriyuki Abe | TBA | Manga  | TBA | [18]

### OVAs[edit]

Year  | Title  | Director(s)  | Animation producer(s)  | Source  | Eps. | Refs.

|
|
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|
|
|

1991–1992  | The Guyver: Bio-Booster Armor (eps 7–12)[a] | Masahiro Ōtani (7–9)
Naoto Hashimoto (10–12)  | Producer:
Osamu Shimimzu  | Manga  | 6  |
1993  | Dochinpira [ja] | Hiromitsu Oota  | Producer:
Yoshiharu Sakashita[b] | Manga  | 1  |
1994  | Butt Attack Punisher Girl | Iku Suzuki [ja] | Producer:
Osamu Shimizu  | Manga  | 1  |
Butt Attack Punisher Girl R | Hiroshi Yoshida  | Producer:
Osamu Shimizu  | Manga  | 1
1994–1995  | Wild 7 | Kiyoshi Egami [ja] | Nagateru Katou
Keiji Kusano  | Manga  | 2  |
2008  | Naisho no Tsubomi | Akira Shigino [ja] |  | Manga  | 3  |
2008–2009  | Master of Martial Hearts | Yoshitaka Fujimoto [ja] | Producer:
Keiji Kusano  | Original work  | 5  |
2010  | Beelzebub: Jump Festa 2010 Special | Yoshihiro Takamoto [ja] | Producer:
Osamu Shimizu  | Manga  | 1  |

### Gross outsource[edit]

Series in which Studio Signpost, Pierrot Plus, or Studio Kikan served as a gross (full) outsourcing studio, either for singular episodes or across entire series.

List of gross outsources  Year  | Title  | Primary contractor(s)  | Director(s)  | Episode(s)  | Note(s)  | Refs.

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2005  | Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's | Seven Arcs | Keizō Kusakawa | 4  |  |
2005–2009  | Bleach | Pierrot  | Noriyuki Abe | 23 episodes[c] |  |
2006  | Himawari! | Arms | Shigenori Kageyama | 1–13  |  |
2007  | Himawari Too!! | Arms  | Shigenori Kageyama  | 1–13  |  |
Deltora Quest | OLM | Mitsuru Hongo | 34  |  |
2012  | Hiiro no Kakera: The Tamayori Princess Saga 2 | Studio Deen | Bob Shirahata  | 9  |  |
Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie | Pierrot  | Hayato Date |  | Film  |
2013  | Rozen Maiden: Zurückspulen | Studio Deen  | Mamoru Hatakeyama | 4, 8, 12  |  |
I Couldn't Become a Hero, So I Reluctantly Decided to Get a Job | Asread | Kinji Yoshimoto | 7  |  |
Gatchaman Crowds | Tatsunoko Production | Kenji Nakamura | 6  |  |
Freezing Vibration | A.C.G.T | Takashi Watanabe | 9  |  |
2013-2014  | Gaist Crusher | Pierrot  | Yoshihiro Takamoto  | 1–51  |  | [19]
2016  | Soul Buster | Pierrot  | Kōbun Shizuno
Toshinori Watanabe  | 1–12  |  | [20]
Tsukiuta the Animation | Pierrot  | Itsuro Kawasaki | 1–12  |  | [21]
2017  | Convenience Store Boy Friends | Pierrot  | Hayato Date  | 1–12  |  | [22]
Dynamic Chord | Pierrot  | Shigenori Kageyama  | 1–12  |  | [23]
2018  | Tokyo Ghoul:re | Pierrot  | Toshinori Watanabe  | 1–24  |  | [24]
2019  | Astra Lost in Space | Lerche | Masaomi Andō  | 4  |  |
A Certain Scientific Accelerator | J.C.Staff | Nobuharu Kamanaka  | 7  |  |
Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest | Asread  | Kinji Yoshimoto  | 2, 8, 11  |  |

## Notable staff[edit]

### Representative staff[edit]

* Keiji Kusano (co-founder, president of Studio Kikan (1989~2009))
* Yoshikazu Tochihira (co-founder and animation producer)
* Osamu Shimizu (Studio Kikan producer (1991~2009), president of Pierrot+ (2009~2019))
* Ken Hagino (president of Studio Signpost (2019~present))

### Animation producers[edit]

* Shintarou Nozaki (1994~present)
* Shingo Chiba (2007~present)
* Yuuya Kumagai (2013~2019)
* Kazuyoshi Ozawa (2013~present)
* Osamu Koshinaka (also a part of ARMS)
* Yasuyuki Ogoshi (also a part of ARMS)

### Directors[edit]

* Keizō Kusakawa (1991~2002)

### Animators[edit]

* Maya "Rin Shin" Suzuki (1991~1996; moved to ARMS; has been working with Signpost since ARMS' dissolution)

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ It's not been confirmed if Studio Kikan has a credit on the series; however, Osamu Shimizu, a producer from Studio Kikan and later president of Pierrot Plus after the company was renamed, was the producer for episodes 7 through 12.
2. ^ From Studio Marine, which did gross outsourcing work on the OVA.
3. ^ 24, 28, 42, 51, 103, 110, 117, 127, 134, 149-150, 157, 159, 167, 176, 180, 182, 187, 204, 221, 225, 229, 237

## References[edit]

1. ^ "株式会社スタジオ サインポスト 公式サイト COMPANY". st-signpost.co.jp. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
2. ^ テガミバチ [Letter Bee]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
3. ^ テガミバチREVERSE [Letter Bee Reverse]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
4. ^ ベるぜバブ [Beelzebub]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
5. ^ Nelkin, Sarah (February 2, 2022). "Pierrot Plus Animates Sabagebu! Shōjo Anime". Anime News Network.
6. ^ レーカン！ [Re-Kan!]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
7. ^ 鬼斬 [Onigiri]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
8. ^ 不機嫌なモノノケ庵 [The Morose Mononokean]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
9. ^ 魔法少女 俺 [Magical Girl Ore]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
10. ^ 深夜！天才バカボン [Shinya! Tensai Bakabon]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
11. ^ 不機嫌なモノノケ庵 續 [The Morose Mononokean II]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
12. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (April 29, 2018). "Gunjō no Magmell Manga Gets TV Anime at Studio Pierrot". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
13. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 20, 2019). "Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga Canine Samurai TV Anime Reveals Cast, Staff, January Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 20, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
14. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (December 15, 2019). "'Kingdom' Anime Season 3 Reveals New Staff, Visua". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 5, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
15. ^ Loo, Egan (October 17, 2021). "Kingdom Anime Gets 4th Series Next Spring". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
16. ^ Cayanan, Joanna (January 19, 2023). "My Clueless First Friend Anime's First Video Reveals Additional Cast, Staff, April Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
17. ^ キングダム（第5シリーズ） [Kingdom 5th Season]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
18. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (February 29, 2024). "'Tsuma, Shōgakusei ni Naru.' Anime Reveals Staff, 2024 TV Debut". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
19. ^ ガイストクラッシャー [Gaist Crusher]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
20. ^ 侍霊演武:将星乱 [Soul Buster]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
21. ^ ツキウタ。 THE ANIMATION [Tsukiuta. the Animation]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
22. ^ コンビニカレシ [Convenience Store Boy Friends]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
23. ^ "DYNAMIC CHORD". Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.
24. ^ 東京喰種トーキョーグール:re [Tokyo Ghoul:re]. Studio Signpost (in Japanese). Retrieved December 8, 2023.

## External links[edit]

* Anime and manga portal

* Official website (in Japanese)
* Studio Kikan at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
* Pierrot Plus at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
* St.Signpost at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

* v
* t
* e

Studio Signpost

From 1993–2008 as Studio Kikan; from 2008–2019 as Pierrot+; from 2019–present as Studio Signpost

Television series|

* Shima Shima Tora no Shimajirō (1993–2008)
* Chō Kuse ni Narisō (1994–1995)
* Karaoke Senshi Mike Jirō (1994–1995)
* Hakken Taiken Daisuki! Shimajirō (2008–2010)
* Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee (2009–2010)
* Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee Reverse (2010–2011)
* Shimajirō Hesoka (2010–2012)
* Beelzebub (2011–2012)
* Sabagebu! (2014)
* Re-Kan! (2015)
* The Morose Mononokean (2016)
* Magical Girl Ore (2018)
* Shinya! Tensai Bakabon (2018)
* The Morose Mononokean II (2019)
* Ultramarine Magmell (2019)
* Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga (2020)
* Kingdom Season 3 (2020–2021)
* Kingdom Season 4 (2022)
* My Clueless First Friend (2023)
* Kingdom Season 5 (2024)
* Tsuma, Shōgakusei ni Naru (2024)

OVAs|

* Butt Attack Punisher Girl (1994)
* Butt Attack Punisher Girl R (1994)
* Wild 7 (1994–1995)
* Naisho no Tsubomi (2008)
* Master of Martial Hearts (2008–2009)
* Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee - Light and Blue Night Fantasy (2008)
* Letter Bee Academy (2010)
* Beelzebub (2010)

Related|

* Pierrot

Category

* v
* t
* e

Japanese animation studios

Active|

| Independent|

* 3Hz
* A.C.G.T
* AIC
* Ajia-do Animation Works
* Arvo Animation
* Asahi Production
* Ashi Productions
* Asread
* AXsiZ
* Bibury Animation Studios
* Bones
* Brain's Base
* Bridge
* C-Station
* C2C
* Cloud Hearts
* CoMix Wave Films
* Creators in Pack
* Diomedéa
* Doga Kobo
* Drive
* E&H Production
* Egg Firm
* Ekachi Epilka
* Emon
* EMT Squared
* Encourage Films
* Ezo'la
* Felix Film
* Frontier Works
* Gainax
* Gallop
* Genco
* Gathering
* G&G Direction
* GoHands
* Grizzly
* Hoods Entertainment
* Imagin
* J.C.Staff
* Khara
* Kinema Citrus
* Kyoto Animation
* Lapin Track
* Lay-duce
* Lesprit
* Magic Bus
* Maho Film
* MAPPA
* Marvelous
* Movic
* Millepensee
* NAZ
* Nexus
* Nippon Animation
* Nomad
* NUT
* Odessa Entertainment
* Oh! Production
* Okuruto Noboru
* Orange
* P.A. Works
* Passione
* Pierrot
* Studio Signpost
* Pine Jam
* Platinum Vision
* Polygon Pictures
* Project No.9
* Satelight
* Science Saru
* Seven
* Shaft
* Shirogumi
* Shuka
* Sola Digital Arts
* Studio 4°C
* Studio A-Cat
* Studio Blanc
* Studio Chizu
* Studio Comet
* Studio Deen
* Studio Flad
* Studio Gokumi
* Studio Nue
* Studio Palette
* Studio Ponoc
* Studio Puyukai
* Studio VOLN
* Tezuka Productions
* TNK
* Troyca
* Typhoon Graphics
* Ufotable
* White Fox
* Wolfsbane
* Yokohama Animation Laboratory

|

Non-independent|

* ABC Holdings
* DLE
* Silver Link
* Connect
* Asatsu-DK
* Eiken
* Gonzo
* NAS
* Studio Kai
* Bandai Namco
* Filmworks
* Actas
* Sunrise
* Pictures
* Eight Bit
* Studio Mother
* Happinet
* CyberAgent
* Cygames
* CygamesPictures
* Digital Frontier
* GEMBA
* Fanworks
* Feel
* Fuji TV
* Blue Lynx
* David Production
* Gaina
* Geek Pictures
* Geek Toys
* Graphinica
* Yumeta Company
* IG Port
* Production I.G
* Signal.MD
* Wit Studio
* Imagica
* OLM
* Robot Communications
* Kadokawa Corporation
* Dwango
* ENGI
* Nintendo
* Nintendo Pictures
* Nippon TV
* Madhouse
* Studio Ghibli
* Tatsunoko Production
* Sega Sammy Group
* TMS Entertainment
* Telecom Animation Film
* Marza Animation Planet
* Sony Music Entertainment Japan
* Aniplex
* A-1 Pictures
* CloverWorks
* Square Enix
* Square Enix Image Studio Division
* Studio Bind
* Studio Hibari
* Larx Entertainment
* Tokyo Broadcasting System
* Seven Arcs
* Toei Company
* Toei Animation
* TV Asahi
* Shin-Ei Animation
* SynergySP
* Twin Engine
* Geno Studio
* Revoroot
* Studio Colorido
* Ultra Super Pictures
* Liden Films
* Sanzigen
* Trigger
* Zero-G
* Zexcs

Inactive|

* Artland
* Bee Train Production
* Chaos Project
* Daume
* Knack Productions
* Mook Animation
* Mushi Production
* Ordet
* Remic
* Zuiyo

Defunct|

* A.P.P.P.
* Arms
* Artmic
* Bandai Visual
* Group TAC
* Hal Film Maker
* J2 Communications
* Kitayama Eiga Seisakujo
* Kitty Films (Mitaka Studio)
* Kokusai Eiga-sha
* Manglobe
* Palm Studio
* Production IMS
* Radix Ace Entertainment
* Spectrum Animation
* Studio Fantasia
* Tear Studio
* Topcraft
* Triangle Staff
* Tsuchida Production
* Walt Disney Animation Japan
* Xebec
* Yaoyorozu

* Portal

*[Eps.]: Episodes
*[Refs.]: References
*[TBA]: To be announced
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