How a converted suburban house became a global animation powerhouse
In short: In 2013, Science Saru began in a small, converted Japanese house with just five staff members. Today, the studio is a global force, blending the logic of technology with the playful instinct of a monkey to redefine modern animation.
Director Masaaki Yuasa and producer Eunyoung Choi established Science Saru (translated as 'Science Monkey') on 4 February 2013, intending to balance two distinct realms. The name reflects a desire to balance 'Science'—representing logic, technology, and international business—with 'Saru' (monkey), representing the intuition, creativity, and 'monkeying around' essential to art. The studio's origins trace back to a proposal by Choi during the production of Kick-Heart, a project that notably achieved success through Kickstarter crowdfunding. This vision was supported by early team members like Abel Góngora, who joined the initial five-person crew.
The studio's technical identity is defined by a hybrid production method. Unlike traditional Japanese animation, Science Saru utilizes a technique that combines hand-drawn animation with Flash animation. This approach allowed the studio to transition from early subcontracting work—such as the 'Food Chain' episode of the American series Adventure Time in 2014—to large-scale original features and international hits. This digital-first approach was evident in early works like Ping Pong the Animation, which provided digitally assisted services for the series. Such technical versatility helped the studio manage diverse projects, ranging from the Crayon Shin-chan films to the animated anthology Star Wars: Visions.
The studio's trajectory saw a massive scaling of capacity during the 2018 release of Netflix's Devilman Crybaby. While the studio previously operated with a limited crew of 20 to 25 people, this project required significant expansion. The series became a global phenomenon, with 90% of its audience located outside of Japan, and cemented the studio's reputation for producing influential, award-winning content that resonates across borders. Following the studio's rapid growth, Masaaki Yuasa stepped down from his role as president in March 2020, leaving Choi to lead the company as CEO. This period of transition also saw the studio enter a strategic, non-exclusive partnership with Netflix in October 2020.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Science Saru
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