First Boys’ Love-Only Anime Studio Closes Its Doors

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In late 2017, the studio responsible for hit anime series like “Jujutsu Kaisen,” “Chainsaw Man,” “Hell’s Paradise,” and “Lazarus” launched a sister studio specializing in boys’ love themes, named GRIZZLY. Regrettably, just under ten years later, GRIZZLY has shut down permanently.

Although GRIZZLY, founded by Manabu Ootsuka (CEO of MAPPA and public figure), has only produced a limited number of full works, it made its mark with the 2018 adaptation of Ogeretsu Tanaka’s manga series, “Yarichin Bitch Club.” This anime was GRIZZLY’s debut work. The story centers around Takashi Tono, a boy who moves to a mountain boarding school, where he unknowingly joins a club that turns out to be a host club for both students and teachers. In this club, he encounters a student named Kashima, who swiftly confesses his affection towards him. This production solidified GRIZZLY’s reputation as a studio focusing on . According to the National Tax Registry and Commercial Registry of Japan, GRIZZLY ceased operations on Feb. 20.

MAPPA’s Sister Anime Studio GRIZZLY Closes After Nearly 8 Years

Among various anime genres, boys’ love (BL) remains somewhat specialised, as many series tend to cater to female and young female viewers. However, productions like “Sasaki and Miyano”, “Junjou Romantica”, “Hitorijime my Hero”, and “Doukyuusei” (Classmates) are exceptions to this trend. For instance, a 2016 sports anime titled Yuri!!! on Ice centers around a Japanese ice skater and his Russian skating coach who share an intimate relationship that leans towards romance. This anime was widely appreciated by both audiences and critics, which might have inspired MAPPA to establish a subsidiary dedicated to boys’ love productions the following year.

In the year 2020, animation studio GRIZZLY unveiled its second animated feature film titled “Twittering Birds Never Fly: The Clouds Gather“. This film was based on a manga by Kou Yoneda with the same name. The narrative centers around a ruthless yakuza boss, Yashiro, and his bodyguard, Chikara Doumeki. While Yashiro usually maintains a cold and detached relationship with his subordinates, he develops romantic feelings for Chikara, who possesses a rigid personality. However, the planned trilogy was never completed beyond this first installment. A prequel OVA titled “Twittering Birds Never Fly: Don’t Stay Gold” was released in 2021. From 2021 to 2024, GRIZZLY did not announce any new projects.

Initially separate from MAPPA, GRIZZLY was formed as an independent entity. However, its team was primarily composed of renowned directors and animators hailing from the former studio. For instance, Kaori Makita, director of Twittering Birds Don’t Fly, also led projects at GRIZZLY before returning for Season 2. Similarly, MAPPA’s animation producer Fuuko Noda held a similar position within GRIZZLY until her departure in 2024. As of May 1, MAPPA has yet to make any public announcements regarding GRIZZLY’s shutdown.

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2025-05-02 07:07