Chainsaw Man Director Ryuu Nakayama is currently the Creative Director of Studio Mayflowera “technology-based animation studio” that aims to “develop anime with the power of technology.”
Studio Mayflower, which describes itself as a “technology-driven animation studio,” announced the appointment on August 27 JST. It said in a press release that the move will “strengthen its management structure.”
“Studio Mayflower’s medium- to long-term strategy is to create IP through content production processes using the latest technology. In this environment, content quality control is very important, which is where Mr. Nakayama’s expertise comes in,” the studio was quoted as saying. AnotherBall “Mr. Nakayama’s wealth of experience and outstanding creativity are a perfect fit for Studio Mayflower’s direction, making him the best choice for this position,” said a statement from the studio’s acquisition in May.
“I have been involved in the animation industry since I was a university student and have seen many challenges in my 10-plus years of experience,” said Nakayama, who founded Andraft in 2023. “I have therefore come to the conclusion that a different and more aggressive approach is needed to address these issues, and I share AnotherBall’s clear vision of global reach and Mayflower’s innovative thinking.”
He added that he was “looking forward to working with” the AnotherBall CEO Shunsuke “Captain” Oyufounder of VTuber agency PRISM Project and CEO of Studio Mayflower Taisei Tateno to “create a new form of entertainment.”
Studio Mayflower says it has “been actively pushing forward with efforts to streamline production processes while maintaining high quality standards” in response to “skyrocketing production costs and a shortage of animators due to the growing demand for high-quality visual content.” Among the positions advertised on its website is a “Machine Learning Engineer,” and one of its roles is to “plan and develop” machine learning tools and scripts that will be used in anime production.
The studio provided key animation support for episode 11 of the Spring 2024 anime Oblivion Battery (Andraft also coincidentally participated in key animation for that episode).
Singapore-based AnotherBall was founded in 2022 and describes itself as a “blockchain and cryptocurrency development service provider,” a “digital entertainment company,” a “fast-paced and dynamic entertainment startup,” and “a blockchain-based entertainment company.” It also calls itself a “venture company” and an “otaku company.” Its projects include a live streaming app called AniLive and the online platform IZUMO.
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Source: Press release (via Anime News Network)
