Sakamoto Days Anime Studio Partners With Taiwan’s R. Animation Amid Labor Shortage

TMS Entertainment, the studio which produced Sakamoto Days, Detective Conan, Dr. Stone, has entered into a business partnership with Taiwan-based animation studio R. Animation, the company announced in a press release on Jan 8, 2026.

According to TMS Entertainment, the partnership is aimed at “establishing a production framework capable of continuously delivering high-quality anime” through shared expertise and resources amid labor shortages in Japan.

R. Animation is a Taiwan-based animation studio founded in November 2018 that has already contributed to multiple Japanese anime productions, including One Piece, Spy x Family, My Dress Up Darling, The Elusive Samurai and others.

R. Animation is known for its proficiency in Japan’s 2D hand-drawn animation style and covers a wide range of production processes, including key animation, in-between animation, finishing, direction, storyboarding and post-production.

Its core team consists of more than 40 creators, many of whom are under the age of 30.

The two companies will collaborate directly on production operations and also “share technology and know-how.” The goal is to establish a sustainable, high-quality anime production framework capable of supporting long-term output amid increasing strain on Japan’s animation industry.

Japan’s anime market has continued to expand in recent years, driven by strong overseas demand with more than 300 anime titles produced annually, according to data from the Association of Japanese Animations.

However, production capacity has struggled to keep pace. An aging pool of veteran creators, coupled with a shortage of new talent entering the field, has placed significant strain on animation studios, prompting companies to look beyond Japan for long-term solutions.

Through the partnership, TMS Entertainment will provide a stable flow of production work, while R. Animation will focus on further cultivating highly skilled creators.

“Mr. Huang Chiao-Hsin, the representative of R. Animation, is deeply committed to creator development and aims to provide high-quality artwork while establishing a safe and secure working environment. This approach aligns closely with the philosophy behind our vision of ‘Anime SDGs,’ and we are confident that this partnership will accelerate those efforts. No matter how times change, outstanding works cannot be created without the contributions of creators. By steadily building achievements and mutual trust through collaboration, we hope to deliver a wide range of animated works that move and inspire audiences even more deeply,” stated Ippei Takemura, the Deputy Head of Production Division at TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd.

R. Animation’s representative, Huang Chiao-Hsin, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Since our founding, we have positioned both ‘building a stable production framework’ and ‘talent development’ as equally important management priorities. We believe that animation production cannot be completed solely through individual skills, but is a team-based industry that accumulates expertise over time and functions continuously. Through this initiative, we look forward to engaging in deeper exchanges of ideas regarding production workflows, technical knowledge, and approaches to communication. Moving forward, we hope to work together to enhance work quality and improve production environments, contributing to the healthy development of the animation industry from a long-term perspective.“

Source: Press Release