New studio began operations on Sunday

Sola Digital Arts, Galaxy Graphics, and Toei Animation have jointly invested in a new CG animation studio named Tenh Animation Magic. The company itself was established on October 10, and the business began operations on Sunday.

The company's website states that it is aiming to create animation for a broad range of genres, from short clips and family oriented anime, and to have a "research and development" environment that will create new techniques to improve workflow. The business description acknowledges a need to create works for a global market.

Sola Entertainment, the parent company of Sola Digital Arts (Appleseed Alpha, Starship Troopers: Invasion), invested 40%, Galaxy Graphics invested 40%, and Toei Animation invested 20%. Sola Digital Arts CEO Joseph Cho is the representative director and president of the new company, while Sanzigan representative director Hiroaki Matsuura is the vice president. The board also includes representatives from pachinko and pachislot game machine maker Sammy.

The company is based at Tokyo's Integral Tower, like Ultra Super Pictures (USP) group companies, which include Sanzigen, Ordet, Studio Trigger, LIDEN FILMS, and Galaxy Graphics. USP, Kadokawa, and Sammy jointly invested in another new animation studio Engi, which began operations in the same building in June.

Sources: Tenh Animation Magic website, Animation Business Journal (Tadashi Sudo)