| Official website of Operation ONI, an anime
currently in production by Studio ONI Ltd.,
utilizing the traditional Japanese ink brush painting technique known as
Sumi-e. This project is created using the traditional frame-by-frame
hand-drawn animation style, maintaining the classic approach of eight
frames per second to deliver an authentic and timeless visual
experience.
Our talented international team
collaborates across borders and languages, blending unique and creative
perspectives into every part of this anime. Our first goal is to bring
this one-of-a-kind production to the film festivals abroad and walk the
red carpet. The first 15 minutes (Episode 1) is currently in production. The release of Episode 1 and the next crowdfunding campaign are scheduled after 2026. We sincerely appreciate your warm support! |
| Sumi-e is one of the East Asian styles of traditional brush painting. While it's monochrome, it can express rich and impressive scenes. Watch these drawing videos and you'll find what it is. |
ONI are Japanese demons with horns. They have
been popular stock
characters in Japanese fairytales, manga, film, art, literature,
theatre and so on for a long time.
And the lead of this film has these horns too, even though she is not an ONI. You will be able to see the reason why she has horns and discover the meaning of "Operation ONI" at the end of story. It's a military operation concerning her. |
| Set in samurai-era Japan, tensions rise between humans and the powerful Empire of Spirits. Mao, a formidable samurai marked by mysterious ONI (demon) horns on her head, has known only loneliness after losing her parents and enduring a harsh upbringing by a tyrant. Her closest bond is with her best friend, Onatsu, whose love has been Mao's sole solace. As war erupts, Mao vows to protect both her homeland and Onatsu, but Onatsu declares, "This is the end of our friendship," leaving Mao heartbroken. The true meaning of Onatsu's words and the fate of their friendship lie in the mystery of Mao's horns. |
Mao
Voice actress: Risa Imayanagi (Website / Twitter)
|
Age: 18 Birthday: April 1 Nationality: Mito Race: Human A samurai with ONI horns on her head and uncommon strength. People call her ONI, but she is a pure-hearted, calm and kind person. She has no family other than her tyrannical foster father, Hakuo. However she doesn't feel lonely thanks to her best friend, Onatsu. With her, she is happy. Favorite food: Dango 🍡 Her name means: Sakura in full bloom Designed by Suzu Nomiya |
Onatsu
Voice actress: Yuri Kondo (Website / Twitter)
|
Age: 22 Birthday: August 8 Nationality: Tama Race: Human Mao's best friend, working as a chef in a local restaurant. She is one of the few people who are as strong as Mao. She is very patient, and is very affectionate only to Mao. She is the happiest when she takes care of her. On the other hand, she's tight-lipped and doesn't like to talk about her personal life a lot. Sometimes she looks at Mao and has tears in her eyes, but she doesn't want to talk about why. Sometimes she stares at Mao with icy eyes, but doesn't want to talk about the reason why. Sometimes she's desperate and wants to be alone, but doesn't want to talk about why. Favorite food: Katsuobushi (Bonito Flakes) Her name means: Summer (Natsu means summer) Designed by Suzu Nomiya |
Saki
Voice actress: Ryoku Dion
|
Age: 5382 Birthday: January 1 Nationality: Empire of Spirits Race: Spirit (Humans call them monsters) The legendary fox spirit who uses the arts of brainwashing and transfiguration. She is a general in the Empire of Spirits. People say she has been involved in many historical turning points in the entire world. Nothing else is known about her. Favorite food: Unknown Her name means: Flower in autumn Designed by Suzu Nomiya |
Hakuo
Voice actor: Takashi Narumi (Website / Twitter)
|
Age: 48 Birthday: January 21 Nationality: Mito Race: Human Mao's father and the lord of Mito Castle. A crazy and diabolical tyrant. People say he is eating monsters (spirits) in order to increase his strength. He is called "demon" by spirits, and his life is in danger. Favorite food: Secret His name means: King in winter Designed by Suzu Nomiya |
Voice actress: Momoko Iwasawa (Website / Twitter)
|
Age: unknown Birthday: unknown Nationality: Empire of Spirits Race: Spirit (Humans call them monsters) Saki's boss, and an ambitious monster who is always aiming for a higher position. She covers her teeth with black paint as part of type of fashion called "Ohaguro". She applies a solution of iron dissolved in acid to her teeth, and then applies a powder called fushiko, which contains a lot of tannin. Favorite food: human Her name means: lots of black on teeth Designed by Suzu Nomiya |
Voice actress:
Tomiko Claire
(Website /
Twitter
/
Sumi-e
Challenge)
|
Age: 2 Birthday: unknown Nationality: Empire of Spirits Race: Spirit (Humans call them monsters) Ohaguro bettari's buddy. This kitten relies on Ohaguro bettari and is always on her shoulder. She likes to speak foreign languages. Favorite food: Milk Her name means: Pupa Designed by Suzu Nomiya |
Taisho
Voice actor: Secret
|
Age: 26 Birthday: December 24th Nationality: Mito Race: Human The handsome owener chef of the restaurant “Sangatsu-tei”. He loves muscles and liveliness. So dependable and has a large heart, and loved and trusted by his customers. The head of the town's youth organization. Favorite food: Hot Wasabi Chazuke cooked by Onatsu Designed by Suzu Nomiya, Kinosuke Rakuga Inspired by Chanupi |
|
Neon Town Girl Voice actress: Neon (YouTube)  |
Sora Rice Shop Girl Voice actress: under consideration  |
|
Umi
Rice Shop Boy Voice actor: under consideration  |
Metoba Hakuo's Aide Voice actress: under consideration  |
|
Kaidori Hakuo's Aide Voice actor: under consideration  |
|
| These Sumi-e art will be background pictures of the film. It's extremely compelling and I'm sure you will feel inspired by it. We are very honored to invite you to this mysterious and traditional Asian world. |
Castle town
| The first collab with digital and analog Suibokuga (Sumi-e) |
A castle surrounded by sakura trees
Starting production on Episode 1
(Scene 2, #6) Onatsu hurries in front of Mao and yells at the crowd
Onatsu, the chef in a local restaurant, is announcing the menu for tonight.
Onatsu stomps on the ground and yells!
She's going to dye the ground red.
Sorrow.
Onatsu makes a surprising suggestion.
Mao doesn't feel like it today...
Onatsu does not approve of Mao wanting to take a break from training.
Onatsu forcefully begins training.
Training begins.
Training Scene
Onatsu is happy to feel Mao's solid growth.
Mao in battle mode, her weak expression gone.
Mao slips on cherry blossom petals.
Mao lying down after a slip.
Checkmate
Bird's eye perspective
I've never heard cooks are strong.
Resting on the hill.
Local restaurant in the castle town.
Inside the local restaurant
How many dishes is Onatsu bringing!?
Shut up! You drunkard!
All Set!
Mini Onatsu's explanation
Tamago Fuwa Fuwa with Mini Onatsu!
Grilled fish skewers and Mini Onatsu!
Superb duck hot pot
A pile of dangos
A special day
Mao doesn't know the exact date of her birth.
Itadakimasu!
Love Onigiri
The war is about to begin
Mao's Secret
Who is the enemy?
New Character, Taisho!
Their comedy show starts!
Don't cut me!
Hang in there, Taisho!
She gives the job back to the boss!
Lovable good-natured man, Taisho!
Extremely lovable good-natured man, Taisho
No Graffiti, please!
Hey Taisho, remember our promise!
Don't call me by the serial number!
Taisho's last appearance in Episode 1!
Chew it well!
Good girl!
Mao is helping Onatsu wash the dishes.
Want to stay over?
Is Mao full?
Walking in the castle town
|
Studio ONI Ltd., a
Tokyo-based creative studio with a global outlook, merges
traditional Japanese artistry with modern media production across
three key divisions: Animation, Art, and Vtuber. Under the
leadership of CEO Hiroshi Takane, an esteemed scriptwriter with over
18 years of experience in both Japanese and Western storytelling,
the studio has established itself as a pioneer in fusing cultural
artistry with digital innovation. The Animation Division, currently producing Operation ONI, is at the forefront of this vision. This unique Sumi-e anime employs Japanese ink wash techniques to create a visually captivating experience. Operation ONI unfolds in a world where humans and yokai are at war, following a lonely samurai girl marked by "ONI" horns. With acclaimed animator Rakuga Kinosuke at the helm, known for his dynamic and expressive style, the division has gained recognition both domestically and internationally for its artistry. Studio ONI's Art Division, led by esteemed ink artist Sho Hosokawa, expertly blends Japanese Sumi-e and Western watercolor styles. This team creates fine art, custom portraits, and animated visuals, catering to global clients who value rich cultural representation in their projects. The Vtuber Division, led by character designer Tukine Natsuki and modeler Tenkuroku, brings Japanese Vtuber culture to Western audiences through sophisticated Live2D modeling and character creation. This duo creates Vtuber characters that are both visually engaging and narratively rich, aiming to inspire a "Vtuber revolution" that bridges cultural and linguistic boundaries. With a dedication to preserving artistic heritage while embracing technological advancements, Studio ONI delivers immersive experiences at the crossroads of art, culture, and innovation. For collaboration or work inquiries, feel free to contact us. We are open to new opportunities. |
| Hiroshi Takane CEO and Founder of Studio ONI Ltd. Producer, Director, Story, Script Writer, Editor |
| Hiroshi Takane is an accomplished scriptwriter, director, and advertising content creator at Synthese Co., Ltd., with over 18 years of experience in the industry. He is also the founder, CEO, and creative force behind Studio ONI Ltd., where he works as a filmmaker, director, scriptwriter, editor, and producer. Born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1979, his career spans both video games and advertising, with a reputation for innovative storytelling. After completing high school, he pursued studies abroad in Canada and France. In 2005, he graduated from the Japan Academy of Moving Images, an institution founded by legendary director Shohei Imamura, specializing in scriptwriting. He began his professional career in 2006, working on the critically acclaimed 428: Shibuya Scramble as a founding member of Synthese Co., Ltd. He has been writing scripts for renowned titles such as Fire Emblem and has contributed to other iconic franchises for over 18 years. His advertising work includes campaigns for major brands like NHK, LEXUS, SONY, Wacoal, BABYMETAL, and Granblue Fantasy. This is his first film as a director. (Linkedin / FilmFreeway / IMDb) |
| Sho
Hosokawa COO of Studio ONI Ltd. Sumi-e Art Director, Background Artist, Co-Producer |
| Since childhood, Sho has explored ink and watercolor painting on his own, seeking the essence of beauty in masterpieces from around the world, both past and present. After discovering the enduring tradition in techniques like Japan's oldest form of animation, as seen in Chōjū-giga (Scrolls of Frolicking Animals and Humans), and how it flows into contemporary animation techniques, he became inspired to study seamless expressions that bridge traditional culture with modern animation. His art-focused YouTube channel, Turara-an, has garnered over 40,000 followers. (Website / IMDB / Linkedin / YouTube, Twitter / Threads) |
|
Kinosuke Rakuga
(Yoko Mori) COO of Studio ONI Ltd. Action Director, Main Animator, Character Designer Representative of "Ink Dancer (舞墨桜)" |
| Kinosuke studied animation at the Tokyo Animator Academy, receiving numerous awards for her animation, illustration, and character design work. With a strong sense of responsibility, leadership skills, and a bright smile, she leads a global animation team. Her work is widely recognized both domestically and internationally for its graceful, beautiful motion and powerful, dynamic animation. (IMDB
/ Linkedin) |
|
Miya Painting Animator Member of Animation Team "Ink Dancer (舞墨桜)" |
| Agreed with the project and joined to help in any way she can. She draws manga and novels as a hobby. |
|
Oksana Grabenko Inbetween Animator Member of Animation Team "Ink Dancer (舞墨桜)" |
| An animator, artist and screenwriter. Worked on such projects as “Hacking Universe” series and “Winter“ comics, “Marilya. In search of weirdos” series, “Take my muffin” YouTube series. (Website
/ Linkedin /
Twitter(x)
/
Instagram) |
| Tukine Natsuki Character Designer Painting Animator Member of Animation Team "Ink Dancer (舞墨桜)" |
| Has created numerous illustrations of cute females with creative worldviews and rich personalities, including the #Healing Little Girls series. Scouted by Director Takane and Kinosuke, and is in charge of character design now, mainly for Operation ONI's costumes. (Twitter(x)) |
|
Mirko De Stefano Inbetween Animator / Member of Animation Team "Ink Dancer (舞墨桜)" |
| Mirko De Stefano is a traditional animator,
2D digital artist, and author of several commercials and an AMV,
with almost four years of experience as a lead animator. After
finishing high school and obtaining a degree in Cinema and Visual
Arts from the University of Turin (UNITO) in Italy, he worked as a
lead animator, story artist, and director at Sound and Sense Record
Label in Milan. A great admirer of Michelangelo and Stanley Kubrick
he joined this project due to his interest in its artistic
perspective and the opportunity to create stunning animations. (Linkedin) |
|
Kaori Fukui Director of audiography |
| She started her career in 2010 as a game
recording director and has worked in a wide variety of genres
including dubbing, commercials, and radio dramas. |
| Suzu Nomiya
Character Designer |
| A freelance illustrator. Striving to draw attractive expressions. |
| Hiroko
Aoyama Script Director |
| Has worked several times with Director Takane since NHK, and directed most of his scripts. Founded a creative team named "DIP.LÔME" with him in 2015. This film is the first work as DIP.LÔME. |
| Fawkes
Sutherland (南国 鷹) Music Composer |
| A young composer in U.K. |
|
Alejandro Jiang (Hazeiko) Monster designer |
| A freelance illustrator and concept artist. His inspiration comes from the deep value and heart of things that roam in our world, in meanings behind surfaces, behind crude ideas that blossom into beauty. Searching for a way to express those hidden gems to the jeweled eyes of those that wander. (Website / Twitter) |
|
Roberta Alosi Monster designer |
| Italian character designer and concept artist. She graduated from her country's art academy. She loves art in all its forms, from traditional to modern. Her goal in life is to get into people's hearts by her art. (Instagram / Twitter) |
|
Tenkuroku Vtuber (Real-time Live2D motion capture animation) Creator (Sample) |
| I have been given the opportunity to create VTuber Live2D models at Studio ONI. I hope to help bring smiles to everyone's faces. Thank you! (Twitter(x), Youtube) |
|
Marco Preißer English Advisor |
|
A teacher for English, ethics and philosophy from Germany. In his
spare time, he writes music and plays the guitar in several metal
bands. |
|
Carolyn Anderson Interpreter, translator, website creator, logo creator, LINE stamp creator |
|
(Website,
Twitter(x),
Instagram,
Youtube) |
|
B-draw Concept Artist |
|
Creating lots for Operation ONI
such as
Kyofu All Back
and
Onatsu's knife Work. Her concept art "Prayer"
has been selected for the Noto Reconstruction Support Event. And she
planned and managed
Mao's birthday party. Her gallery is here. (Twitter(x) /
Instagram) |
|
Haruki Miniature Creator |
| I started my career as a miniature creator in June 2024. I have had a wonderful opportunity to work with Studio ONI in my favorite genre. I am still learning, but I hope to help everyone while enjoying the world of Operation ONI. We look forward to working with you for many years to come! (Shop / Twitter(x)) |
|
Gerardo Coppola International Jurist |
| (Instagram) |
|
Jacques Pearce Ambassador |
| (Website / Instagram) |
|
Deanna J. Wright English Translator |
| She is an American writer, translator, teacher, and project leader currently living in Berlin to complete her Master's degree in Sociology and Politics. She lived in Osaka for seven years and hopes to share her love and appreciation for Japan and the Japanese language through her translation and teaching work. (LinkedIn) |
|
kofudeya (Kumiko Goto) Kanji Logo Designer |
| An amazing Kanji Logo Designer who created
a Kanji Logo for this anime. |
|
Pedro H. de Souza Brazilian portuguese Translator |
| Hi I'm a college student that just likes pop culture so much and fell in love with this project so I decided to help with what I can. (Twitter) |
|
Soundays Arranger |
| Producing and providing background music,
mixing, mastering, and karaoke sound sources. He's extremely
thrilled because he loves Japanese style music and wanted to be
involved in this film production. |
| Izumin |
| Ever since she was a little girl, she loved singing and drawing. Her teacher was a cathode-ray tube TV that was still in black and white. Atom, Sally, and Leo, the Jungle Emperor, appeared on it. It was her awakening to drawing. She found a ballpoint pen and drew her favorite characters on the back of the flier, excitedly enjoying the world of cartoons. She has experienced many things in her life, but now she is feeling as if she is in the same space as she was back then. She is sure that it is a blessing that she was able to meet Director Takane, the Ink Dancer Animation Team, and all the staff of Studio ONI, Operation ONI, as she approaches the milestone of her 60th birthday this year. She will cherish this relationship and continue to support Operation ONI. (Twitter(x)) |
| Goma Channel & Ayaka |
| has been a member of the Tsurara-an family for 3 years and watched it with her family. That is where she met Operation ONI and is now a supporter of it. She started making dolls as a hobby, and is now making dolls by utilizing her daughter's hobby of digital artistry in doll making. An Operation ONI doll is about to be born! (Twitter(x) / Youtube) |
| YUKiNA |
| became fascinated with this project after watching Mr. Hosokawa's Youtube channel. She is training herself daily to draw attractive characters. Her current goal is to be able to receive requests for character design and illustrations. (Twitter(x)) |
|
Rokusho Hinata |
| is a painter who depict the world of Operation ONI's Sumi-e paintings in anime style. In addition to fan art, he paints various motifs in oil, watercolor, and other materials. (Twitter(x)) |
| Lal Ito |
| Has been a portrait artist for 25 years. Former bus guide. Loves anime and manga. An art materials geek who draws pictures as a hobby. She got to know Operation ONI through Mr. Hosokawa's YouTube channel and is very happy to be involved in the anime film produced by the director Takane with fan art. (Twitter(x)) |
| Ponta 3GO |
| Loves to paint! After working with watercolor, hand-painted yuzen, and oil painting, she arrived at Japanese painting. While searching for Japanese paintings, she came across Mr. Hosokawa's Japanese goods shop Turara-an and then OperationONI, where she started to draw fan art. If there is a connection, you come to see them even if they are far away from you. She is grateful to have met them. (Twitter(x)) |
| Lemongrass07 |
| Started making ceramics to create ikebana vases and entered the world of three dimensional art. In 2020, she started watching Mr. Hosokawa's Youtube channel named "Turara-an" and started to draw analog pictures such as watercolor, ink, and acrylic paintings, and entered the world of two-dimensional art. After that, she met OperationONI through Mr. Hosokawa and started to draw fan art. (Twitter(x), Youtube, Instagram, Threads) |
|
Oyapon |
| I remember I was very excited to draw Operation ONI's first fanart in color when there was no fan art for Operation ONI yet. Seeing people going about making their dreams come true made me want to look forward to the future. I feel happy to be able to be involved in the process of creating animation, and to be able to make it lively. (Twitter(x)) |
|
Jean-Michel Bruyere Business Advisor |
| A Belgian entrepreneur, passionate about start-ups and self-employed projects. He has worked in various fields such as chemistry, catering, the environment and energy. |
|
Thanks to all of you, our crowdfunding campaign for the first 15
minutes (Episode 1) in 2022 ended successfully on both
Kickstarter and
CAMPFIRE. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your warm support!
The first 15 minutes (episode 1) is currently in production. The release of Episode 1 and the next crowdfunding campaign are scheduled after 2026. The length of the film is approximately 60 minutes. Since we do not have a large production team, it will take about 5 years to complete the film. We feel bad about keeping you waiting for a long time, so we decided to divide the film into 4 episodes and produce and release 15 minutes of each part every year (12-15 months). In the scripts, I created a climax and a cliffhanger every 15 minutes , so this anime can be enjoyed either in full version or in small 15-minute episodes. This way, our supporters will be able to enjoy our film every year or so. Our first goal is to combine these four episodes into a single movie and bring it to film festivals in the U.S. We would like to walk the red carpet. It is our dream. Thank you very much for your cooperation. Best regards, Producer, director, story, script writer and editor of Operation ONI Founder and CEO of Studio ONI Ltd. Hiroshi Takane |
Copyright (C) Studio ONI Ltd. All rights reserved.