Nearly each and every popular anime studio had a fantastic year. Every season, they featured some breakout anime and iconic returning series. For example, Bones returned with a jam-packed action season for My Hero Academia, and A-1 Pictures premiered a groundbreaking Korean webtoon adaptation of Solo Leveling. However, one Japanese anime studio deserves to be crowned the “Best Anime Studio” in 2024.
To be the “best anime studio,” they must meet a few general criteria. The studio must have featured at least more than one anime project this year. In addition, the studio’s selected library for the year must have been trending in the anime community. The anime studio, Cloverworks, meets these requirements, but their anime catalog for this year is top-tier, featuring some high-quality animation and storylines.
Cloverworks: A New Brand of Anime Studios
Breaking Away from Parent Studio, A-1 Pictures
On April 1, 2018, A-1 Pictures rebranded their Koenji Studio to Cloverworks. Cloverworks has a distinctive brand identity, producing anime with a light-hearted charm different from its parent studio, A-1 Pictures. Soon after, Cloverworks separated from A-1 Pictures to become a standalone powerhouse studio.
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Cloverworks is known for several popular original works, like Darling in the Franxx (2018) and Wonder Egg Priority (2021). The studio also adapted popular romantic comedy manga such as Hero’s Horimiya (2021) and Shinichi Fukuda’s My Dress-Up Darling (2022). Both romcom series became commercial successes and received sequels or spin-offs. In addition, Cloverworks produced acclaimed series that feature lovable fan-favorite characters such as Anya from Spy x Family (2022) and Bocchi from Bocchi the Rock! (2022). Unlike some of Cloverworks’ light-hearted anime series in previous years, Cloverworks has taken on more mature and action-packed anime for 2024.
Wind Breaker: Trendsetting the Yanki-Genre
An Anime About Male Adolescence & Martial Arts
Cloverworks had a busy spring season. They premiered two popular shows. The first series is an anime adaptation of Satoru Nii’s manga, Wind Breaker. The main protagonist, Haruka Sakura, is an outcast in society. He has an edgy appearance and is somewhat antisocial. Even though Sakura faces discrimination, he finds comfort in martial arts. He enrolls in Furin High School and befriends a group of classmates known as the Bofurin. The Bofurin protects the townspeople of Makochi from other street gangs or individuals who want to cause trouble to businesses and innocent people. Now, as a member of the Bofurin, Haruka Sakura is praised for his martial arts skills, which he isn’t used to.
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With the success of Tokyo Revengers, Cloverworks takes on the yanki genre with its production of Wind Breaker. Yanki manga is currently trending within the anime community as it discusses issues such as toxic masculinity and the breaking of family values. Wind Breaker embraces a young boy’s development into a young man. Haruka Sakura was once a lone wolf but soon learns about friendship and leadership as a new member of Bofurin. With each experience, Sakura slowly shares with others and learns to become a great fighter but also a protector.
In addition, Cloverworks carefully crafted the fight scenes between the Bofurin and Shishitoren. Street fights are vulgar, but the production team staged the martial arts segments as a form of artistry. For example, Hajime Umemiya, the leader of the Bofurin, describes fighting as a dialogue between two fighters: a person’s fists can deliver an emotional message that cannot be conveyed in words to someone. Through Wind Breaker, Cloverworks shows the beauty of martial arts and the importance of a young man’s youth.
A talented high school student with a passion for biking becomes the leader of his school’s cycling team. He faces numerous challenges, including intense rivalries and personal obstacles, as he strives to lead his team to victory. Along the way, he learns valuable lessons about perseverance, teamwork, and the true spirit of competition, pushing himself and his teammates to new heights.
- Release Date
- April 4, 2024
- Creator(s)
- Satoru Nii
- Cast
- Kristian Eros , Austin Tindle , Yuma Uchida , Bryson Baugus , Jordan Dash Cruz , Aaron Campbell , Drew Breedlove , Gen Satô
- Seasons
- 1
Black Butler: Rebooting A Beloved Franchise
Set In A School Setting, Ciel Phantomhive Takes On A New Adventure
The other spring anime series that Cloverworks produced is the new season of the Black Butler franchise. The new season is based on the manga’s story arc entitled, “Public School Arc.” The franchise was originally produced by A-1 Pictures, but the latest season is produced by Cloverworks. The first two seasons deviated from the original manga, much to the dismay of fans; however, the franchise did a subtle reboot with its third season, Black Butler: Book of Circus, and the current fourth season, closely adapting the manga.
In the fourth season, Ciel Phantomhive attends the prestigious Weston College. At the school, he’s investigating the disappearances of students, specifically the son of Queen Victoria’s cousin, Derrick Arden. To start his investigation, he wishes to meet the Headmaster, but to do so, he must get in the good graces of the four prefects of Weston College.
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Cloverworks received a great opportunity to produce the latest season of the Black Butler franchise. The Black Butler franchise has been a popular series among female anime fans for its attractive demon butler of the Phantomhive household, Sebastian Michaelis. Cloverworks received a great opportunity to gain more fans for the studio by producing the anime for this beloved franchise.
Many fans praised Cloverworks for keeping faithful to the manga. In addition, fans spoke highly of the magnificent anime and character development between Ciel Phantomhive and Sebastian Michaelis. Cloverworks lived up to the expectations of producing an authentic depiction of Black Butler. The fourth season raised the series to new heights and brought new and old fans together.
Ciel Phantomhive takes care of the many unsettling events in Victorian England. Aided by Sebastian Michaelis, his loyal butler with seemingly inhuman abilities. But is there more to this black-clad butler than meets the eye?
- Release Date
- October 3, 2008
- Creator(s)
- Yana Toboso
- Cast
- J. Michael Tatum , Brina Palencia , Michael C. Pizzuto , Monica Rial , Jason Liebrecht , Ian Sinclair , Gloria Ansell , Jerry Jewell , Daniel Fredrick , R. Bruce Elliott , Cherami Leigh
- Main Genre
- Action
- Seasons
- 3
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Franchise
- Black Butler
- Characters By
- Yana Toboso
- Creator
- Yana Toboso
- Main Characters
- Sebastian Michaelis, Ciel Phantomhive
- Writers
- Mari Okada
- Number of Episodes
- 36 + 7 OVA
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
- Franchise(s)
- Black Butler
- Directors
- Toshiya Shinohara , Hirofumi Ogura
The Elusive Samurai: Expanding to the Historical Genre
Combining History with Light-Hearted Humor
Cloverworks is known for its slice-of-life comedy stories. Yet, the studio challenges itself by adapting Yusei Matsui’s The Elusive Samurai, a historical manga inspired by the life of Hojo Tokiyuki, a samurai of the Hojo Clan. Tokiyuki is the heir of the Hojo Clan, but his family gets overthrown by Ashikaga Takauji. Tokiyuki manages to escape and seeks the help of Suwa Yorishige, a shady shaman from Suwa. Yorishige can predict the future and helps train Tokiyuki to take revenge against Ashikaga Takauji.
Cloverworks made a risky move by adapting The Elusive Samurai. Historical anime like The Elusive Samurai is aimed at a niche community of anime fans who enjoy learning about Japan’s history and traditional culture. However, Cloverworks balances the wartime story of death and revenge with vivid imagery and light-hearted humor from a trickery shaman named Suwa Yorishige. The comedic and flamboyant dynamics between Yorishige and Tokiyuki captivate the audience’s attention. The series also incorporates modern pop culture references so that foreigners can understand and enjoy the series more.
Cloverworks worked hard to create top-quality anime this year. They kept up with trends. They produced a yanki genre anime, Wind Breakers, and explored other genres like the historical-based manga, The Elusive Samurai. Cloverworks also has gained traction with returning series such as Spy x Family and Horimiya. They continue to take risks in their anime projects, making them a must-watch anime studio in 2025 as they will premiere The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity and another season of Black Butler.
The Elusive Samurai
- Release Date
- July 6, 2024
- Cast
- Asaki Yuikawa , Yuichi Nakamura , Hinaki Yano , Mari Hino , Sayumi Suzushiro , Aoi Yuki , Kikunosuke Toya
- Seasons
- 1
- Character(s)
- Tokiyuki Hojo , Yorishige Suwa , Shizuku , Kojiro , Ayako , Kazama Genba , Fubuki
