From Toei Animator to Studio Founder
In 2007, Kazuhiro Nishikawa, the CG director behind several One Piece films, left Toei Animation to forge his own creative path. At Toei, he worked on titles like Strong World, Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island, and Dead End Adventure. Despite this, Nishikawa felt limited.
At the time, Toei used CGI primarily for background effects or crowd shots. Nishikawa, however, envisioned a future where CG could create characters and push storytelling further. That ambition led him to establish DandeLion Animation Studio.
The Rise of DandeLion Animation Studio
DandeLion began by assisting other studios with 2D visuals before expanding into 3D character animation. Over time, their innovative approach to blending styles brought them larger projects, from music-based character animations to full-scale films.
The studio’s breakthrough came with The First Slam Dunk (2022), a hybrid of 2D and 3D techniques. The film grossed over $279 million worldwide, proving Nishikawa’s vision could resonate globally. He later reflected:
“We spent about seven years making it… having the opportunity to create something so carefully was rare. For us, it’s a groundbreaking project.”
International Recognition and Awards
DandeLion’s influence grew even further with Magic Candies, a Toei CG short produced by Nishikawa that earned an Oscar nomination in 2024. The recognition from Western audiences confirmed that Japanese CG innovation had global appeal.
Nishikawa explained how this moment motivated the studio to keep pushing boundaries, ensuring their work would resonate not only in Asia but also in the U.S. and Europe.
Next Project: Eleceed (2026)
Currently, DandeLion is producing an anime adaptation of Eleceed, the popular webtoon by Son Je-ho and Zhena. Unlike past projects, Eleceed will use a hybrid workflow where CG replaces traditional storyboards, creating a fully mixed 2D/3D experience.
Nishikawa describes it as:
“Not just CG animation, but a fully mixed 3D experience with 2D character animation.”
The series is expected to debut in 2026 and may set a new standard for hybrid anime production.
Conclusion
Kazuhiro Nishikawa’s departure from Toei Animation wasn’t a rejection of One Piece or its legacy — it was a bold step toward redefining anime CGI. From the global success of The First Slam Dunk to the upcoming Eleceed adaptation, his journey proves that creative risks can reshape an entire industry.
In hindsight, leaving Toei may have been the best decision Nishikawa ever made — not just for himself, but for the future of anime.
