Lerche business profile: ownership, model, and strategy
Lerche operates under Studio Hibari as a production brand, but its standalone revenue and profit are not disclosed.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: Lerche is a Japanese animation production brand established in 2011 under Studio Hibari Co., Ltd. Studio Hibari was founded in July 1979 and reorganized as a corporation in 1996. Lerche produces television anime, original video animations, and films such as Assassination Classroom, Given, Astra Lost in Space, and Classroom of the Elite. Because Lerche is not a separately listed company and Studio Hibari does not publish standalone financial statements, Lerche's revenue and profit are not publicly verifiable.
What Lerche is and who owns it
Lerche is an animation production brand operated by Studio Hibari Co., Ltd., a Tokyo-based studio founded in July 1979. Studio Hibari established the Lerche brand in 2011 to house a production team led by producer Yuuji Higa. The studio also operates LARX Entertainment, a 3DCG subsidiary spun out in 2006, and overseas production support in Vietnam.
Because Lerche is a brand within Studio Hibari rather than an independent legal entity with public filings, its ownership is effectively Studio Hibari's ownership. No outside shareholders or ownership percentages have been publicly disclosed.
How Lerche makes money
Lerche plans and produces television anime, OVAs, and films. Its credits include Assassination Classroom, Given, Astra Lost in Space, Classroom of the Elite, The Ones Within, and Magical Girl Raising Project. Revenue comes from production fees paid by production committees and from any rights participation negotiated on individual titles.
Studio Hibari's history began as a finishing specialist and expanded into full animation production. Lerche represents the studio's main production brand for commissioned and committee-led anime, while LARX Entertainment handles 3DCG work.
Why public financial data is unavailable
Neither Lerche nor Studio Hibari is a listed company, and no recent standalone financial summary for Studio Hibari appears in public databases. Japanese private companies only need to file public financial summaries above certain size thresholds, and Studio Hibari appears to fall below them or to file under conditions that are not indexed in public sources.
As a result, any revenue or profit figure attributed to Lerche or Studio Hibari online is an estimate rather than a verified number.
Financials are not public: Lerche does not publish financial statements, and no official-gazette filing for Studio Hibari is publicly available. This article therefore does not state revenue or profit figures.
Lerche's place in the industry
Lerche is a mid-sized production brand with a reputation for handling a wide range of genres, from action comedies to character dramas and boys-love titles. Its output pace is lower than that of the largest studios, which aligns with a smaller team size.
Industry data from Teikoku Databank shows that primary contractor anime studios averaged annual revenue of JPY 2.75 billion in 2024, while specialty subcontractor studios averaged JPY 438 million. Lerche likely sits between those benchmarks, though this is an inference rather than a reported figure.
Strategy and outlook
Lerche's strategy under Studio Hibari is to maintain a diverse slate of adaptations that can serve different audience segments, from established shonen hits to niche titles. The studio has also continued the Given franchise and produced anniversary projects for Assassination Classroom, suggesting it values long-tail IP where possible.
The brand's outlook depends on Studio Hibari's ability to retain production staff, control schedules, and secure committee slots in a competitive market. Without group backing from a major publisher or platform, it must win each production on its own merits.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Lerche?
Lerche is a production brand of Studio Hibari Co., Ltd. Studio Hibari owns and operates the brand; no outside ownership has been publicly disclosed.
What is Lerche's revenue?
Lerche does not publish financial statements, so its revenue and profit are not publicly verifiable.
What is the relationship between Lerche and Studio Hibari?
Lerche was established in 2011 as a production brand within Studio Hibari. Studio Hibari also operates the 3DCG subsidiary LARX Entertainment.
What are Lerche's best-known works?
Notable titles include Assassination Classroom, Given, Astra Lost in Space, Classroom of the Elite, and Magical Girl Raising Project.
Sources and methodology
- HISTORY - Studio Hibari, Studio Hibari. Studio Hibari founded July 1979; Lerche brand established 2011; LARX Entertainment subsidiary established 2006.
- Lerche archive, Studio Hibari. Lerche production credits and brand page on the Studio Hibari official site.
- Labor deficit muddles anime studio financials, Animenomics. Industry context: primary contractor and subcontractor studio average revenue in 2024.