Science SARU business profile: ownership, profit, and strategy
Science SARU built a reputation for director-driven animation, then became a strategic piece of Toho's plan to expand anime production.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: Science SARU Inc. is a Japanese animation studio founded in February 2013 and based in Kichijoji, Tokyo. In June 2024 it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Toho Co., Ltd. For its final independent fiscal year ended January 2024, Science SARU reported revenue of JPY 1,403 million, operating income of JPY 428 million, and net income of JPY 350 million. It now operates inside Toho's anime expansion strategy, which targets an annual output of roughly 30 cours by 2032.
What Science SARU is and who owns it
Science SARU Inc. is a Japanese animation production studio established on February 4, 2013. The studio gained international recognition through director Masaaki Yuasa's films, including Devilman Crybaby, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, and INU-OH, as well as the television series Dandadan and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.
On June 19, 2024, Toho Co., Ltd. completed the acquisition of all shares of Science SARU from then-representative director and producer Eunyoung Choi. The purchase price was not disclosed. Science SARU is now a wholly owned subsidiary within Toho's IP and animation business.
How Science SARU makes money
Science SARU's core business is the planning and production of animated television series and theatrical films. It operates as a primary contractor, taking on full production responsibility for titles commissioned by production committees or platforms. Its recent and upcoming works include Dandadan, The Ghost in the Shell, and Tsubasa to Hotaru.
Before the Toho acquisition, the studio retained more of its creative independence than a typical captive studio. Its revenue came from production fees and from participation in the rights of the works it produced. Under Toho, its projects are increasingly tied to the TOHO animation brand and to Toho's distribution and licensing networks.
Where revenue and profit sit
Science SARU's last independently reported fiscal year, ended January 2024, showed revenue of JPY 1,403 million, operating income of JPY 428 million, recurring income of JPY 526 million, and net income of JPY 350 million. The studio had been profitable for the three years leading up to the acquisition.
Those numbers are small compared with the box-office and licensing value of the titles Science SARU produces, but they are healthy for a boutique studio. The gap between headline IP value and studio profit is normal in anime, where production committees distribute revenue across publishers, platforms, merchandise companies, and music labels.
Science SARU standalone results in millions of JPY. Source: Animation Business Journal report on Toho acquisition materials.| Metric | FY2024 ended January 2024 | Note |
|---|
| Revenue | JPY 1,403M | Final independent fiscal year |
| Operating income | JPY 428M | Pre-acquisition |
| Recurring income | JPY 526M | Pre-acquisition |
| Net income | JPY 350M | Pre-acquisition |
Why Toho bought Science SARU
Toho's acquisition of Science SARU is part of a broader move to build in-house anime production capacity. Toho had already invested in TIA and turned TOHO animation STUDIO into a subsidiary; adding Science SARU gave it a proven 2D animation studio with strong overseas credibility.
Toho's stated goal is to strengthen high-quality animation production and accelerate the growth of its anime business. The group has said it aims to reach an annual output of roughly 20 cours by fiscal 2029 and roughly 30 cours by 2032 under the TOHO animation brand, with Science SARU and TOHO animation STUDIO as core production assets.
Strategy and outlook
Science SARU's strategy is shifting from a director-led boutique model to a core production engine for Toho. It continues to work on high-profile IP such as Dandadan and Ghost in the Shell, but these projects are now embedded in Toho's slate rather than independently developed.
The studio's value to Toho lies in its production quality and its ability to attract global streaming and theatrical deals. Whether it can maintain its creative identity while scaling up to Toho's target output is the central question for the next several years.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Science SARU?
Toho Co., Ltd. acquired 100% of Science SARU on June 19, 2024 from representative director Eunyoung Choi. The purchase price was not disclosed.
What was Science SARU's revenue before the Toho acquisition?
For the fiscal year ended January 2024, its final independent year, Science SARU reported revenue of JPY 1,403 million and net income of JPY 350 million.
Why did Toho acquire Science SARU?
Toho wanted to strengthen its in-house 2D animation production capacity as part of its TOHO VISION 2032 strategy, which targets roughly 30 cours of annual anime output by 2032.
What are Science SARU's best-known works?
Notable titles include Devilman Crybaby, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, INU-OH, Dandadan, and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.