TMS Entertainment anime business profile: a Sega group studio
TMS Entertainment is one of Japan's historic animation studios, now operating as part of Sega's Entertainment Contents segment.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: TMS Entertainment Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation production company headquartered in Nakano, Tokyo. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sega Co., Ltd., which is part of Sega Sammy Holdings. As of April 2026, TMS had 372 employees on a standalone basis and capital of JPY 100 million. Its parent, Sega Sammy Holdings, reports an Entertainment Contents segment that generated JPY 326.6 billion in external revenue for the fiscal year ended March 2026. TMS does not publish its own separate anime segment revenue in public filings.
What TMS Entertainment is and who owns it
TMS Entertainment traces its roots to Tokyo Movie, founded in 1946. The company was renamed TMS Entertainment in 2000 and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sega Sammy Holdings in 2010. Following Sega Sammy's restructuring, TMS is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Sega Co., Ltd., which is the operating company for Sega Sammy's entertainment content business.
As of April 2026, TMS had capital of JPY 100 million and 372 employees on a standalone basis. Its main business is the planning, production, sale, distribution, and import/export of animation works. The studio's history includes Lupin the Third, Detective Conan, Anpanman, and many other long-running franchises.
How TMS Entertainment fits into Sega Sammy's segment reporting
Sega Sammy Holdings reports three segments: Entertainment Contents, Pachislot and Pachinko, and Gaming. The Entertainment Contents segment includes consumer games, free-to-play games, amusement machines, animation film planning, production, and sale, and toys. TMS Entertainment's animation business is part of this segment, but Sega Sammy does not disclose TMS-specific revenue.
For the fiscal year ended March 2026, the Entertainment Contents segment generated JPY 326.6 billion in external revenue and JPY 34.4 billion in recurring profit. The table below shows Sega Sammy's segment breakdown in millions of Japanese yen.
Sega Sammy Holdings segment results, fiscal year ended March 2026, in millions of JPY. Recurring profit is 経常利益. Source: Sega Sammy securities filing via J-LiC.| Segment | External revenue | Recurring profit | Operating margin proxy |
|---|
| Entertainment Contents | JPY 326,639M | JPY 34,447M | 10.5% |
| Pachislot and Pachinko | JPY 132,063M | JPY 33,301M | 25.2% |
| Gaming | JPY 25,312M | JPY -842M | -3.3% |
Segment-definition note: Sega Sammy defines Entertainment Contents as consumer and free-to-play games, amusement machines, animation film planning, production, and sale, and toys. The segment profit metric in the filing is recurring profit (経常利益), not operating income. TMS Entertainment's own financials are not separately disclosed.
TMS Entertainment's subsidiaries and global footprint
TMS operates through the parent company in Japan and several subsidiaries. Its main subsidiaries include Toon Harbor Works, TMS Music, TMS Entertainment USA, and TMS Entertainment Europe. These entities handle production support, music, and international licensing.
The studio has also absorbed Telecom Animation Film as of April 2026, consolidating a subsidiary that was originally established in 1975 as a Tokyo Movie affiliate. This brings more production capacity under the TMS Entertainment umbrella.
How TMS Entertainment makes money
TMS earns revenue by planning and producing animation for television, film, streaming, and home video, both in Japan and internationally. It works on long-running franchises such as Detective Conan and Anpanman, which generate stable production revenue and downstream licensing opportunities.
Because TMS is a private subsidiary, its revenue mix between production fees, licensing, merchandise, and international sales is not public. The Sega Sammy Entertainment Contents segment is the closest available reported measure, but it includes games and toys as well as animation.
Strategy and where TMS fits in anime
TMS Entertainment's strategy centers on maintaining a large, stable production operation while exploiting established franchises globally. The studio produces a high episode count each year and serves as a production partner for domestic broadcasters and international platforms.
As part of Sega, TMS benefits from shared IP and distribution resources but does not capture all animation-related revenue at the studio level. The Sega Sammy segment numbers give a sense of scale for the broader entertainment contents business, but TMS's standalone contribution is not disclosed.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns TMS Entertainment?
TMS Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sega Co., Ltd., which is part of Sega Sammy Holdings. Sega Sammy became TMS's parent company in 2010.
Does TMS Entertainment publish its own revenue?
No. TMS Entertainment is a private subsidiary and does not publish standalone financial results. Its business is included in Sega Sammy Holdings' Entertainment Contents segment, which generated JPY 326.6 billion in external revenue for the fiscal year ended March 2026.
What are TMS Entertainment's main franchises?
TMS Entertainment is known for long-running franchises including Lupin the Third, Detective Conan, and Anpanman, as well as many other television series and films.
How many employees does TMS Entertainment have?
As of March 2026, TMS Entertainment had 372 employees on a standalone basis, according to its company profile.
Sources and methodology
- Company overview, TMS Entertainment. Company profile as of April 2026, including capital, employees, business description, history, and subsidiaries.
- Sega Sammy Holdings segment information, J-LiC. Sega Sammy segment definitions and financial results for the fiscal year ended March 2026, in millions of JPY.
- Sega Sammy Holdings corporate information, J-LiC. Listing status, fiscal year end, latest securities report period, and consolidated revenue summary.