Animation Studio TMS Entertainment will absorb and merge its subsidiary Telecom Animation Film, according to an official merger notice published in Japan’s government gazette on February 16.
Under the merger, TMS will inherit all rights and obligations of Telecom Animation Film, and Telecom will be dissolved.
Telecom Animation Film was established in 1975 and has played a major role in Japanese animation history. The studio worked on numerous notable titles, including:
- Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro
- Sherlock Hound
- Jarinko Chie
- Lupin the Third Part 5
- Tower of God
- LUPIN THE IIIRD series
- The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse
- Blue Box
The merger effectively brings the studio fully under the TMS structure rather than operating as a separate subsidiary.
Financial Background
According to the balance sheet published on TMS’s corporate website, Telecom Animation Film recorded a net loss of 346 million yen for the fiscal year ending March 2025 and was in a state of negative net worth.
On the other hand, TMS disclosed that it paid out dividends totaling 2.091 billion yen, though no specific net profit figure was listed for the same period.
The move suggests a restructuring decision within the TMS group, consolidating operations amid financial pressure on the subsidiary.
Source: Gamebiz
