About the studio
KOO-KI Co., Ltd. is an acclaimed Japanese visual design boutique, high-end computer graphics studio, and digital animation production enterprise headquartered in Fukuoka, with creative satellite offices in Tokyo [1]. Established in 1997 by visionary creative director and filmmaker Katsunori Ebiko alongside a collective of ambitious digital designers, KOO-KI was founded outside the traditional Tokyo entertainment monopoly with the bold mission of producing cutting-edge, internationally competitive visual imagery from Kyushu. The studio specializes in high-concept commercial films, video game cinematics, interactive media, hybrid live-action/CG features, and stylized animation that merges playful humor with technical sophistication.
The studio established an extraordinary reputation within the gaming and animation industries through its breathtaking visual contributions to world-renowned video game franchises and theatrical animated features [2]. KOO-KI has collaborated extensively with gaming giant Sega, Marza Animation Planet, and CyberConnect2, producing dynamic opening cinematics, character animations, and visual effects for flagship franchises including Yakuza (Ryu ga Gotoku), Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Their cinematic staging is renowned for its visceral kinetic energy, dynamic camera choreographies, and seamless blending of hand-drawn anime expressions with photorealistic 3D computational rendering.
In independent filmmaking and television animation, KOO-KI achieved major critical acclaim by producing the groundbreaking hybrid feature film SUSHI POLICE in 2016, animated to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Tokyo MX [3]. The studio also created award-winning educational shorts for NHK E-Tele and the internationally celebrated short film Robo-Blow, which won honors at prestigious international design and animation festivals, including the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and the Japan Media Arts Festival. The studio has also developed acclaimed animated commercials for global consumer brands and regional public service initiatives, infusing short-form advertising with vibrant visual poetry and whimsical narrative charm. By continually expanding the boundaries of digital visual effects, KOO-KI maintains an esteemed standing as one of Japan's premier regional design powerhouses [4].
KOO-KI maintains close ties with technological research institutes and universities across Kyushu, mentoring the next generation of 3D visual effects artists and motion graphic designers. By proving that an independent studio based in Fukuoka can achieve world-class visual brilliance and win prestigious global creative awards, KOO-KI continues to stand as an inspiring beacon of regional decentralization and technical innovation in modern Japanese visual media. Through relentless artistic courage, KOO-KI continues to enrich global visual culture.