Suginami Animation Museum

In short

Suginami Animation Museum is a facility where visitors can learn about the history of Japanese animation and the process of how anime is made through viewing and hands-on experiences. A facility of Suginami Ward, it is located on the third floor of Suginami Kaikan. Suginami Ward is home to a large concentration of anime production companies.

• ​How Anime Is Made​​: Desks of the director, animation director, and art director are recreated, and the process of making cel animation is explained through video.
• ​Hands-On Corners​​: You can try voice acting in an audio post-recording (afureko) experience, as well as try tracing (utsushigaki) and stop-motion, which are basics of animation production.
• ​Theater and Library​​: Works are screened on a 200-inch screen. In the library, you can view anime-related books and interview footage of creators.

History and Highlights

Suginami Animation Museum is a facility run by Suginami Ward that opened in March 2005. It is a comprehensive animation museum where people of all generations, from children to seniors, can learn systematically about Japanese animation as a whole and enjoy hands-on experiences. The museum introduces itself as the first facility of its kind in Japan. Since September 2018, it has held a naming rights agreement with Tokyo Polytechnic University.

Many anime production companies are gathered in Suginami Ward. According to the "Anime Industry Report 2021" by The Association of Japanese Animations, 149 of the 811 anime production companies in Japan are located in Suginami Ward, which is the highest number among all municipalities nationwide.

Honorary Director Suzuki Shinichi is an animator who pursued his career after living communally with young manga artists at Tokiwaso. In 1963, together with his Tokiwaso peers such as Fujiko F. Fujio and Ishinomori Shotaro, he established "Studio Zero," an animation planning and production company. He took on the role of director upon the museum's opening in 2005, handed over the position to the next director in 2021, and now serves as honorary director.

Viewing and Experience Tips

• ​History of Japanese Anime and How Anime Is Made​​: The history of Japanese animation is introduced in an easy-to-understand manner using timelines, images, and videos. In the "How Anime Is Made" corner, the desks of the director, animation director, and art director are recreated, with the process of making cel animation explained through video.
• ​See, Try, and Create​​: There is an afureko corner where you can challenge yourself with voice acting. There are also devices such as a zoetrope that allow you to experience the principles of animation. In the production workshop area, you can experience tracing (utsushigaki) and stop-motion, which are fundamentals of animation production.
• ​Anime Theater and Anime Library​​: In the Anime Theater, works are shown on a 200-inch screen with 5.1-channel surround sound. Inside the theater, a camera stand from the era when animation was made on film is also on display. In the library, visitors can browse anime books and view interview videos of creators.

Walking Tips

From the North Exit of Ogikubo Station on the JR Chuo Line and Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, take a Kanto Bus for about 5 minutes, get off at "Ogikubo Keisatsusho-mae" (Ogikubo Police Station), and walk for 2 minutes. From the North Exit of JR Nishi-Ogikubo Station, it is about a 16-minute walk. Special exhibitions are held 3 to 4 times a year, focusing on prominent works, characters, and creators. For viewing anime footage in the library, the museum recommends visiting on weekdays when it is less crowded. The museum is located on the third floor of Suginami Kaikan.