Studio MAPPA is celebrating a milestone decade and a half of animation production with the grand opening of the MAPPA EXPO 15th Anniversary exhibition. Running from September 16, 2026, at the YURAKUCHO MUSEUM in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, this comprehensive retrospective invites visitors to journey through the studio's rich history, creative philosophy, and visual craft.
The exhibition brings together rare production materials, original storyboards, and director notes from twenty celebrated titles in the MAPPA catalog. While headlining zones are dedicated to heavyweight productions like Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, Attack on Titan The Final Season, and Jujutsu Kaisen, the showcase also honors the studio's diverse portfolio—ranging from early milestones to recent fan favorites.
Inside the Creative Archives
Visitors stepping past the entrance are greeted by a striking multi-monitor installation fashioned after vintage CRT televisions, flashing iconic scenes that establish an immediate sense of nostalgia and scale. The opening gallery, titled "Various Stories," houses genuine physical artifacts rather than mere printed panels. Actual hand-drawn key animation cels, character designer sheets, and background layouts from works such as Banana Fish, Vinland Saga Season 2, Hell's Paradise, and Zombieland Saga line the venue.
Particular care has been given to individualizing each series' presentation. For instance, the In This Corner of the World exhibit features character sketches alongside a detailed daily routine chart compiled for protagonist Suzu, accompanied by a special message penned by director Sunao Katabuchi. Meanwhile, the Yuri on Ice display pairs initial character designs with storyboard sequences and making-of documentation for the opening skating sequence, offering an unfiltered look into the choreography of animation.
Culinary and atmospheric details are likewise brought to the forefront. The Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill section details the meticulous special effects applied to its animated meals, paired alongside a life-sized figure of Sui the slime. Elsewhere, interactive and tactile set pieces—such as a nail polish display inspired by Kakegurui and a soccer ball centerpiece from Inazuma Eleven: Heroes' Victory Road—demonstrate the studio's knack for blending textual authenticity with playful environmental design.
Immersive Zones for the Studio's Flagship Hits
The latter half of the exhibition shifts focus toward grand, atmospheric set installations that recreate pivotal moments from MAPPA's most prominent modern adaptations.
