SHIROBAKO 2014
What is SHIROBAKO?
Shirobako is an anime television series that follows the professional and personal journeys of five friends who share a passion for animation. The story begins at Kaminoyama High School, where Aoi Miyamori, Ema Yasuhara, Midori Imai, Shizuka Sakaki, and Misa Toudou form an animation club.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 2014
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 24
- Runtime
- 24 minutes
- First aired
- Oct 9, 2014
- Last aired
- Mar 26, 2015
- Original language
- JA
- Origin
- JP
- Networks
- Tokyo MX
- Genres
- Animation, Comedy, Drama
- Updated
Where to watch
Stream
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Hulu
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 24 episodes and an average 24-minute runtime.
Trailer
Overview
Shirobako is an anime television series that follows the professional and personal journeys of five friends who share a passion for animation. The story begins at Kaminoyama High School, where Aoi Miyamori, Ema Yasuhara, Midori Imai, Shizuka Sakaki, and Misa Toudou form an animation club. After successfully completing an amateur project for their school culture festival, the group makes a pact to eventually create another anime together. Following graduation, the friends relocate to Tokyo to pursue careers within the professional animation industry. Produced by P.A. Works and directed by Tsutomu Mizushima, the series explores the realities of the production process, from initial sketches to final recording sessions. The show originally aired in Japan between October 9, 2014, and March 26, 2015. While sources differ on the total episode count, with some citing 24 episodes and others 25, the series remains a notable depiction of the challenges and rewards found in the world of anime creation. The program features voice work from Juri Kimura and is available on various streaming platforms.
Should you watch it?
“Follow five friends chasing their anime dreams through the ups and downs of the industry.”
- authentic look at anime production
- strong female friendships
- relatable struggles and growth
- slow pacing early on
- some industry jargon may confuse newcomers
you're curious about how anime is made or enjoy character-driven stories.
Suitable for teens and adults interested in creative industries and friendship dynamics.
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 24 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Exodus to Tomorrow! Oct 9, 2014
- E2 Arupin is Here! Oct 16, 2014
- E3 No More Recap Episodes Oct 23, 2014
- E4 I Totally Messed Up Oct 30, 2014
- E5 Those Who Blame Others Should Just Quit! Nov 6, 2014
- E6 Idepon Miyamori: On the Move Nov 13, 2014
- E7 Retake With Cats Nov 20, 2014
- E8 I'm Not Criticizing You or Anything Nov 27, 2014
- E9 What Do You Think I Was Trying to Say? Dec 4, 2014
- E10 Just One More Dec 11, 2014
- E11 The Little Key Frames Girl Dec 18, 2014
- E12 Exodus Christmas Dec 25, 2014
- E13 What Kind of Cloud Do You Like? Jan 8, 2015
- E14 The Ruthless Audition Meeting! Jan 15, 2015
- E15 Will These Drawings Work? Jan 22, 2015
- E16 Table Flip Jan 29, 2015
- E17 Where Am I? Feb 5, 2015
- E18 You Tricked Me! Feb 12, 2015
- E19 Did You Catch Any? Feb 19, 2015
- E20 I'll Do My Best, Mustang! Feb 26, 2015
- E21 Don't Hold the Quality Hostage Mar 5, 2015
- E22 Noa's in Her Underwear. Mar 12, 2015
- E23 Table Flip Continued Mar 19, 2015
- E24 The Delivery That Was Too Far Off Mar 26, 2015
Frequently asked questions
Is Shirobako based on a true story?
While not directly based on real events, it realistically portrays the anime industry with input from professionals.
How many episodes are there?
The series has one season with multiple episodes depicting the characters' journey over time.
Do I need to know about anime production to enjoy it?
No, the show explains industry terms naturally through the characters' experiences.
Are all the main characters female?
Yes, the story focuses on a group of five female friends working in the anime industry.
Does it have a happy ending?
The series concludes with the characters reflecting on their growth and shared passion for anime.