The studio was founded in 1978 by the noted animators Tsutomu Shibayama, Osamu Kobayashi and Michishiro Yamada, former members of the animation studio A Production, under the corporate title Yugen-kaisha Ajiadō (有限会社亜細亜堂).[1][user-generated source] The name Ajiadō is a penname used by Tsutomu Shibayama and Osamu Kobayashi.
In 1985, it formally became a kabushiki gaisha (business corporation). In 1987, it produced its first series, the OVATwilight Q (トワイライトQ, Towairaito Q). It established the company Dap International Kabushiki-gaisha (ダップインターナショナル株式会社, Dappu Intānashonaru Kabushiki-gaisha) in 1990.[1]
At the same time, they established a joint venture company, Japan Taps (ジャパンタップス, Japan Tappusu), with the toy company Takara. They undertook the production of anime such as Miracle Girls and also engaged in subcontracting for other anime productions sponsored by the company[2] (later dissolved). In 1998, the studio established a digital animation division to produce its digital animation.[1][user-generated source]
