A-1 Pictures is producing Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus, which entered its Circus Collection arc with episode 10 in September 2026, while co-managing the FLINT BASE training studio with CloverWorks after MAPPA and Production I.G joined as partners in August 2026.
A-1 Pictures is producing Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus, the original anime set in postwar Japan that follows the Sunflower Circus troupe as it competes for a place in the Circus Collection festival. The series premiered in July 2026 and released character trailers in May 2026 introducing the cast and characters, including protagonist Mizuka Tsurumaki and acrobat twins Aoi and Akane Yura. On September 5, 2026, the staff released a promotional video and key visual for the Circus Collection arc, which began with episode 10 on the same day.
Separately, A-1 Pictures and CloverWorks established FLINT BASE, a joint animation studio backed by the Sony Group that opened in April 2026. On August 21, 2026, the two studios announced that MAPPA and Production I.G would join FLINT BASE as partner studios, with CloverWorks continuing day-to-day operations and the cooperative arrangement with A-1 Pictures remaining in place. FLINT BASE planned to recruit its second cohort of animators starting in September 2026, with new graduates joining in April 2027.
At Mumbai Comic Con 2026, A-1 Pictures producer Atsushi Kaneko said the studio did not make Solo Leveling with a global audience in mind, describing it as a domestic Japanese production and saying the staff simply aimed to make something good.
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The staff of Grow Up Show: Sunflower Circus released a promotional video and key visual for the Circus Collection arc on Saturday. The arc began with the 10th episode on the same day. The anime is set in late 1950s and early 1960s Japan, following the Sunflower Circus troupe.
FLINT BASE, the animation studio established by CloverWorks and A-1 Pictures, is strengthening its management structure and preparing to recruit a second cohort of trainees. On August 21, 2026, CloverWorks and A-1 Pictures announced that MAPPA and Production I.G will join as partner studios. CloverWorks will continue to handle day-to-day operations, and the cooperative arrangement with A-1 Pictures will remain in place. The expanded partner network is intended to reinforce the studio's training system and support the development of animators. In terms of hiring, FLINT BASE plans to begin recruiting new graduates for its second cohort, who will join in April 2027, starting in September 2026. Application guidelines and other details are expected to be posted sequentially on the FLINT BASE official website. The announcement was published simultaneously on the A-1 Pictures and CloverWorks official news pages, both dated August 21, 2026.
CloverWorks and A-1 Pictures announced on November 4, 2025, that they will open a new animation studio called FLINT BASE in April 2026. The studio is a joint venture between the two Aniplex subsidiaries, backed by the Sony Group. FLINT BASE is described as a new challenge in animation production, focused on drawing and animator work. The companies stated that the studio aims to serve as an entry point for students aspiring to become animators. They noted that even with ongoing digital innovation, animation still requires the work of many animators. Both CloverWorks and A-1 Pictures will maintain their existing in-house animation teams and training systems, which will continue as the core of each studio. FLINT BASE will operate as a separate entity. The announcement was accompanied by the launch of a recruitment drive for new graduates in 2026, specifically for the role of animator at FLINT BASE. Applications are open until November 28, 2025. The official FLINT BASE website provides further details.
The original anime "Grow Up Show: The Sunflower Circus Troupe" has released a set of character trailers. The promos focus on the acrobat twins Aoi and Akane Yura, illusionist Imari Ogano, acrobat Isuzu Ikazuchi, flyer Oka Kawasumi, and protagonist Mizuka Tsurumaki. The series is set in 1950s Japan, during the economic boom, when circus troupes travel the country competing for a spot in the "Circus Collection" festival. The story follows Mizuka, a circus prodigy who joins the financially struggling Himawari Circus, led by ringmaster Maria. Kanta Kamei, director of the "Saekano" series, is directing the anime. Takeshi Kikuchi is the series composer and scriptwriter, and Kurehito Misaki is the original character designer. The animation is produced by A-1 Pictures and its Psyde Kick Studio label. The cast includes Tomoka Noda as Mizuka, Rie Kugimiya as Maria, and Shiori Kurosaki as Oka Kawasumi. The anime was announced in July 2025 and is set to premiere in July 2026.
A-1 Pictures producer Atsushi Kaneko stated at Mumbai Comic Con 2026 that the studio did not create Solo Leveling with a global audience in mind, instead treating it as a domestic Japanese production. He said trying to appeal overseas misses the point, and the staff simply aimed to make something good.