Apocalypse Hotel Review Traces the Chaotic Production Behind a Confident Original Anime
A new review from Sakuga Blog examines the production history of Apocalypse Hotel, the original anime from CygamesPictures that aired in 2025. The piece traces the project's origins as a joint venture between Cygames and studio Liden, where it began as a purely comedic, slapstick concept. When the project stalled, CygamesPictures president Nobuhiro Takenaka took over and broadened the scope, bringing in series composer Shigeru Murakoshi around 2020 to reimagine the series. The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted Liden's schedule, prompting Takenaka to transfer production to CygamesPictures, a move that faced internal criticism from Cygames' board. CyberAgent's Manami Kabashima backed the project, believing original works give pedigree to a production company. Illustrator Izumi Takemoto, whose character designs date back to early 2020, is cited as a key factor in the series' positive critical reception in Japan. Director Kana Shundo joined after the episode outlines were settled, brought in to provide a female perspective on a team the review describes as "the equivalent of a group of unruly high school boys." Art director Kouhei Honda, recruited after Shundo admired his work on Akiba Maid War, painted the series' overgrown, colorful post-apocalyptic backgrounds.