Just in time for the holidays, supporters of preserving old media got some welcomed news. Tokyo Laboratory, which is shutting down, stated that its collection of thousands of original anime artworks would be kept safe.
Even though some worried these one-of-a-kind drawings might be discarded when Tokyo Laboratory closed, they announced a new company called TOHO Archive would take over custody.
This brings comfort to anime fans concerned about the initial statement made months ago hinting at potential destruction.
Major Anime Crisis Avoided, Thousands of Classic Shows Rescued
Tokyo Laboratory had been an affiliate of TOHO, dealing with anime archiving along with other roles. With the subsidiary ending operations in late November, the fate of countless irrecoverable animation cels they oversaw was up in the air.
But thanks to TOHO stepping in to claim unowned artwork previously in Tokyo Laboratory’s possession, this slice of history now seems to have a future.
Tokyo Laboratory included a critical update in their notice about closing down business on November 30th. With operations ending, they wrapped up returning film originals to rightsholders.
Importantly, they explained that one-of-a-kind master reels whose ownership could not get confirmed would now live under the care of TOHO’s new archival unit called TOHO Archive Co.
For some time, concerns swirled about what would happen to these irreplaceable animation materials once Tokyo Laboratory shuttered.
TOHO’s launching an entire department specifically to preserve unclaimed pieces provides reassurance that this cultural history will remain safe.
Though Tokyo Laboratory could no longer manage the films, TOHO’s purpose-built archival team would ensure their longevity.
TOHO Archive Safeguards Unclaimed Anime Masters with New Initiative
When word emerged in September about Tokyo Laboratory closing up shop, it raised alarms about thousands of unclaimed anime reels potentially getting destroyed.
As a film editing and processing service handling countless physical masters with no studios or producers attached, Tokyo Laboratory housed irreplaceable pieces of animation history.
Their impending shutdown tied to a corporate shift into digital left the fate of this material worryingly unclear.
In reorganizing, TOHO divided up Tokyo Laboratory’s responsibilities among new departments tailored to digital work.
But no mention appeared regarding who would inherit custody of the decades-old celluloid archive. Without TOHO agreeing to absorb preservation costs in the digital age, anime collections at Tokyo Laboratory seemed destined for the rubbish heap, never to resurface.
If these one-of-a-kind reels get discarded as part of the transition, titles, and scenes might disappear forever without anyone being able to access them again.
The news of a TOHO Archive department brings some reassurance that these cultural artifacts will still have an institutional guardian.
The uncertainty over saving these old reels became so pronounced it prompted a social media pledge from legislator Zenko Kurishita.
Zenko Kurishita and the Social Media Campaign for Preservation
Posting on Platform X, he vowed involvement to ensure the artwork’s preservation, noting broad recognition of the “historical value” tied to these master films.
Multiple news outlets, including Anime News Network, now confirm TOHO formed TOHO Archive to inherit the unclaimed collection with Tokyo Laboratory shutting down.
Rather than destruction, the media titan’s new archival branch signals an intent to keep these cultural materials safe.
While specifics remain pending on how TOHO Archive will handle the eclectic assortment of reels under its roof, at minimum, the announcement eases fears of outright disposal.
By setting up a department solely for preservation, TOHO demonstrates these artifacts will stay intact for the foreseeable future. Exactly what happens long-term is still up in the air, but for now, fans can breathe easier knowing the collection landed in archival rather than demolition hands.
While positive on its face, a skeptical eye may see this as TOHO postponing tough decisions rather than resolving things long-term.
Balancing Preservation and Profitability in the Digital Age
After all, the newly minted TOHO Archive could one day share Tokyo Laboratory’s fate, especially since preserving other studios’ unclaimed films likely drags on profitability.
Still, having established the archival branch just this year, TOHO seems unlikely to reverse course quickly on maintaining these cultural touchstones.
So, for now, a sigh of relief for anime devotees as the book closes on Tokyo Laboratory’s operational chapter. Their duty passed responsibly to a successor, prioritizing posterity over margins.
Yet whether TOHO Archive’s stewardship proves a multi-year stopgap or a more lasting refuge, only time will tell.
Either way, presently, these works rest in careful hands rather than condemned to historical oblivion. So, hopes remain of rediscovering this orphaned media, their destiny unwritten as preservation prevails over abandonment in Tokyo Laboratory’s denouement.
