A.P.P.P. (pronounced "A-Three-P"), full name Another Push Pin Planning Company (有限会社アナザープッシュピンプランニング, Yūgen-gaisha Anazā Pusshu Pin Puranningu), was a Japanese animation studio known for producing the OVA adaptation of Stardust Crusaders, as well as the theatrical film adaptation of Phantom Blood.
Summary
A.P.P.P. was founded on June 22, 1984 by Kazufumi Nomura, who had entered the anime industry through Mushi Production.[1] A.P.P.P. primarily worked in collaboration with various companies to create animated films and television series, though it has also been involved in projects regarding computer software, television commercials, music tapes, CDs, and books. Although the Phantom Blood film adaptation was the final project developed in-house, the company remained active for many years as a subcontractor for other studios, and was credited for co-producing and providing animation assistance. Following Nomura's death on June 10th, 2021, the company would ultimately cease operations a month later, on July 22nd.[2]
Noticing the substantial growth of the anime market in North America at the turn of the century, A.P.P.P. formed a subsidiary company named Super Techno Arts in 1996 to license and distribute their original works. The subsidiary's name came about due to a desire to form an abbreviation from the word "Stand," as a reference to the JoJo OVA, one of their first releases; however, the staff were unable to find suitable words for "N" and "D."[1] During the promotional cycle for their release of the JoJo OVA, representatives of Super Techno Arts were known to attend various anime-themed conventions to promote both JoJo and Sci-Fi Harry, with the latter being planned to release in America around the same time before ultimately being shelved. Super Techno Arts also announced plans to distribute the 2004 OVA Kage in May 2005;[3] for undisclosed reasons, these plans never came to fruition, leaving the final volume of the JoJo OVA as the subsidiary's final release. In the wake of the OVA's 2008 controversy, what remained of Super Techno Arts's online presence was quietly taken down, marking a definitive end to the label.[4]
Staff
Works
OVA/ONA
- Project A-ko (1986–90)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (1993–1994)
- Golden Boy (1995–1996)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2000–2002)
- Kage (2004)
Film
- Project A-ko (1986)
- Robot Carnival (1987)
- Roujin Z (1991)
- Street Fighter Alpha: Generations (2005)
- JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood (2007)
Television
- Kurogane Communication (1998–1999)
- Black Heaven (1999)
- Omishi Magical Theater: Risky Safety (1999–2000)
- Sci-Fi Harry (2000–2001)
- Fist of the Blue Sky (2006–2007)
Controversy
On May 22, 2008, A.P.P.P. and Super Techno Arts halted DVD shipments of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure OVA after a complaint was filed to them from an Egyptian cleric, who noticed a scene in the sixth episode depicting the villain, Dio Brando, reading pages from the Qur'an.[5] Although Shueisha announced their intent to remove the offending scenes and resume distribution, the OVA never received such changes, and has never been officially distributed or re-released since.
A.P.P.P. Apology Letter
Dear Muslim audience of "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure,"
We, Shueisha and A.P.P.P. Co., Ltd., would like to express our sincerest apology to the Muslim audience of the animation "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" for the inappropriate scenes that appear in Part 3. A.P.P.P. Co., Ltd. created the images for this animation, based on the original cartoon book published by Shueisha. Shueisha reviewed the content of the animation on behalf of the original author.
The animation, "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," is an adventure fantasy about JoJo and his friends traveling all over the world. We recently discovered that a scene in Episode 6 of the animation offended our Muslim audience. In the scene, JoJo's enemy, Dio, is shown reading a book that contains some text from the Holy Qur'an.
The Holy Qur'an does not appear in the same scene in the original cartoon book published in 1991, and the author did not know that text from the Holy Qur'an was added to the animation.
Immediately after becoming aware of the situation, we investigated how this alteration happened in Episode 6. We discovered the staff added Arabic text to the book, because the scene appears to take place in the Arabic world. Unfortunately, the staff could not read a single word of Arabic, and therefore was not aware that the text they used was a part of the Holy Qur'an. Shueisha and A.P.P.P. Co., Ltd. also overlooked this important detail.
We would like our Muslim audience to know there was never any intention to insult Islam and Muslims. Shueisha and A.P.P.P. Co., Ltd. had no intention to show any disrespect for the Holy Qur'an or to describe Muslims as enemies.
We are continuing to review all episodes of the animation and the cartoon books in "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" Part 3. Unfortunately, during the first stage of our investigation, we found additional inappropriate scenes. Buildings that look like mosques were illustrated in fight scenes in the animation and the cartoon books.
We would like to express our sincerest apology to Muslims for these incidents. Please accept our heartfelt apology.
We have stopped shipment of "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" DVDs and the relevant volumes of the books to ensure they will no longer contain these improper scenes. We will not make new copies without correcting these problems.
These incidents have made us more aware of our responsibility to the worldwide audience that enjoys our animation. We will work harder to learn more about Islam and Muslims and to avoid giving misconceptions. Please know that we deeply value our audience and your support.
Sincerely, Shueisha Inc.
A.P.P.P. Co., Ltd.集英社発行のマンガ「ジョジョの奇妙な冒険」を基に制作されたオリジナルアニメーション作品「ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 Adventure6 -報復の霧-」（アニメーション制作 A.P.P.P.）におきまして、登場人物の一人が手にしている書物にイスラームの聖典である「コーラン」の「雷電章」の一部が描かれており、描写として適切でない部分がありました。
「ジョジョの奇妙な冒険」は、時代や国境を越えたファンタジー作品であり、その内容にイスラームとムスリムを冒涜する意図はまったくありません。また、原作者は、漫画の中で「コーラン」を一切描いておりません。調査の結果、アニメーション化の過程で、舞台がアラビア語圏であったためアラビア語の文章を探していた現場スタッフが、それが「コーラン」の一部だとの認識を欠いたまま転写してしまったことが判明しました。
また、その後の調査により、原作およびアニメーションにおいて、対決シーンにおけるモスクの描写についても不適切な表現があったことが分かりました。
集英社およびA.P.P.P.は、これらのシーンがムスリムの皆様に不快な思いをさせてしまったことに対し、心よりお詫び申し上げます。我々は、今回の問題を真摯に受けとめ、当該DVDアニメと、原作の一部の出荷を停止するとともに、他の部分の調査を進めてまいります。今後、このような事態を二度と起こさぬため、イスラームとその文化についての理解をより一層深めるべく、努力する所存です。
2008年5月22日
株式会社集英社 有限会社A.P.P.P.Announcement