minori
Description
Minori was a Japanese visual novel company known for creating original interactive story games, many of which were later adapted into anime and manga. The company began as the software division of CoMixWave, the studio founded by filmmaker Makoto Shinkai, before becoming an independent entity in April 2007. Minori operated until its closure on February 28, 2019.
Minori produced a series of notable original visual novels. The company's first release was Bittersweet Fools in 2001, followed by Wind: A Breath of Heart in 2002. Other significant titles include Haru no Ashioto (2004), Angel Type (2005), the two-part Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two (2006-2008), Eden* (2009), and Supipara (2011). The company's name is derived from its slogan, We always keep minority spirit.
Several of Minori's original works were adapted into anime and manga. Wind: A Breath of Heart was adapted into a thirteen-episode anime television series that aired in 2004, as well as multiple original video animation series. The Ef series was adapted into two anime television series: Ef: A Tale of Memories in 2007 and Ef: A Tale of Melodies in 2008. Both anime productions credit Minori for the original work.
The company's creative identity was shaped by a consistent group of core staff members. Producer, director, and concept planner Nobukazu Sakai, also known as nbkz, was a central figure. Filmmaker Makoto Shinkai, before his mainstream success, animated the opening movies for several of Minori's early games. Composer Tenmon provided music for multiple titles, including Haru no Ashioto and the Ef series. Other regular collaborators included scenario writers Mikage and Yū Kagami, as well as character designers Tatsuya Yūki, Mitsuishi Shōna, 2C Galore, and Naru Nanao.
In the visual novel industry, Minori was recognized for its high production values, particularly its cinematic opening movies. The company was also known for its stance against fan translations of its games. In 2010, Minori entered into a partnership with the English-language publisher MangaGamer and a fan translation group to produce official English versions of its titles. Following the cessation of its operations in 2019, the company's catalog of original visual novels remains its primary legacy in anime and manga adaptation history.
Minori produced a series of notable original visual novels. The company's first release was Bittersweet Fools in 2001, followed by Wind: A Breath of Heart in 2002. Other significant titles include Haru no Ashioto (2004), Angel Type (2005), the two-part Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two (2006-2008), Eden* (2009), and Supipara (2011). The company's name is derived from its slogan, We always keep minority spirit.
Several of Minori's original works were adapted into anime and manga. Wind: A Breath of Heart was adapted into a thirteen-episode anime television series that aired in 2004, as well as multiple original video animation series. The Ef series was adapted into two anime television series: Ef: A Tale of Memories in 2007 and Ef: A Tale of Melodies in 2008. Both anime productions credit Minori for the original work.
The company's creative identity was shaped by a consistent group of core staff members. Producer, director, and concept planner Nobukazu Sakai, also known as nbkz, was a central figure. Filmmaker Makoto Shinkai, before his mainstream success, animated the opening movies for several of Minori's early games. Composer Tenmon provided music for multiple titles, including Haru no Ashioto and the Ef series. Other regular collaborators included scenario writers Mikage and Yū Kagami, as well as character designers Tatsuya Yūki, Mitsuishi Shōna, 2C Galore, and Naru Nanao.
In the visual novel industry, Minori was recognized for its high production values, particularly its cinematic opening movies. The company was also known for its stance against fan translations of its games. In 2010, Minori entered into a partnership with the English-language publisher MangaGamer and a fan translation group to produce official English versions of its titles. Following the cessation of its operations in 2019, the company's catalog of original visual novels remains its primary legacy in anime and manga adaptation history.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview