Kazuhiro Nishikawa is the founder and CEO of Dandelion Animation Studio, a Tokyo-based Toei Animation. Driven by the vision of creating “a gift for children around the world,” Nishikawa launched the studio with just five members. Over the past 18 years, it has grown into a team of around 100 talented professionals, gaining recognition for its specialization in CG animation and its ability to adapt visual styles to fit each unique project.

Dandelion’s breakout success came with the 2022 feature film THE FIRST SLAM DUNK, which became a record-breaking hit across Asia, especially in Japan, China, and South Korea. The film now ranks as the 12th highest-grossing film of all time in Japan, cementing the company he established in 2007 after working as a CG creator on various theatrical films at studio’s reputation as a major player in the animation industry.

In 2025, Dandelion further elevated its international profile when its short film Magic Candies was nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards. This marked only the fourth time a Japanese film has been nominated in that category—and the first in over a decade.

Today, Dandelion Animation Studio is widely respected both in Japan and abroad for its innovative storytelling, technical excellence, and ability to deliver high-quality CG works that resonate with audiences of all ages.