Business Intelligence Case Study
Studio Pierrot
Anime Analytics
Strategic Question: Why are Studio Pierrot's flagship IPs (Naruto, Bleach, Tokyo Ghoul, Black Clover) struggling to capture the same global momentum as Jujutsu Kaisen (MAPPA) and Demon Slayer (ufotable) — and what should they do about it?
Built while transitioning into Business Intelligence, this project combines domestic Japan, international streaming, and global fandom data to deliver actionable recommendations. JJK was crowned "most in-demand TV series in the world" in 2023 at 71.2x average demand — Pierrot needs data-driven strategies to compete.
Not affiliated with Studio Pierrot. Created as a learning project alongside the Google BI Professional Certificate.
Tech Stack
Type
Self-directed BI case study
Documentation
Full BI workflow from requirements to strategy
Complete business documentation demonstrating the end-to-end BI process.
Executive Requirements
High-level business objectives and success metrics defined by studio leadership.
- Target +12% YoY global streaming revenue with quarterly KPI dashboard
- Success metric: 5-point uplift in franchise NPS within 6 months
Stakeholder Requirements
Detailed analytical needs from Production, Marketing, and Finance teams.
- Marketing ask: "Which regions show the steepest drop after episode 3?"
- Finance metric: cost per completed episode vs ARPU by platform
Strategy Document
Technical implementation roadmap and BI approach — data sources, pipeline architecture, and timeline.
- Pipeline: nightly Jikan API ingestion → staging → transformations
- Key source: Crunchyroll viewership joined with Parrot demand index
Key Findings
What the data revealed
Based on Phase 1 (real MAL data) + Phase 2 (calibrated simulated data for domestic, streaming, and production).
Legacy IP Strength
Question: How do historical hits compare to new titles?
Finding: Top legacy franchises (Naruto Shippuden: 8.28, Bleach TYBW: 8.99) score competitively with new-wave anime. Legacy IP maintains 2.6M+ MAL members.
Aligns with Netflix data: Naruto Shippuden = #1 anime globally in H1 2025 (40M views).
New Title Underperformance
Question: Why do newer Pierrot titles struggle?
Finding: Boruto (5.98) and Tokyo Ghoul √A (7.03) score significantly below competitor benchmarks (JJK: 8.6+, Demon Slayer: 8.7+).
Hypothesis: High filler % (Boruto 42%) + inconsistent production quality damage fan perception.
Global Competition Gap
Question: How do we compare to MAPPA/ufotable?
Context: Jujutsu Kaisen was named "Most in-demand TV series globally" in 2023 at 71.2x average demand (Parrot Analytics). Pierrot's new titles don't match this momentum.
Strategic implication: Quality perception matters more than episode quantity.
Recommendations
Data-driven strategic actions
Combining multi-lens analysis with industry benchmarks to drive concrete change.
Shift to Seasonal Production
Action: Move from long-running formats (Boruto: 293 episodes) to seasonal arcs (JJK: 24 eps/season). Cap filler at 10% max vs current 42%.
Data support: Seasonal model shows 8.7 avg MAL score vs 6.1 for continuous production.
Leverage Legacy IP on Netflix
Action: Prioritize licensing deals for Naruto/Bleach on Netflix (current #1 anime globally). Use revenue to fund high-quality new IP development.
Data support: Legacy IP generates 10x more merchandise revenue than new IP (¥5.3B vs ¥0.4B annually).
Compete Globally, Not Just Domestically
Action: Develop 1–2 new "premium quality" IPs targeting international streaming platforms (Netflix, Crunchyroll). Study MAPPA/ufotable production strategies.
Data support: International streaming market projected to triple from $3.7B (2023) to $12.5B (2030).