Bee Train

Bee Train Productions, also known as Bee Train, is a Japanese animation studio founded by Kōichi Mashimo in 1997. They gained popularity for their involvement in series like Noir, .hack//Sign, and Madlax, which feature strong female leads with ambiguous relationships.

Mashimo aimed to create a nurturing environment for animators, prioritizing artistic quality over corporate strategies and profit. Bee Train was initially a subsidiary of Production I.G and Xebec but became independent in February 2006.