Triangle Staff was an animation studio established in 1987 by former Madhouse staff. The company initially produced OVA, and later began producing anime television series in collaboration with TV Tokyo. In 1998, Triangle Staff released Serial Experiments Lain, which received the Excellent Award in the Animation Division at the Japan Media Arts Festival. The series made notable use of digital animation technology, an area where industry experience was still limited at the time. In March 1999, producer Katsumi Yamaguchi established Palm Studio and several Triangle Staff members moved there. Triangle Staff officially ceased operations in December 2000, though its official defunct date is listed as December 2002. After the studio's closure, producer Shoujiro Abe went on to establish A.C.G.T. where many former Triangle Staff employees continued their work.