Bandai Namco Filmworks facts for kids
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Headquarters in Suginami, Tokyo
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Native name
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株式会社バンダイナムコフィルムワークス
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Romanized name
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Kabushiki gaisha Bandai Namuko Firumuwākusu |
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Formerly
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Sunrise Studio, Limited (1972–1976) Nippon Sunrise Inc. (1976–1987) Sunrise Inc. (1987–2022) |
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| Industry | Anime |
| Founded | September 1972 (as Sunrise) April 1, 2022 (as video maker) |
| Headquarters | Ogikubo,
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Japan
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Key people
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Makoto Asanuma (president and CEO) Satoshi Kawano (executive vice-president) Yoshitaka Tao (managing director) |
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Number of employees
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646 (as of April 1, 2024) |
| Parent | Bandai (1994–2005) Bandai Namco Holdings (2005–present) |
| Divisions | Sunrise (IP Production Group) Bandai Visual Emotion Bandai Channel |
| Subsidiaries | Bandai Namco Pictures Actas Sotsu Evolving GUNDAM Eight Bit |
Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc. is a Japanese company that creates and manages anime shows and movies. It is part of the larger Bandai Namco Holdings group. The company started in September 1972 as Sunrise Studio, Limited . It was founded by people who used to work at another animation studio called Mushi Production.
Over the years, the company changed its name several times. In 1977, it became Nippon Sunrise Inc. . Then, in 1987, it changed to Sunrise Inc. , a name it kept for more than 35 years. In 1994, the toy company Bandai bought Sunrise. Later, in 2005, Bandai joined with Namco to form Bandai Namco Holdings, and Sunrise became part of this big group.
In 2022, Bandai Namco Group made some big changes. Sunrise merged with other parts of Bandai Namco Arts to become Bandai Namco Filmworks. Even with these changes, Sunrise still works as a special division within the new company, focusing on making anime.
Contents
History of Bandai Namco Filmworks
The studio that became Bandai Namco Filmworks was started in September 1972 by former staff from Mushi Production. Instead of having one main creator, Sunrise decided to let different producers lead their projects. They focused on making robot (mecha) anime, which was harder to animate but great for selling toys.
Sunrise has created many popular anime TV shows. Some of these include Mobile Suit Gundam (which started in 1979 and has many spin-offs), the Mashin Hero Wataru series, and the Brave and Eldran series. They also made the exciting show Space Runaway Ideon in 1980.
The company has also worked with other studios like Toei Company on shows such as Majokko Tickle and the Robot Romance Trilogy. Sunrise is especially famous for its mecha anime, including Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3, Code Geass, and Tiger & Bunny. They even helped animate The Ultraman with Tsuburaya Productions.
In November 1976, the studio became independent and was renamed Nippon Sunrise Inc. It started to help other animation studios like Toei and Tsuburaya Productions with their projects. In February 1994, the big toy company Bandai bought Sunrise, making it part of the Bandai Group. This helped Bandai get into making films and TV animation.
In June 2002, Sunrise started its own music company, Sunrise Music Publishing Co., Ltd. This company manages all the music rights for Sunrise's shows. In October 2005, Bandai merged with the video game company Namco to form Namco Bandai Holdings. Sunrise then became the main animation studio for this new group.
On April 1, 2022, Bandai Namco Holdings introduced a new logo and reorganized its companies. Sunrise joined with other visual arts divisions to become Bandai Namco Filmworks. The Sunrise name is still used as a major brand for animation production. In March 2024, Bandai Namco Filmworks bought another anime studio called Eight Bit, making it a part of their company.
Sunrise: The Animation Brand
Sunrise is the name for the company's main animation division, called the IP Production Group. It is an animation studio that started in September 1972.
This studio is well-known for creating many popular and highly praised original anime series. Some of these include Gundam, Cowboy Bebop, Space Runaway Ideon, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, and Love Live!. They also adapt popular light novels and manga into anime, such as Inuyasha, Gin Tama, and Planetes. Fans often describe the quality of their animation as "Sunrise Smooth" because it looks so fluid and action-packed.
Many of their original shows are created by their team under a group name, Hajime Yatate. Sunrise has won many awards, including the Animage Anime Grand Prix multiple times for shows like Mobile Suit Gundam, Space Runaway Ideon, and Code Geass. This makes Sunrise the studio with the most Animage Awards.
Sunrise Animation Studios
Sunrise has several different studios, each known for specific works:
- Studio 1 was one of the first studios created in 1972. It has worked on many Gundam shows, including the original Mobile Suit Gundam, G Gundam, and Gundam Wing. It also produced Inuyasha.
- Studio 2 started around 1974–75. Some of its famous works include Aura Battler Dunbine and Cowboy Bebop. It also worked on Zeta Gundam and Char's Counterattack.
- Studio 3 was created in 1975. It is known for City Hunter and many Gundam series like Gundam SEED Destiny and The Witch from Mercury.
- Studio 4 started in 1979 and worked on The Ultraman anime. Later, it became known as Studio Iogi and produced shows like Dirty Pair and Code Geass.
- Studio 5 also began in 1979. It worked on Crest of the Stars, the InuYasha movies, and Gin Tama.
- Studio 6 was created in 1983. Its notable works include The Big O, Sgt. Frog, and Tiger & Bunny. It also helped with animation for Batman: The Animated Series.
- Studio 7 started in 1985. It is known for the Brave series and Sacred Seven.
- Studio 8 was established around 1995. It has produced My-HiME, Accel World, and Love Live!.
- Studio 9 was created in 1996. It worked on Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and Battle Spirits.
- Studio 10 was established around 1996. Its works include Outlaw Star and Dinosaur King.
- Studio 11 was established in 2009 and worked on Kurokami.
- D.I.D. is Sunrise's computer graphics (CG) studio. It helps create CG for many shows like Tiger & Bunny and Gundam MS Igloo.
- Nerima Studio is known for Freedom Project and Valvrave the Liberator.
- Sunrise Origin Studio focuses on in-between animation for many anime titles, including those from other studios.
- White Base is a newer studio that opened in November 2021, named after a famous battleship from the Gundam series.
Former Studios
- Sunrise Beyond Inc. was a studio that joined Sunrise. It worked on shows like Gundam Build Divers Re:Rise. In January 2024, it became fully part of Sunrise.
Anime Productions
Bandai Namco Filmworks and its Sunrise division have produced a huge number of anime TV series, films, and original video animations (OVAs) over the years.
TV Animation Highlights
Since the 1970s, they have created many memorable TV shows. Some early examples include Zero Tester (their first mecha production) and Brave Raideen. In the 1980s, they continued with popular titles like Mobile Suit Gundam, Space Runaway Ideon, and City Hunter. The 1990s brought shows like Brave Exkaiser, The Vision of Escaflowne, and Cowboy Bebop. In the 2000s and beyond, they produced hits such as Inuyasha, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, Gin Tama, Tiger & Bunny, and Love Live! School Idol Project. More recently, they have worked on Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon and Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury.
Film Productions Highlights
The company has also made many anime films. Some of their well-known movies include Mobile Suit Gundam (Movie) from 1981, Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (1988), and Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001). They also produced several Inuyasha movies and Gintama: The Movie. Recent films include Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash (2021) and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (2024).
Original Video Animations (OVAs) and Original Net Animations (ONAs) Highlights
Bandai Namco Filmworks has also created many OVAs and ONAs, which are anime released directly to video or online. These include series like Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket, Future GPX Cyber Formula 11, and Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. They have also produced newer online series such as Gundam Build Divers Re:Rise and Mashin Hero Wataru: The Seven Spirits of Ryujinmaru.
International Collaborations
Sunrise has worked with studios from other countries on various projects. They contributed to shows like Inspector Gadget and Batman: The Animated Series. They also co-produced King Arthur and the Knights of Justice and Street Fighter.
Video Game Animation Work
The company also provides animation for video games. Some games they have worked on include Brave Saga, Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo, and Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars. More recently, they contributed to Scarlet Nexus and Tales of Luminaria.
International Distribution
Most anime from Sunrise and Bandai Visual used to be distributed in North America by Bandai Entertainment and in Europe by Beez Entertainment. However, these companies closed in 2012. Now, other distributors like Funimation, Viz Media, Sentai Filmworks, and Aniplex of America help bring Sunrise anime to North America. In Europe, companies like Anime Limited and Manga Entertainment distribute their titles. In Australia, Madman Entertainment handles the distribution. Sunrise also started licensing anime directly in North America and has made deals with companies like Right Stuf to release classic Gundam titles on DVD and Blu-ray.
Images for kids
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Bandai Namco Filmworks logo
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Headquarters in Suginami, Tokyo
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Logo for the Sunrise brand
See also
In Spanish: Bandai Namco Filmworks para niños
