Bandai Namco Pictures

Last updated

Bandai Namco Pictures Inc.
Native name
株式会社バンダイナムコピクチャーズ
Romanized name
Kabushiki gaisha Bandai Namuko Pikuchāzu
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Animation studio
FoundedApril 2015;10 years ago (2015-04)
Headquarters Ogikubo, ,
Japan
Key people
Products Anime
Revenue¥10 million
Number of employees
130 (December 2021)
Parent Bandai Namco Filmworks
Divisions Bandai Namco Pictures Osaka Studio
Bandai Namco Pictures Iwaki
Website www.bn-pictures.co.jp
Footnotes /references
"Corporate Profile". www.bn-pictures.co.jp (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Pictures. Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.

Bandai Namco Pictures Inc., [a] also known as BN Pictures and BNP, is a Japanese animation studio. It is a spinoff of Sunrise, a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Filmworks which is owned by Bandai Namco Holdings. The company was formed as a part of the medium-term management plan of Bandai Namco Holdings on restructuring itself. All the anime intellectual property and production divisions of Sunrise that target children and family were transferred to Bandai Namco Pictures. The company began its operations in April 2015.

Contents

History

Previous logo until 2022 Bandai Namco Pictures logo.svg
Previous logo until 2022

On February 12, 2015, Bandai Namco Holdings announced plans to restructure itself through the usage of a three-year medium-management plan. [1] The company sought to focus its resources on creating new intellectual properties (IPs) and marketable characters, and required faster planning and development time to satisfy these demands. [1] [2] Bandai Namco executives also believed it was necessary for its IP Creation content area to strengthen ties with its Toy and Hobby area, as it would lead to both strong relationships between the two divisions and allow for future product collaborations. [2]

As part of its efforts to fulfill these obligations, Bandai Namco Pictures was established in April 2015 in Nerima, Tokyo. [2] [3] Headed by Masayuki Ozaki, the representative director of animation studio Sunrise, the company was to lead its parent's "Strengthen IP Creation Output" project and focus on the creation of new characters and franchises, specifically those targeted towards children and families. [1] [3] Bandai Namco Pictures would also work together with the Toy and Hobby division of Bandai Namco Holdings to strengthen the linkage between the two areas of the latter company. [1] [2] [3] Pictures absorbed Sunrise's production departments relating to children-oriented IPs, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Sunrise and part of Bandai Namco's IP Creation department. [4] [5]

The company's first project was Aikatsu! , an anime based on the Bandai trading card arcade game of the same name which had been produced by Sunrise until that point. [3] In addition to working on pre-established franchises, Bandai Namco Pictures would produce several original projects, such as the stop-motion animation series Milpom! [6] Pictures focused primarily on series and characters targeted towards children and families, though some, such as Tiger & Bunny and the Gintama series, were aimed at older audiences. The company regularly collaborates with other subsidiaries within Bandai Namco Holdings; in 2016, it partnered with Bandai Namco Entertainment to produce Dream Festival! , a multimedia franchise centered around video games and original net animations.

In August 2018, Bandai Namco Pictures opened a division in Osaka, the Bandai Namco Pictures Osaka Studio, for the purpose of digitally transferring animation to decrease production times. [7] The company hoped the success and productivity from the Osaka Studio could allow for additional offices to be opened in Japan and eventually overseas. [7] A year later in October, Pictures absorbed Studio Dub, an animation subcontractor established by former Sunrise animators. The acquisition renamed the company Bandai Namco Pictures Iwaki, though it continues using the name Studio Dub for its projects.

Works

Television series

TitleDirector(s)First run
start date
First run
end date
Eps.Ref.
Battle Spirits: Burning Soul Kunihisa Sugishima April 1, 2015March 30, 201651 [8]
Aikatsu! Ryūichi KimuraApril 2, 2015 [b] March 31, 201652 [c] [3]
Tribe Cool Crew Masaya FujimoriApril 5, 2015 [b] October 4, 201526 [c] [9]
Gintama° Chizuru MiyawakiApril 8, 2015March 30, 201651 [10]
Brave Beats Yūta MuranoOctober 6, 2015March 27, 201622
Battle Spirits: Double Drive Kunihisa SugishimaApril 6, 2016March 29, 201751 [8]
Aikatsu Stars! Teruo SatōApril 7, 2016March 29, 2018100 [11]
Heybot! Shinji Ishihira September 18, 2016September 24, 201750 [8]
Gintama. Chizuru MiyawakiJanuary 8, 2017March 26, 201713 [8]
Gintama. Porori-hen Chizuru MiyawakiOctober 1, 2017December 24, 201713 [8]
Gintama. Shirogane no Tamashii-hen Chizuru MiyawakiJanuary 7, 2018October 7, 201826 [10]
Aikatsu Friends! Shishō IgarashiApril 5, 2018September 26, 201976 [12]
B-PROJECT~Zecchō*Emotion~ Makoto Moriwaki January 11, 2019March 29, 201912 [10]
Aikatsu on Parade! Shishō IgarashiOctober 5, 2019March 28, 202025 [13]
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Makoto MoriwakiOctober 5, 2019March 7, 202023 [14]
Motto! Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori Takahide OgataApril 5, 2020November 8, 202025 [15]
Saikyō KamizmodeMitsutoshi SatōOctober 9, 2020April 9, 202126 [16]
Aikatsu Planet! Ryūichi KimuraJanuary 10, 2021June 27, 202125 [17]
Motto! Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori 2nd Season Takahide OgataApril 2, 2021October 22, 202125 [18]
Cestvs: The Roman Fighter [d]
  • Toshifumi Kawase [e]
  • Kazuya Monma
April 15, 2021June 24, 202111 [19]
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Season 2 Makoto MoriwakiApril 17, 2021September 11, 202121 [20]
Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story Takayuki InagakiApril 6, 2022June 29, 202213 [21]
Motto! Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori 3rd Season Takahide OgataApril 6, 2022September 21, 202225 [22]
Raven of the Inner Palace Chizuru MiyawakiOctober 1, 2022December 24, 202213 [23]
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Season 3 Makoto MoriwakiOctober 8, 2022March 4, 202321 [24]
Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari Ryūichi KimuraJanuary 10, 2023September 19, 202324 [25]
Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story Season 2 Takayuki InagakiApril 8, 2023June 24, 202312 [26]
Wistoria: Wand and Sword [f] Tatsuya YoshiharaJuly 7, 2024September 29, 202412 [27]
I Left My A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths! Katsumi OnoJanuary 12, 2025June 29, 202524 [28]
Mashin Creator Wataru Yumi KamakuraJanuary 12, 2025June 22, 202524 [29]
Rock Is a Lady's Modesty Shinya WatadaApril 3, 2025June 26, 202513 [30]
3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-Sensei
  • Makoto Moriwaki [e]
  • Natsumi Higashida
October 7, 2025TBATBA [31]
Shabake Takahiro ŌkawaOctober 2025TBATBA [32]

Films

TitleDirector(s)Release dateNotes
Kaiketsu Zorori: Uchū no Yūsha-tachi Tomoko IwasakiSeptember 12, 2015Co-produced with Ajia-do Animation Works [33]
Aikatsu! Music Awards - The Show Where Everyone Gets an Award! Shinya WatadaAugust 22, 2015
Aikatsu Stars! The Movie Shinya WatadaAugust 13, 2016
Aikatsu! The Targeted Magical Aikatsu Card Ryūichi KimuraAugust 13, 2016Double-billed with Aikatsu Stars! The Movie
Kaiketsu Zorori: ZZ no Himitsu Masaya FujimoriNovember 22, 2017Co-produced with Ajia-do Animation Works
Gintama: The Very Final Chizuru MiyawakiJanuary 8, 2021
Hula Fulla Dance
December 3, 2021 [34]
Aikatsu Planet! The Movie Ryūichi KimuraJuly 15, 2022
Aikatsu! 10th Story ~Starway to the Future~ Ryūichi KimuraJuly 15, 2022 (short film)
January 20, 2023 (feature film)
The short-film version was double-billed with Aikatsu Planet! The Movie
Kaiketsu Zorori: Lalala Star Tanjō Takahide OgataDecember 9, 2022Co-produced with Ajia-do Animation Works
Aikatsu! × PriPara: The Movie The Miracle of Our Encounter!Takahiro OkawaFall 2025
Sgt. Frog
Summer 2026 [35]

OVA/ONAs

TitleDirector(s)First run
start date
First run
end date
Eps.Notes
Milpom! (Pilot)N/AMarch 20, 2015N/A1 [8]
Milpom!N/ASeptember 5, 2015September 29, 20176 [8]
Dream Festival! Yūta MuranoSeptember 23, 2016December 16, 201612Co-produced with Ajia-do Animation Works
Gintama°: Love Incense Arc Chizuru Miyawaki
Youichi Fujita
April 8, 2015March 30, 20162
Dream Festival! RYūta MuranoAugust 23, 2017November 8, 201712Co-produced with Ajia-do Animation Works
Gintama: Monster Strike-henN/AAugust 29, 2019September 4, 20192
Fight League: Gear Gadget GeneratorsDaisuke NakajimaFebruary 14, 2019August 8, 201926Co-Produced by XFLAG [36]
Battle Spirits: Kakumei no Galette Masaki WatanabeAugust 28, 2020April 23, 20215
Aikatsu on Parade! Dream Story Shishō IgarashiMarch 28, 2020July 11, 20206
Tiger & Bunny 2 Mitsuko KaseApril 8, 2022October 7, 202225 [37]

Notes

  1. Japanese: 株式会社バンダイナムコピクチャーズ, Hepburn: Kabushiki gaisha Bandai Namuko Pikuchāzu
  2. 1 2 First episode under BN Pictures
  3. 1 2 Total number of episodes under BN Pictures
  4. BN Pictures is producing the series and is responsible for the 2D animation work, whereas Logic&Magic is responsible for the 3D animation work.
  5. 1 2 3 Credited as Chief Director.
  6. With Actas
  7. Credited as Supervising Director.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "ム › ニュース › トレンド › 記事 バンダイナムコピクチャーズ2015年4月設立 サンライズがキッズ・ファミリー向けを分社化". Anime Anime (in Japanese). IID. February 12, 2015. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "サンライズの一部を分社化「バンダイナムコピクチャーズ」設立 「アイカツ!」などキッズ向け担当". ITMedia. February 12, 2015. Archived from the original on September 8, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sunrise's Kids & Family IP to Spin Off Into New Bandai Namco Group Company". Anime News Network. February 12, 2015. Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  4. "Corporate Profile". www.bn-pictures.co.jp (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Pictures. Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  5. "Bandai Namco Group Integrated Report 2019". Bandai Namco Holdings. September 13, 2019. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  6. Ressler, Karen (March 30, 2015). "Bandai Namco Pictures Unveils Milpom Stop-Motion Anime Project for Girls". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on December 6, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  7. 1 2 "BNP、大阪スタジオを設立。アニメーション現場の環境整備にも着手。". OtakuIndustry.biz (in Japanese). September 7, 2018. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pineda, Rafael Antonio (January 10, 2017). "Bandai Namco Pictures Studio Plans Original Projects". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  9. Loo, Egan (September 9, 2015). "Tribe Cool Crew Team Makes Dance Anime Brave Beats". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 "Works". www.bn-pictures.co.jp (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Pictures. Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  11. Ashcraft, Brian (April 12, 2016). "Your Complete Spring 2016 Anime Guide". Kotaku . G/O Media. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
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  14. "「魔入りました!入間くん」第2シリーズ放送決定!!". NHK News (in Japanese). NHK. March 9, 2020. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
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  16. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (August 10, 2020). "Bandai Namco Pictures Announces Saikyō Kamizmode Anime". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on December 18, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  17. "『アイカツプラネット!』実写×アニメ×CGでアイドル活動しちゃおう♪". Dengeki Online (in Japanese). Dengeki. August 12, 2020. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
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  19. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 5, 2020). "Kentō Ankoku Den Cestvs, Kentō Shitō Den Cestvs Manga Get TV Anime in April 2021". Anime News Network . Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  20. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 2, 2020). "'Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun' Anime Season 2 Premieres Next April". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on December 20, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  21. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (October 28, 2021). "Bandai Namco Pictures Unveils Original 2022 Golf TV Anime Birdie Wing". Anime News Network . Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  22. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (February 22, 2022). "Kaiketsu Zorori Anime's 3rd Series Reveals New Cast, Theme Songs, April 6 Premiere". Anime News Network . Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  23. Loo, Egan (August 20, 2022). "Raven of the Inner Palace Anime's New Video Unveils More Cast, October 1 Premiere". Anime News Network . Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  24. Mateo, Alex (August 15, 2022). "'Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun' Anime Season 3 Debuts on October 8". Anime News Network . Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  25. Mateo, Alex (November 16, 2022). "Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari TV Anime Unveils Promo Video, Theme Song Artists, January 9 Premiere". Anime News Network . Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  26. Cayanan, Joanna (October 26, 2022). "Birdie Wing -Golf Girls' Story- Anime Season 2 Delayed by 3 Months to April 2023". Anime News Network . Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  27. Mateo, Alex (June 6, 2024). "Wistoria: Wand and Sword Anime's Promo Video Unveils Theme Songs, Additional Cast, July 7 Premiere (Updated)". Anime News Network . Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  28. Cayanan, Joanna (November 12, 2024). "I Left My A-Rank Party Anime's Promo Video Reveals More Cast & Staff, January 11 Debut". Anime News Network . Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  29. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 14, 2024). "Mashin Sōzōden Wataru Anime Reveals January 12 Debut in New Commercial". Anime News Network . Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  30. Cayanan, Joanna (March 6, 2025). "Rock Is a Lady's Modesty Anime's Main Trailer Reveals More Cast, Theme Songs, April 3 TV Debut". Anime News Network . Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  31. Mateo, Alex (August 16, 2025). "GINTAMA - Mr. Ginpachi's Zany Class Spinoff TV Anime's Trailer Reveals Theme Songs, October 6 Premiere". Anime News Network . Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  32. Cayanan, Joanna (June 22, 2025). "Shabake TV Anime's 1st Promo Video Reveals More Cast & Staff, Opening Song, October Debut". Anime News Network . Retrieved June 22, 2025.
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  34. "Original Anime Film Hula Fulla Dance's Teaser Unveils 4 Cast Members, New December 3 Debut". AnimeNewsNetwork. June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
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