Bandai Namco Pictures

Last updated • 3 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

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;9 years ago (2015-04)
Headquarters Nerima, Tokyo
Key people
  • Masayuki Ozaki
  • (president)
  • Hiroyuki Sato
  • (director)
Products Anime
Revenue¥10 million
Owner Bandai Namco Holdings
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

The secondary logo of the studio, which is used in commercials, credits, and the official channel on YouTube alongside the 2022 logo. Bandai Namco Pictures logo.svg
The secondary logo of the studio, which is used in commercials, credits, and the official channel on YouTube alongside the 2022 logo.

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, 2024TBATBA [27]
I Left My A-Rank Party to Help My Former Students Reach the Dungeon Depths! Katsumi OnoJanuary 12, 2025TBATBA [28]
Mashin Genesis Wataru Yumi KamakuraJanuary 12, 2025TBATBA [29]
Rock wa Lady no Tashinamideshite Shinya WatadaApril 2025TBATBA [30]
3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-Sensei
  • Makoto Moriwaki [e]
  • Natsumi Higashida
October 2025TBATBA [31]
Shabake Takahiro Ōkawa2025TBATBA [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

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 [35]
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 [36]

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bandai Namco Filmworks</span> Japanese entertainment company

Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc., formerly and still famously known as Sunrise Inc., is a Japanese entertainment company owned by Bandai Namco Holdings with its business focused on production, planning, and management of anime. It was founded in September 1972 by former Mushi Production staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bandai Namco Holdings</span> Japanese entertainment holding company

Bandai Namco Holdings Inc., commonly known as Bandai Namco and formerly Namco Bandai until 2015, also known as Bandai Namco Group, is a Japanese entertainment holding company founded in 2005 by the merger of Namco and Bandai. The company specializes in toys, video games, arcades, anime, restaurants, and amusement parks. They are also unofficially nicknamed as "Bamco" by some. The conglomerate is made up of:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ajia-do Animation Works</span> Japanese animation studio

Ajia-do Animation Works Inc. is a Japanese animation studio established on October 4, 1978. It is noted for anime series including Spirit of Wonder, Absolute Boy, Izetta: The Last Witch, and several others, including the long-running NHK series Nintama Rantarō. Its name can be translated as "Hall of Asia."

Aoi Yabusaki, better known by her stage name Aoi Yūki, is a Japanese actress, voice actress and singer represented by Aoni Production. She voiced Madoka Kaname in Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Tsuyu Asui in My Hero Academia, Komachi Hikigaya in My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected, Rita Rossweisse in Honkai Impact 3rd, Tanya von Degurechaff in The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Lumine in Genshin Impact, Hibiki Tachibana in Senki Zesshou Symphogear, Diane in The Seven Deadly Sins, Tamaki Kotatsu in Fire Force, the young Murasaki Kuhōin in Kure-nai, Mami Nanami in Rent-A-Girlfriend, Kumoko/Shiraori in So I'm a Spider, So What?, Lucy in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Futaba Sakura in Persona 5, Sticks the Badger in Sonic Boom, Maomao in The Apothecary Diaries and Lucy in Ninjala

<i>Tiger & Bunny</i> Japanese anime television series

Tiger & Bunny is a 2011 Japanese anime superhero television series produced by Sunrise and directed by Keiichi Sato. The screenplay was written by Masafumi Nishida with original character design by Masakazu Katsura. The series began its broadcast run in Japan on April 3, 2011 on Tokyo MX, followed by rebroadcasts on BS11 and MBS, and ended on September 17, 2011. Viz Media simulcast the series on Hulu and Anime News Network. It is set in a futuristic city where heroes fight crime while promoting corporate sponsors in a popular TV show, "Hero TV". The series focuses on the old-fashioned hero Kotetsu T. Kaburagi "Wild Tiger" and the rookie hero Barnaby Brooks Jr. "Bunny", who are forced to work together by their employers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asahi Production</span> Japanese animation studio

Asahi Production Inc. is a Japanese animation studio established on 1 June 1973. It is located in Nerima, Tokyo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CloverWorks</span> Japanese animation studio

CloverWorks, Inc. is a Japanese animation studio that was rebranded from A-1 Pictures' Kōenji Studio. It is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan's anime production firm Aniplex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ENGI</span> Japanese animation studio

ENGI Co., Ltd., also known as Entertainment Graphic Innovation, or Studio ENGI, is a Japanese animation studio founded by Kadokawa, Sammy Corporation, and Ultra Super Pictures, and is a subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation.

Geek Toys, Inc. is a Japanese animation studio based in Nakano, Tokyo.

Maho Film Co., Ltd., is a Japanese animation studio founded on May 29, 2018, in Suginami-ku.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bibury Animation Studios</span> Japanese animation studio

Bibury Animation Studios G.K. is a Japanese animation studio founded on May 1, 2017.

<i>The Idolmaster Million Live!</i> Multimedia idol series by Bandai Namco

The Idolmaster Million Live is a Japanese multimedia spin-off series of The Idolmaster, starting with the game of the same name. The series follows a new group of idols working alongside the idols of 765 Production with a producer at the 765 Live Theater.

<i>The Idolmaster SideM</i> 2017 multimedia male idol series by Bandai Namco

The Idolmaster SideM is a Japanese multimedia spin-off series of The Idolmaster, starting with a 2014 game and expanding to include music CDs, two anime series, a web radio show, printed manga, and a rhythm game. The series focuses on the male idols of 315 Production, in contrast with the normally female idol centric series.

Touko Machida is a Japanese anime screenwriter. She debuted as a screenwriter in 2001, and in 2006 got to become the lead screenwriter for the first time with Ramen Fighter Miki. Since Ramen Fighter Miki, she has done screenwriting for many works, such as Lucky Star, Show by Rock!!, and Battle Game in 5 Seconds.

Hiroshi Nishikiori is a Japanese anime director. He debuted in 1999 with I'm Gonna Be An Angel! Two years later, he directed Angelic Layer, which won the Animation Kobe in the television category. Some of his other major works include Azumanga Daioh, A Certain Magical Index, and Argonavis from BanG Dream!

Shōya Ishige is a Japanese voice actor. After working as a stage performer, Ishige wanted to do voice acting in anime, which he did with his first role as additional voices in Orange and later his first major role as Yusaku Fujiki in Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS. Some of his other noteworthy roles include Yun Arikawa in Godzilla Singular Point and Wakana Gojo in My Dress-Up Darling.

Saya Aizawa is a Japanese voice actress who is affiliated with Stardust Promotion. She is known for her roles as Hiromi Seki in The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls, Chiharu Andō in Chio's School Road, Shizuri Castiella Kasugaya in Strike the Blood, and Yuzuki Tachibana in Taisho Otome Fairy Tale.

Events in 2023 in anime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Studio Mother</span> Japanese animation studio

Studio Mother, Inc. is a Japanese animation studio based in Suginami, Tokyo. The studio was founded in 2019 and is composed of many staff from the former Xebec studio, the majority of assets of which were sold off by its parent IG Port to Sunrise.

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.
  12. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (February 4, 2018). "Aikatsu Friends! Anime's Cast, Staff Revealed". Anime News Network . Archived from the original on April 17, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  13. Ashcraft, Brian (October 5, 2019). "Your Spring 2019 Anime Guide". Kotaku Australia . G/O Media. Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  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.
  15. Mateo, Alex (February 13, 2020). "New Kaiketsu Zorori Anime Reveals Cast, Theme Songs, April 5 Premiere". Anime News Network . Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  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.
  18. Loo, Egan (November 8, 2020). "New Kaiketsu Zorori Anime Gets 2nd Series Next April". Anime News Network . Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  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 (November 6, 2024). "Rock Is a Lady's Modesty Anime's 1st Promo Video Reveals Main Cast, Staff, April Debut". Anime News Network . Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  31. Cayanan, Joanna; Mateo, Alex (October 10, 2024). "Gintama's Spinoff TV Anime 3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-Sensei Unveils, Visual, Cast, Staff, October 2025 Debut". Anime News Network . Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  32. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 25, 2024). "Shabake Novels Get TV Anime in 2025". Anime News Network . Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  33. "Kaiketsu Zorori: Uchū no Yūsha-tachi Film Trailer Teases Original Story". Anime News Network . April 18, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  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.
  35. "Fight League Anime's Trailer Reveals Cast, More Staff, February 14 Debut". Anime News Network . December 10, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  36. "Netflix Unveils Tiger & Bunny 2 Anime's Visual, April 2022 Worldwide Debut". Anime News Network . November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.