Arms (company) explained

Arms
Native Name:有限会社アームス
Romanized Name:Yūgen-gaisha Āmusu
Former Name:Garyū Studio
Type:Yūgen gaisha
Predecessor:Dandelion
Triple X
Successor:Studio Signpost
Fate:Bankruptcy
Foundation:
August 31, 2017 (Common Sense)
Location:Suginami, Tokyo, Japan
Key People:Osamu Shimizu (Representative director)

was a Japanese animation studio based in Suginami, Tokyo and active from 1996 to 2020.

History

The studio was formed on November 18, 1996 from a merger between Dandelion (founded in 1992) and Triple X (founded in 1993). After the merger, the studio continued to credit some of its work under the old names and until 2002, and did some minor work under the name Garyū Studio in the early 2000s.

The animator and character designer Rin Shin is the chief animation director for several productions by Arms which tend to have an above-average amount of fan service, for example the Ikki Tousen and Queen's Blade series. She also developed the character designs for I"s Pure.

After its founding, ARMS was, at first, a producer of hentai (most notably its productions with Green Bunny), but ceased productions of erotica in the mid-2000s with the growing popularity of their televised works.

Common Sense era

The company officially changed its name from Arms to Common Sense (株式会社コモンセンス) in August 31, 2017,[1] but maintained the Arms label as a trade name.

On May 31, 2020, Common Sense decided dissolving the company following a shareholder meeting, with Tokyo district court accepting notice of liquidation filed in July 22, 2020.[2] [3]

Productions

Hentai

TitleDirector(s)ReleasedEpsNote(s)
La Blue Girl[4] Kan FukumotoJune 26, 1992 – July 9, 19934as Dandelion
New La Blue GirlKan FukumotoJanuary 28, 1994 – March 25, 19942as Dandelion
Dōkyūsei: End of SummerKinji YoshimotoJuly 8, 1994 – May 12, 19954as Triple X
Injū Den Twin DollsKan FukumotoJuly 22, 1994 – August 26, 19942as Dandelion
Erotic Torture ChamberYoshitaka FujimotoAugust 26, 19941as Dandelion
Shin AngelKaoru TooyokaOctober 21, 1994 – November 22, 19955as Dandelion
Venus 5Osamu InoueNovember 11, 1994 – December 9, 19942as Dandelion
My Sexual HarassmentYōsei MorinoDecember 15, 1994 – October 6, 19953as Triple X
Dragon Knight GaidenKaoru ToyookaFebruary 25, 19951as Triple X
Injū Seisen Twin AngelsKan FukumotoMay 5, 1995 – September 12, 19978as Dandelion
KakyūseiKan FukumotoJune 16, 1995 – November 22, 19954as Triple X
Dragon RiderOctober 27, 1995 – January 26, 19962as Triple X
Dōkyūsei ClimaxKan Fukumoto
Takashi Kobayashi
December 22, 1995 – March 15, 19962as Triple X
AkikoKaoru ToyookaMarch 15, 1996 – July 26, 19962as Triple X
Can Can Bunny ExtraKatsuma KanazawaJanuary 19, 1996 – April 21, 19972as Triple X
Dōkyūsei 2Yōsei MorinoMarch 22, 1996 – December 18, 199812as Triple X
Rei-Lan: Orchid EmblemHideaki KushiJune 21, 19961as Dandelion
Lady BlueKan FukumotoJuly 26, 1996 – November 8, 19964as Dandelion
Advancer TinaKan FukumotoAugust 21, 19961as Dandelion
Mystery of Nonomura HospitalNobuetsu AndōNovember 8, 1996 – January 24, 19972as Triple X
Kawarazaki-ke no Ichizoku The AnimationNovember 29, 1996 – April 25, 19972as Triple X
Amy to YobanaideKan FukumotoFebruary 28, 1997 – June 27, 19972as Triple X
Tokyo Private PoliceShinichi HigashiJuly 21, 1997 – August 21, 19972as Dandelion
VirtuacallKaoru ToyookaAugust 29, 1997 – October 24, 19972as Triple X
Welcome to Pia CarrotKatsuma KanazawaOctober 24, 1997 – April 24, 19983as Triple X
Gloria: House of the Forbidden FruitYasuhiro KurodaNovember 28, 1997 – April 24, 19983as Triple X
IsakuKatsuma KanazawaNovember 28, 1997 – May 29, 19983as Triple X
Dōsō Kai: Yesterday Once MoreKan FukumotoDecember 19, 1997 – September 25, 19984as Triple X
Desert Island Story XKatsuma KanazawaJuly 24, 1998 – April 23, 19994as Triple X
Midnight PantherYōsei MorinoAugust 25, 1998 – December 18, 19982
Welcome to Pia Carrot!! 2Kan FukumotoOctober 23, 1998 – April 23, 19993as Triple X
Natural (also called as Teacher's Pet)Kan FukumotoFebruary 25, 19994
Words WorthKan FukumotoAugust 25, 1999 – November 25, 20005
Desert Island Story XXKatsuma KanazawaDecember 10, 1999 – June 23, 20004as Triple X
Luv WaveKatsuma KanazawaMarch 31, 2000 – October 27, 20003
Mezzo ForteYasuomi UmetsuMay 25, 2000 - June 25, 20012A film edition was released in Japan on July 23, 2004. This version includes 20 minutes of extra footage, but without the sex scenes.
Isaku RespectFebruary 23, 2001 – September 21, 20013as Triple X
Inma SeidenKan FukumotoMarch 25, 2001 – October 25, 20026
ÉlKatsuma KanazawaApril 25, 2001 – July 25, 20012
La Blue Girl ReturnsKan Fukumoto
Hiroshi Ogawa
May 25, 2001 – May 25, 20024
Princess MemoryWataru TomiiJune 25, 2001 – September 25, 20012
Natural 2: DuoKinji YoshimotoNovember 25, 2001 – July 24, 20034
Virgin TouchYoshitaka FujimotoMay 24, 2002 – August 23, 20022
Words Worth GaidenWataru TomiiJuly 25, 2002 – September 25, 20022
Dōsō Kai AgainKan FukumotoJuly 25, 2002 – December 20, 20022as Triple X
MizuiroShigeki AwaiAugust 23, 2002 – December 6, 20022
Slave NursesKatsuma KanazawaJanuary 24, 2003 – July 25, 20033
Crimson ClimaxKatsuma KanazawaFebruary 21, 2002 – September 25, 20033
Flutter of Birds 2: Tenshi-tachi no TsubasaHiroaki NakajimaMay 23, 2003 – August 22, 20032
Dark Shell: Lust in the CageKatsuma KanazawaJune 25, 2003 – September 25, 20032
One: True StoriesKan FukumotoNovember 21, 2003 – May 28, 20043as ARMS+
Body TransferYoshitaka FujimotoDecember 21, 2003 – March 25, 20042as ARMS+
Kawarazaki-ke no Ichizoku 2 The AnimationYōsei MorinoJanuary 23, 2004 – August 27, 20044as ARMS+
Immoral Sisters: BlossomingJune 25, 2004 – September 24, 20042as ARMS+
Another Lady InnocentKinji Yoshimoto
Satoshi Urushihara
November 11, 20041as ARMS+
Night Shift Nurses: ExperimentJuly 29, 2005 – January 27, 20063as ARMS+
Hininden: GaussKan FukumotoDecember 22, 20051as ARMS+

Television series

TitleDirector(s)ReleasedEpsNote(s)
Mezzo DSAYasuomi UmetsuJanuary 4, 2004 – March 30, 200412Original work.
Elfen LiedMamoru KanbeJuly 25, 2004 – October 17, 200413Adaptation of a manga by Lynn Okamoto.
Episodes 2, 5, and 10 were subcontracted to Studio Guts.
Kakyūsei 2Yōsei MorinoOctober 1, 2004 – December 24, 200413Based on a game by ELF.
Girls HighYoshitaka FujimotoApril 3, 2006 – June 19, 200612Adaptation of a manga by Towa Oshima.
Himawari!Shigenori KageyamaApril 8, 2006 – July 1, 200613Adaptation of a manga by GoDo.
Himawari!!Shigenori KageyamaJanuary 6, 2007 – March 31, 200713Sequel to Himawari.
Ikki Tousen: Dragon DestinyKoichi OhataFebruary 26, 2007 – May 14, 200712Sequel to Ikki Tousen: Battle Vixens.
Genshiken Pt.2Kinji YoshimotoOctober 11, 2007 – December 27, 200712Sequel to Genshiken OVA.
Ikki Tousen: Great GuardiansKoichi OhataJune 11, 2008 – August 27, 200812Sequel to Ikki Tousen: Dragon Destiny.
Queen's Blade: The Exiled VirginKinji YoshimotoApril 2, 2009 – June 18, 200912Based on a series of visual combat books published by Hobby Japan.
Queen's Blade 2: The Evil EyeKinji YoshimotoSeptember 24, 2009 – December 10, 200912Sequel to Queen's Blade: The Exiled Virgin.
Hyakka Ryōran: Samurai GirlsKOBUNSeptember 4, 2010 – December 20, 201012Adaptation of a light novel series by Akira Suzuki and Niθ.
Queen's Blade RebellionYōsei MorinoApril 3, 2012 – June 19, 201212Media franchise sequel to the Queen's Blade series.
Aesthetica of a Rogue HeroRion KujoJuly 6, 2012 – September 21, 201212Adaptation of a light novel series by Tetsuto Uesu and Tamago no Kimi.
Maoyu: Archenemy & HeroTakeo TakahashiJanuary 5, 2013 – March 30, 201312Adaptation of a light novel series by Mamare Touno, Keinojou Mizutama, and Toi8.
Hyakka Ryōran: Samurai BrideKOBUNApril 5, 2013 – June 21, 201312Sequel to Hyakka Ryōran: Samurai Girls.
Wanna Be the Strongest in the World![5] Rion KujoOctober 6, 2013 – December 22, 201312Adaptation of a manga by ESE and Kiyohito Natsuki.
Wizard Barristers: Benmashi CecilYasuomi UmetsuJanuary 12, 2014 – March 30, 201412Original work.
Brynhildr in the DarknessKenichi ImaizumiApril 6, 2014 – June 29, 201413Adaptation of a manga by Lynn Okamoto.
IsucaAkira IwanagaJanuary 24, 2015 – March 28, 201510Adaptation of a manga by Osamu Takahashi.
Valkyrie Drive: MermaidHiraku KanekoOctober 10, 2015 – December 26, 201512Part of a media franchise created by Marvelous.
Shin Ikki TousenRion KujoMay 17, 2022 – May 31, 20223Adaptation of a manga by Yūji Shiozaki.

OVAs

TitleDirector(s)ReleasedEpsNote(s)
Welcome to Pia Carrot!! 2 DXYōsei MorinoDecember 18, 1999 – October 25, 20006Adaptation of an eroge by Cocktail Soft, KID, and Stack.
As Garyū Studio.
First Kiss StoryKan FukumotoFebruary 14, 20001Adaptation of a visual novel by HuneX.
As Garyū Studio.
Yōsei MorinoAugust 10, 2001 – May 24, 20024Adaptation of an eroge by Tactics.
As Garyū Studio.
Katsuma KanazawaMay 25, 20021Adaptation of a fighting game by SNK.
As Garyū Studio.
From I"sYōsei MorinoDecember 9, 2002 – March 25, 20032Adaptation of a manga by Masakazu Katsura.
Co-produced by Pierrot.
As Garyū Studio.
With You: MitsumeteitaiYōsei MorinoDecember 25, 2002 – May 25, 20032Adaptation of a game by Cocktail Soft.
As Garyū Studio.
Elfen Lied: RegenschauerMamoru KanbeApril 21, 20051Episode 10.5 of Elfen Lied.
I"s PureMamoru KanbeNovember 1, 2005 – July 23, 20066Adaptation of a manga by Masakazu Katsura.
Co-produced by Pierrot.
Saiyuki Reload BurialKoichi OhataApril 27, 2007 – December 28, 20073Adaptation of a manga by Kazuya Minekura.
Ramen Angel Pretty MenmaJanuary 25, 20081
Queen's Blade: Beautiful Warriors'Kinji YoshimotoAugust 8, 2010 – January 9, 20116Sequel to Queen's Blade 2: The Evil Eye.
Ikki Tousen: Shūgaku Tōshi Keppu-rokuRion KujoNovember 12, 20111Sequel to Ikki Tousen: Xtreme Xecutor.
Brynhildr in the Darkness: Much Ado About NothingKenichi ImaizumiMarch 26, 20141Episode 11.5 of Brynhildr in the Darkness.
Ikki Tousen: Extravaganza EpochMasashi KudōDecember 21, 2014 – December 28, 20143Sequel to Ikki Tousen: Shūgaku Tōshi Keppu-roku.
Hyakka Ryōran: Samurai AfterToshinori FukushimaJanuary 23, 2015 – July 1, 20152Sequel to Hyakka Ryōran: Samurai Bride.
Isuca: ParadiseAkira IwanagaAugust 16, 20151Episode 11 of Isuca.
Ikki Tousen: Western WolvesTakashi Watanabe
Mitsutoshi Satō
January 3, 2019 – February 27, 20193

Films

TitleDirector(s)ReleasedLengthNote(s)
KiteYasuomi UmetsuFebruary 25, 1998 – October 25, 199860 minutes (Uncensored)
45 minutes (Censored)
Original work.
Kite LiberatorYasuomi UmetsuApril 8, 200860 minutesOriginal work.

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://全国法人データベース.com/companies/6011602023695 株式会社コモンセンスの企業情報(東京都杉並区)
  2. News: Ikki Tousen, Elfen Lied's Studio Arms Declares Bankruptcy. Anime News Network. Pineda. Rafael Antonio. 2020-08-05. 2022-03-14.
  3. News: ~テレビアニメ「一騎当千」シリーズの制作を手掛けた~.
  4. Web site: これまでの作品ー触手系. https://web.archive.org/web/20010411003015/http://www.a-rms.co.jp/work/list/syokusyu.html. dead. 2001-04-11. Arms. 2019-04-18.
  5. Web site: 'Wanna Be the Strongest in the World' Anime's Promo Streamed . April 1, 2013 . . June 9, 2013.