Bandai Namco Filmworks Explained

Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc.
Native Name:	株式会社バンダイナムコフィルムワークス
Native Name Lang:	ja
Romanized Name:	Kabushiki gaisha Bandai Namuko Firumuwākusu
Type:	Subsidiary (kabushiki gaisha, formerly yūgen gaisha)
Former Name:	Sunrise Studio YK (1972-1976) Nippon Sunrise Inc. (1976-1987) Sunrise Inc. (1987-2022)
Foundation:	(as Sunrise) (as Bandai Namco Filmworks)
Location City:	Ogikubo, Suginami, Tokyo
Location Country:	Japan
Key People:	Makoto Asanuma (president and CEO) Satoshi Kawano (executive vice-president) Yoshitaka Tao (managing director)
Industry:	Production enterprise, anime and home video
Num Employees:	646 (as of April 1, 2024)^[1]
Parent:	Bandai Namco Holdings
Divisions:	Sunrise Bandai Visual Emotion Bandai Channel
Subsid:	Bandai Namco Pictures Actas Sotsu Evolving GUNDAM Eight Bit
Homepage:	bnfw.co.jp (BN Filmworks) sunrise-inc.co.jp (Sunrise)
Footnotes:	^[2] ^[3]

, previously and still famously known as Sunrise Inc., is a Japanese company owned by Bandai Namco Holdings with its business focused on production, planning and management for anime, founded in September 1972 by former Mushi Production employees.

History

According to an interview with Sunrise members, the studio was founded by former members of Mushi Production in 1972 as . Rather than having anime production revolve around a single creator (like Mushi, headed by Osamu Tezuka), Sunrise decided that production should focus on the producers. The market for mainstream anime (such as manga adaptations, sports shows, and adaptations of popular children's stories) was already dominated by existing companies, so Sunrise decided to focus on robot (mecha) anime, known to be more difficult to animate but which could be used to sell toys.^[4]

Sunrise has been involved in many popular and acclaimed anime television series, including Mobile Suit Gundam (and its spin-offs and sequels since 1979), the Magic God Hero Legend Wataru series (1988–1997), the Brave (1990–1997) and Eldran series (1991–1993), both of which were co-produced with Takara Tomy, and the Crest of the Stars series (1999–2001). They produced the apocalyptic Space Runaway Ideon in 1980.

The company have co-produced a number of series with Toei Company, including Majokko Tickle (1978), the Robot Romance Trilogy (Combattler V (1976), Voltes V (1977), Tōshō Daimos (1978)), Daltanious (1979), and Cyborg 009 (1979). Sunrise is well known for their mecha anime series (including Gundam), such as Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3 (1978), Fang of the Sun Dougram (1981), the Armored Trooper Votoms and Aura Battler Dunbine series (1983), Blue Comet SPT Layzner (1985), Patlabor (1989), The Vision of Escaflowne (1996), The Big O (1999/2003), Overman King Gainer (2002), Zegapain (2007), Code Geass (2006/2008), Tiger & Bunny (2011), and Valvrave the Liberator (2013), and worked with Tsuburaya Productions to animate The Ultraman (1979).

In February 1994, Sunrise Inc. became part of the Bandai Group.

On April 1, 2022, Bandai Namco Holdings adopted a new logo that had been initially revealed in October 2021, and with it, a major organization shuffle occurred, resulting in Sunrise subsuming the visual arts division of Bandai Namco Arts, which was dissolved that same day. Following this, the company has adopted the same logo as its parent, and adopted the name of Bandai Namco Filmworks.^[5] Its music division, Sunrise Music, has similarly subsumed Bandai Namco Arts' music operations, including Lantis, and changed its name to Bandai Namco Music Live.^[6] The Sunrise name has been kept as one of the major brands of the company as of August 2023.^[7]

On March 1, 2024, Bandai Namco Filmworks announced the acquisition of anime studio Eight Bit, making it a wholly owned subsidiary.^{[8] [9]}

Sunrise

The company's primary division,, is an animation studio founded in September 1972 and is based in Ogikubo, Tokyo.^[10] Its former names were also Soeisha, Sunrise Studio and Nippon Sunrise.^[11]

The studio is renowned for critically praised and popular original anime series such as Gundam, Cowboy Bebop, Space Runaway Ideon, Armored Trooper Votoms, Magic God Hero Legend Wataru, Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, Future GPX Cyber Formula, Crush Gear Turbo, The Vision of Escaflowne, Love Live!, Witch Hunter Robin, My-HiME, My-Otome, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, Tiger & Bunny, and Cross Ange: Rondo of Angel and Dragon, as well as its numerous adaptations of acclaimed light novels including Crest of the Stars, Dirty Pair, Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere and Accel World, and manga such as City Hunter, Inuyasha, Yashahime, Outlaw Star, Angel Links, Yakitate!! Japan, Planetes, Sgt. Frog, Gin Tama, and Kekkaishi. Their productions usually feature fluid animation and action sequences and many fans refer to the quality of their work as "Sunrise Smooth".

Most of their work are original titles created in-house by their creative staff under a collective pseudonym, Hajime Yatate. They also operated a defunct video-game studio, Sunrise Interactive. Sunrise launched a light-novel publisher, Yatate Bunko Imprint, on September 30, 2016, to publish original titles and supplement their existing franchises with new materials.^[12] Anime created by Sunrise which have won the Animage Anime Grand Prix are Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979 and the first half of 1980, Space Runaway Ideon in the second half of 1980, Crusher Joe (a co-production with Studio Nue) in 1983, Dirty Pair in 1985, Future GPX Cyber Formula in 1991, Gundam SEED in 2002, Gundam SEED Destiny in 2004 and 2005, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion in 2006 and 2007 and Code Geass R2 in 2008, making Sunrise the studio which won the largest number of Animage Awards.

Studios

• Studio 1 was created when Sunrise was founded in 1972. Notable works include Mobile Suit Gundam, Space Runaway Ideon, Armored Trooper Votoms, Patlabor, and Inuyasha. It was also the studio responsible for various later Gundam installments: G, Wing, X, Turn A, Unicorn, Reconguista in G, Thunderbolt, Narrative, and Hathaway.
• Studio 2 was created around 1974–75, and some key members left to form Bones in 1998. Notable works include Aura Battler Dunbine and some installments of Gundam: including Zeta, ZZ, Victory, Char's Counterattack and F91. It also worked on The Vision of Escaflowne and Cowboy Bebop, co-producing a film adaptation of each with Bones.
• Studio 3 was created in 1975. Early works included Blue Comet SPT Layzner and City Hunter. It was responsible for many Gundam installments, including 0083, 08th MS Team, and TV series of the franchise: SEED Destiny, 00, AGE, Build Fighters, Build Fighters Try, Iron-Blooded Orphans and The Witch from Mercury.
• Studio 4 was created in 1979, and notable works include The Ultraman anime. The studio became inactive in 1987. The current Studio 4 began as support for Studio 2, and was known as Studio Iogi (井荻スタジオ) (named after the pseudonym of longtime Sunrise director Yoshiyuki Tomino). The studio's first major work was 1985's Dirty Pair, and other notable works include Planetes, s-CRY-ed and Code Geass.
• Studio 5 was also created in 1979. One of its producers was Mikihiro Iwata, a founder of A-1 Pictures. Notable works include Crest of the Stars, the InuYasha movies, Daily Lives of High School Boys, Aikatsu!, Good Luck Girl!, Gin Tama, Mobile Suit SD Gundam and .
• Studio 6 was created in 1983. Notable works include The Big O, Sgt. Frog, and Tiger & Bunny. they also provided animation to . Some members left to form Bridge in 2007.
• Studio 7 was created in 1985. Its first work, uncredited, was on the American cartoon series Centurions: Power Xtreme, and it is noted for Sacred Seven, s-CRY-ed and the Yūsha series. Some members left to form Manglobe in 2002.
• Established around 1995, Studio 8 is notable for My-HiME, Buddy Complex, , The Girl Who Leapt Through Space, Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, Accel World and Love Live!.
• Studio 7's sister studio, Studio 9 was established in 1996. Notable works include Gasaraki, Infinite Ryvius, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Argento Soma and Battle Spirits.
• Studio 5's sister studio, Studio 10 was established around 1996. Notable works include Outlaw Star, Dinosaur King and .
• Studio 8's sister studio, Studio 11 was established in 2009 and worked on Kurokami and the SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors series.
• Sunrise's CG production studio, D.I.D. helps creating CG for many of the company's shows (notably Tiger & Bunny, Zegapain, Cross Ange, Valvrave the Liberator, Gundam MS Igloo and Gundam The Origin). They also produce CG work for other animation studios, including Xebec's Space Battleship Yamato 2199.
• Formerly known as Ogikubo Studio (荻窪スタジオ) or Sunrise Emotion, Nerima Studio is best known for the Freedom Project, Valvrave the Liberator, the King of Thorn anime film and Cross Ange.
• Sunrise Origin Studio (サンライズオリジンスタジオ) is Sunrise's in-between animation studio that does in-between animation for other studios' anime titles such as My Hero Academia to The Boy and the Beast.
• White Base is a new studio that recently opened in November 2021 and is named after the famous battleship from the original Gundam.^[13]

Former

• Sunrise Beyond Inc. was a subsidiary of Sunrise established after the majority purchase and closure of Xebec. Some of their works include and . In January 2024, it was announced that the studio will be dissolved and have it merged with Sunrise.^[14]

TV animation

1970s

No.	Title	Year(s)	Broadcast network(s)	Studios	Notes
1	Hazedon	October 1972–March 1973	Fuji TV	Studio 1	First work as Soeisha (studio name from 1972 to 1976^[15]).
2	Zero Tester	October 1973–December 1974	Fuji TV	Studio 1	The studio's first mecha production before iconic Mobile Suit Gundam, for which it would become famous.
3	Brave Raideen	April 1975–March 1976	TV Asahi	Studio 1	In association with Tohokushinsha and Asahi Advertising.
4	La Seine no Hoshi	April 1975–December 1975	Fuji TV	Studio 2	In association with Unimax and MK Company.
5	Kum-Kum	October 1975–March 1976	TBS	Studio 1	In association with ITC Japan.
6	Chōdenji Robo Combattler V	April 1976–May 1977	TV Asahi	Studio 1	In association with Toei Doga and Tohokushinsha.
7		October 1976–March 1977	TV Asahi	Studio 1	In association with Tsuburaya Productions. First work as Nippon Sunrise (studio name from 1976 to 1987).
8		October 1976–September 1977	TBS	Studio 3
9	Chōdenji Machine Voltes V	June 1977–March 1978	TV Asahi	Studio 2	In association with Toei Doga and Tohokushinsha.
10	Invincible Super Man Zambot 3	October 1977–March 1978	TV Asahi	Studio 3
11	Majokko Tickle	March 1978–January 1979	TV Asahi	Studio 2	In association with Toei Doga, Neomedia and Kaze Productions.
12	Tōshō Daimos	April 1978–January 1979	TV Asahi	Studio 2	In association with Toei Doga and Tohokushinsha.
13	Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3	June 1978–March 1979	TV Asahi	Studio 1
14	Cyborg 009	March 1979–March 1980	TV Asahi	Studio 3	In association with Toei Doga.
15	Mirai Robo Daltanious	March 1979-March 1980	TV Tokyo	Studio 2	In association with Toei Doga.
16	The Ultraman	April 1979–March 1980	TBS	Studio 4	In association with Tsuburaya Productions.
17	Mobile Suit Gundam	April 1979–January 1980	TV Asahi	Studio 1
18		July 1979–March 1980	TV Tokyo	Studio 5	In association with .

1980s

No.	Title	Year(s)	Broadcast network(s)	Studios	Notes
19	Invincible Robo Trider G7	February 1980–January 1981	TV Asahi	Studio 2
20	Space Runaway Ideon	May 1980–January 1981	TV Tokyo	Studio 1
21	Strongest Robo Daiohja	January 1981–January 1982	TV Asahi	Studio 2
22	Fang of the Sun Dougram	October 1981–March 1983	TV Tokyo	Studio 1
23	Combat Mecha Xabungle	February 1982–January 1983	TV Asahi	Studio 2
24	Aura Battler Dunbine	February 1983–January 1984
25	Armored Trooper Votoms	April 1983–March 1984	TV Tokyo	Studio 1
26	Round Vernian Vifam	October 1983–September 1984	TBS	Studio 3
27	Heavy Metal L-Gaim	February 1984–February 1985	TV Asahi	Studio 2
28	Giant Gorg	April 1984–September 1984	TV Tokyo	Studio 4
29	Panzer World Galient	October 1984–March 1985	Nippon TV	Studio 1
30	Choriki Robo Galatt	October 1984–April 1985	TV Asahi	Studio 3
31	Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam	March 1985–February 1986	TV Asahi	Studio 2
32	Dirty Pair	July 1985–December 1985	Nippon TV	Studio 4
33	Blue Comet SPT Layzner	October 1985–June 1986	Nippon TV	Studio 3
34	Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ	March 1986–January 1987	TV Asahi	Studio 2
35	Metal Armor Dragonar	February 1987–January 1988		Studio 7
36	City Hunter	April 1987–March 1988	Nippon TV	Studio 3
37	Mister Ajikko	October 1987–September 1989	TV Tokyo	Studio 7	First work as Sunrise (studio name from 1987 to 2022).
38	Mashin Hero Wataru	April 1988–March 1989	Nippon TV
39	Ronin Warriors	April 1988–March 1989	TV Asahi	Studio 2
40	City Hunter 2	April 1988–July 1989	Nippon TV	Studio 3
41	Jushin Liger	March 1989–January 1990	TV Asahi	Studio 2
42	Madō King Granzort	April 1989–March 1990	Nippon TV	Studio 7
43	Mobile Police Patlabor	October 1989–September 1990		Studio 1	In association with Bandai and Tohokushinsha.
44	City Hunter 3	October 1989–January 1990		Studio 3

1990s

No.	Title	Year(s)	Broadcast network(s)	Studios	Notes
45	Brave Exkaiser	February 1990–January 1991	TV Asahi	Studio 7
46	Mashin Hero Wataru 2	March 1990–March 1991	Nippon TV
47	The Brave Fighter of Sun Fighbird	February 1991–February 1992	TV Asahi
48	Future GPX Cyber Formula	March 1991–December 1991	Nippon TV
49	Matchless Raijin-Oh	April 1991–March 1992	TV Tokyo	Studio 5
50	Armored Police Metal Jack	April 1991–December 1991	TV Tokyo	Studio 7	In association with Studio Deen.
51	City Hunter '91	April 1991–October 1991	Nippon TV	Studio 3
52	Mama is a 4th Grader	January 1992–December 1992	Nippon TV	Studio 2
53	The Brave Fighter of Legend Da-Garn	February 1992–January 1993	TV Asahi	Studio 7
54	Genki Bakuhatsu Ganbaruger	April 1992–February 1993	TV Tokyo	Studio 5
55	The Brave Express Might Gaine	January 1993–January 1994	TV Asahi	Studio 7
56	Nekketsu Saikyō Go-Saurer	March 1993–February 1994	TV Tokyo	Studio 5
57	Mobile Suit Victory Gundam	April 1993–March 1994	TV Asahi	Studio 2
59	Iron Leaguer	April 1993–March 1994	TV Tokyo	Studio 3
59	Brave Police J-Decker	February 1994–January 1995	TV Asahi	Studio 7
60	Haō Taikei Ryū Knight	April 1994–March 1995	TV Tokyo	Studio 1
61	Mobile Fighter G Gundam	April 1994–March 1995	TV Asahi
62	The Brave of Gold Goldran	February 1995–January 1996		Studio 7
63	Wild Knights Gulkeeva	April 1995–September 1995	TV Tokyo	Studio 3
64	Mobile Suit Gundam Wing	April 1995–March 1996	TV Asahi	Studio 1
65		January 1996–July 1999
66	Brave Command Dagwon	February 1996–January 1997		Studio 7
67	The Vision of Escaflowne	April 1996–September 1996	TV Tokyo	Studio 3
68	After War Gundam X	April 1996–December 1996	TV Asahi	Studio 1
69	Ganbarist! Shun	July 1996–March 1997	Nippon TV	Studio 5
70	Raideen the Superior	October 1996–June 1997	TV Tokyo	Studio 8
71	The King of Braves GaoGaiGar	February 1997–January 1998	TV Asahi	Studio 7
72	Ultra Mashin Hero Wataru	October 1997–September 1998	TV Tokyo	Studio 6
73	Outlaw Star	January 1998–June 1998		Studio 10
74	Round Vernian Vifam 13	March 1998–October 1998	TBS	Vifam Studio
75	Brain Powerd	April 1998–November 1998	WOWOW	Studio 1
76	Sentimental Journey	April 1998–July 1998	TV Tokyo	Studio 6
77	DT Eightron	April 1998–November 1998	Fuji TV	Studio 5
78	Gasaraki	October 1998–March 1999	TV Tokyo	Studio 9
79	Cowboy Bebop	October 1998–April 1999	WOWOW	Studio 2
80	Crest of the Stars	January 1999–March 1999		Studio 5
81	Betterman	April 1999–September 1999	TV Tokyo	Studio 7
82	Aesop World	April 1999–December 1999		Aesop Studio
83	Angel Links	April 1999–June 1999	WOWOW	Studio 10
84	Turn A Gundam	April 1999–April 2000	Fuji TV	Studio 1
85	Infinite Ryvius	October 1999–March 2000	TV Tokyo	Studio 9
86	Seraphim Call	October 1999–December 1999		Studio 8
87	The Big O	October 1999–January 2000	WOWOW	Studio 6

2000s

No.	Title	Year(s)	Broadcast network(s)	Studios	Notes
88	Mighty Cat Masked Niyandar	February 2000–September 2001	TV Asahi	Studio 8
89	Banner of the Stars	April 2000–July 2000	WOWOW	Studio 5
90		July 2000–February 2001	WOWOW	Studio 7
91	Dinozaurs: The Series	July 2000–November 2000	Fuji TV	Studio 10
92	Gear Fighter Dendoh	October 2000–June 2001	TV Tokyo	Studio 10
93	Argento Soma	October 2000–March 2001	TV Tokyo	Studio 9
94	Inuyasha	October 2000–September 2004	Nippon TV	Studio 1
95	Z.O.E. Dolores, I	April 2001–September 2001	TV Tokyo	Studio 6
96	s-CRY-ed	July 2001–December 2001	TV Tokyo	Studio 4
97	Banner of the Stars II	July 2001–September 2001	WOWOW	Studio 5
98	Crush Gear Turbo	October 2001–January 2003	TV Asahi	Studio 10
99	Witch Hunter Robin	July 2002–December 2002	TV Tokyo	Studio 7
100	Overman King Gainer	September 2002–March 2003	WOWOW	Studio 4
101	Mobile Suit Gundam SEED	October 2002–September 2003	TBS	Studio 9
102	The Big O II	January 2003–March 2003	WOWOW	Studio 6
103	Machine Robo Rescue	January 2003–January 2004	TV Tokyo	Sunrise D.I.D
104	Crush Gear Nitro	February 2003–January 2004	TV Asahi	Studio 10
105	Tank Knights Fortress	April 2003–March 2004	TV Tokyo	Studio 8
106	Planetes	October 2003–April 2004	NHK	Studio 4
107	Superior Defender Gundam Force	January 2004–December 2004	TV Tokyo	Sunrise D.I.D
108	Sgt. Frog	April 2004–April 2011	TV Tokyo	Studio 6
109	Onmyō Taisenki	September 2004–September 2005	TV Tokyo	Studio 10
110	My-HiME	September 2004–March 2005	TV Tokyo	Studio 8
111	Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny	October 2004–October 2005	TBS	Studio 3
112	Yakitate!! Japan	October 2004–March 2006	TV Tokyo	Studio 1
113	Majime ni Fumajime Kaiketsu Zorori	February 2005–January 2007	TV Asahi	Studio 5	In association with Ajia-do Animation Works.
114	GaoGaiGar Final -Grand Glorious Gathering-	April 2005–June 2005	TV Tokyo	Studio 7
115	Cluster Edge	October 2005–March 2006	TV Tokyo	Studio 1
116	My-Otome	October 2005–March 2006	TV Tokyo	Studio 8
117	Zegapain	April 2006–September 2006	TV Tokyo	Studio 9
118	Gin Tama	April 2006–March 2010	TV Tokyo	Studio 5
119	intrigue in the Bakumatsu – Irohanihoheto	October 2006–April 2007	Animax	Studio 7
120		October 2006–July 2007	TBS	Studio 4
121	Kekkaishi	October 2006–February 2008	Nippon TV	Studio 1
122	Dinosaur King	February 2007–August 2008	TV Asahi	Studio 10
123		April 2007–September 2007	AT-X	Studio 8
124	Mobile Suit Gundam 00	October 2007–March 2008	TBS	Studio 3
125	Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2	April 2008–September 2008	TBS	Studio 4
126		September 2008–September 2009	TV Asahi	Studio 9
127	Tales of the Abyss	October 2008–March 2009	Tokyo MX	Studio 1
128	Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season	October 2008–March 2009	TBS	Studio 3
129	The Girl Who Leapt Through Space	January 2009–June 2009	TV Tokyo	Studio 8
130	Black God	January 2009–June 2009	TV Asahi	Studio 11
131		September 2009–September 2010	TV Asahi	Studio 9
132		October 2009–March 2010	Nippon TV	Studio 1

2010s

No.	Title	Year(s)	Broadcast network(s)	Studios	Notes
133	SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors	April 2010–March 2011	TV Tokyo	Nerima Studio
134		September 2010–September 2011	TV Asahi	Studio 9
135	Tiger & Bunny	April 2011–September 2011	BS11	Studio 6
136	Gintama	April 2011–March 2012	TV Tokyo	Studio 5
137	Sacred Seven	July 2011–September 2011	MBS	Studio 7
138		September 2011–September 2012	TV Asahi	Studio 9
139	Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere	October 2011–December 2011	MBS	Studio 8
140	Mobile Suit Gundam AGE	October 2011–September 2012	TBS	Studio 3	In association with Level-5.
141		October 2011–March 2014	NHK	Studio 10
142	Daily Lives of High School Boys	January 2012–March 2012	TV Tokyo	Studio 9
143	Natsuiro Kiseki	April 2012–June 2012	MBS	Studio 11
144	Accel World	April 2012–September 2012	Tokyo MX	Studio 8	In association with GENCO.
145	Good Luck Girl!	July 2012–September 2012	TV Tokyo	Studio 9
146	Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere 2nd Season	July 2012–September 2012	MBS	Studio 8
147		September 2012–September 2013	TV Asahi	Studio 9
148	Gintama: Overtime	October 2012–March 2013	TV Tokyo	Studio 5
149	Aikatsu!	October 2012–March 2016		Studio 9 & Studio 5	Later animation provided by Bandai Namco Pictures.
150	Love Live! School Idol Project	January 2013–March 2013	Tokyo MX	Studio 8
151	Valvrave the Liberator	April 2013–December 2013	MBS/TBS	Nerima Studio
152		September 2013–September 2014	TV Asahi	Studio 9
153	Gundam Build Fighters	October 2013–March 2014	TV Tokyo	Studio 3
154	Buddy Complex	January 2014–March 2014	Tokyo MX	Studio 8
155	KERORO	March 2014–September 2014	Animax	Studio 6
156	Love Live! 2nd Season	April 2014–June 2014	Tokyo MX	Studio 8
157	Mobile Suit Gundam-san	July 2014–September 2014		Studio 6
158	Tribe Cool Crew	September 2014–October 2015	TV Asahi		In association with Ajia-do Animation Works.
159	Gundam Reconguista in G	October 2014–March 2015	MBS/TBS	Studio 1
160	Gundam Build Fighters Try	October 2014–April 2015	TV Tokyo	Studio 3
161	Cross Ange: Rondo of Angels and Dragons	October 2014–March 2015	Tokyo MX	Nerima Studio
162		October 2015–March 2016	MBS	Studio 3
163	Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096	April 2016–September 2016	TV Asahi
164	Love Live! Sunshine!!	July 2016–September 2016	Tokyo MX	Studio 8
165	Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans: 2nd Season	October 2016–March 2017	TBS/MBS	Studio 3
166	Magic-kyun Renaissance	October 2016-January 2017	Tokyo MX	Studio 8
167	Classicaloid	October 2016–April 2017	NHK	Studio 5	^[16]
168	Love Live! Sunshine!! 2nd Season	October 2017–December 2017	Tokyo MX	Studio 8
169	Gundam Build Divers	April 2018–September 2018	TV Tokyo
170	Double Decker! Doug & Kirill	October 2018–December 2018	Tokyo MX
171	Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin - Advent of the Red Comet	April 2019–August 2019	NHK General TV

2020s

No.	Title	Year(s)	Broadcast network(s)	Studios	Notes
172	Wave, Listen to Me!	April 2020–June 2020	MBS
173		October 2020–March 2021	TV Tokyo	Sunrise Beyond Inc.	In association with OLM.
174		October 2020–March 2021	NNS
175	Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club	October 2020–December 2020	Tokyo MX
176	Scarlet Nexus	July 2021–December 2021
177	Love Live! Superstar!!	July 2021–October 2021	NHK Educational TV
178	Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon - The Second Act	October 2021–March 2022	NNS
179	Amaim Warrior at the Borderline	October 2021–December 2021	TV Tokyo	Sunrise Beyond Inc.
180	Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club 2nd Season	April 2022–June 2022	Tokyo MX		First work as Bandai Namco Filmworks.
181	Amaim Warrior at the Borderline 2nd Season	April 2022–June 2022	TV Tokyo	Sunrise Beyond Inc.
182	Love Live! Superstar!! 2nd Season	July 2022–October 2022	NHK Educational TV
183		October 2022–July 2023	MBS/TBS	Studio 1, Studio 3
184		July 2023–September 2023	Tokyo MX
185	Mashin Sōzōden Wataru	TBA	TBA

Films

Title	Year(s)	Studios	Notes
Mobile Suit Gundam (Movie)	March 1981	Studio 4
Mobile Suit Gundam: Soldiers of Sorrow	July 1981
Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space	March 1982	Studio 3
The Ideon: A Contact	July 1982
The Ideon: Be invoked
Crusher Joe	March 12, 1983	Studio 4
Document Dougram	July 9, 1983	Studio 1
Choro-Q Dougram
Xabungle Graffiti		Studio 2
Arion	March 15, 1986	Studio 1
	November 28, 1986
Bats & Terry	March 14, 1987	Studio 3
	March 12, 1988	Studio 2
The Five Star Stories	March 11, 1989
City Hunter: 357 Magnum	June 17, 1989	Studio 3
Mobile Suit SD Gundam's Counterattack	July 15, 1989	Studio 5
Gunhed	July 22, 1989
Mobile Suit Gundam F91	March 16, 1991	Studio 2
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: The Last Blitz of Zeon	August 29, 1992	Studio 3
Mobile Suit SD Gundam Festival	March 13, 1993	Studio 3 & Studio 1
Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz -Special Edition-	August 1, 1998	Studio 1
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team: Miller's Report	August 1, 1998	Studio 3
Firefighter! Daigo of Fire Company M	July 27, 1999	Studio 5
	June 24, 2000		Animation Production: Bones
	July 8, 2000		CG assistance, Animation Production by: OLM, Inc.
	September 1, 2001		Animation Production: Bones
	December 15, 2001	Studio 5
Turn A Gundam: Earth Light	February 9, 2002	Studio 1
Turn A Gundam: Moonlight Butterfly	February 10, 2002	Studio 1
Crush Gear: Kaizaban's Challenge	July 20, 2002	Studio 10
	December 21, 2002	Studio 5
	December 20, 2003	Studio 5
Steamboy	July 17, 2004	Nerima Studio
	December 23, 2004	Studio 5
Keroro Gunsō the Super Movie	March 11, 2006	Studio 6
Kaiketsu Zorori: The Battle for the Mysterious Treasure	March 11, 2006	Studio 5	In association with Ajia-do Animation Works
Keroro Gunsō the Super Movie 2: The Deep Sea Princess	March 17, 2007	Studio 6
Chibi Kero: Secret of the Kero Ball!?	March 2007	Studio 6
	March 2008	Studio 6
Musha Kero: Debut! Sengoku Planet Ran Big Battle!!	March 2008	Studio 6
Pailsen Files the Movie	January 2009	Sunrise D.I.D
	March 2009	Studio 6
Kero 0: Depart! Assembly of Everyone!!	March 2009	Studio 6
	February 2010	Studio 6
Chō Denei-ban SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors	February 2010	Nerima Studio
	April 2010	Studio 5
King of Thorn	May 2010	Nerima Studio
Colorful	August 2010		Animation production by Ascension
	September 2010	Studio 3
s-CRY-ed: Alteration TAO	November 2011	Studio 4
Sacred Seven: Wings of Gingetsu	January 2012	Studio 7
s-CRY-ed: Alteration QUAN	March 2012	Studio 4
Tiger & Bunny: The Beginning	September 2012	Studio 6
Nerawareta Gakuen	November 2012	Studio 8
Zorori's Big Big Big Big Adventure!	December 2012	Studio 5	In association with Ajia-do Animation Works
	July 2013	Studio 5
Short Peace	July 2013	Nerima Studio	Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Short Film for its segment Possessions (九十九)
Kaiketsu Zorori: Protect It! The Dinosaur Egg	December 2013	Studio 5	In association with Ajia-do Animation Works
	February 2014	Studio 6
Aikatsu! The Movie	December 2014	Studio 5
Love Live! The School Idol Movie	June 2015	Studio 8
Kaiketsu Zorori: Heroes of Space	September 2015	Studio 5	In association with Ajia-do Animation Works
	July 2016	Studio 8	In association with GENCO
Zegapain ADP	October 2016	Studio 9
Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative	November 2018	Studio 1
Love Live! Sunshine!! The School Idol Movie: Over the Rainbow	January 2019	Studio 8
City Hunter the Movie: Shinjuku Private Eyes	February 2019	Studio 1
	February 2019
Gundam Reconguista in G	November 2019–August 2022		Series of five films.
	June 2021–
	June 2022
Sand Land	August 2023		In association with Kamikaze Douga and Anima
City Hunter The Movie: Angel Dust	September 2023
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom	January 2024
	May 2024–August 2024		Series of four films.
Orbital Era	TBA

OVAs/ONAs

Title	Year(s)	Studios	Notes
	May 5, 1982	Studio 1
Round Vernian Vifam: News from Kachua	October 1984	Studio 3
Round Vernian Vifam: The Gathered 13	December 1984	Studio 3
Round Vernian Vifam: The Missing 12	February 1985	Studio 3
Armored Trooper Votoms: The Last Red Shoulder	August 1985	Studio 1
Round Vernian Vifam: Kate's Memory	September 1985	Studio 3
Dirty Pair: Affair of Nolandia	December 1985	Studio 1
Panzer World Galient: Chapter of Ground	January 1986	Studio 1
Panzer World Galient: Chapter of Sky	March 1986	Studio 1
Armored Trooper Votoms: Big Battle	July 1986	Studio 4
Panzer World Galient: Chapter of Iron	August 1986	Studio 4
Blue Comet SPT Layzner: Eiji 1996	August 1986	Studio 3
Blue Comet SPT Layzner: Le Caine 1999	September 1986	Studio 3
Blue Comet SPT Layzner: Engraved 2000	October 1986	Studio 3
Heavy Metal L-Gaim: Pentagona Window + Lady Gablae	November 1986	Studio 2
Heavy Metal L-Gaim: Farewell My Lovely + Pentagona Dolls	January 1987	Studio 2
Dirty Pair: From Lovely Angels with Love	January 1987	Studio 4
DOUGRAM vs ROUND-FACER	January 1987	Studio 1
Heavy Metal L-Gaim: Fullmetal Soldier	March 1987	Studio 7
Dead Heat	July 1987	Studio 2
Original Dirty Pair	December 1987–April 1988	Studio 1
Armored Trooper Votoms: Roots of Ambition	February 1988	Studio 7
New Story of Aura Battler DUNBinE	February 1988–August 1988	Studio 1
Mobile Suit SD Gundam	March 1988–August 1991	Studio 5 & Studio 3
Starship Troopers	October 1988–December 1988	Studio 5
Armor Hunter Mellowlink	November 1988–April 1989	Studio 1
Crusher Joe: The Ice Prison	February 1989	Studio 1
	March 1989–August 1989	Studio 5
Ronin Warriors Gaiden	April 1989–June 1989	Studio 2
Crusher Joe: The Ultimate Weapon: Ash	June 1989	Studio 1
Shin Mashin Hero Wataru	August 1989–September 1989	Studio 7
Ronin Warriors: Legend of the inferno Armor	October 1989–January 1990	Studio 2
Dirty Pair: Flight 005 Conspiracy	January 1990	Studio 1
SD Gundam Gaiden	March 1990–March 1991	Studio 5
Obatarian	April 1990	Studio 3
City Hunter: Bay City Wars	August 1990	Studio 3
City Hunter: Million Dollar Conspiracy	August 1990	Studio 3
Madō King Granzort: The Final Magical Battle	August 1990–September 1990	Studio 7
	November 1990–April 1992	Studio 1
Mobile Suit SD Gundam Scramble	March 1991–August 1991	Studio 5
Ronin Warriors MESSAGE	March 1991–August 1991	Studio 2
	May 1991–September 1992	Studio 3
Madō King Granzort: The Mado Stone	March 1992–June 1992	Studio 7
Raijin-Oh FinAL	September 1992–February 1993	Studio 5
Future GPX Cyber Formula 11	November 1992–June 1993	Studio 7
Mashin Hero Wataru: The Endless Story	October 1993–February 1994	Studio 7
Dirty Pair Flash	February 1994–April 1996	Studio 2 & Studio 5
Armored Trooper Votoms: Shining Heresy	March 1994–December 1994	Studio 5
Future GPX Cyber Formula ZERO	April 1994–February 1995	Studio 7
Ryū Knight: Adeu's Legend	July 1994–May 1996	Studio 1
Iron Leaguer: Under of The Banner of Silver Light	November 1994–April 1995	Studio 3
City Hunter: The Secret Service	January 1996	Studio 3
The Silent Service	March 1996–January 1998	Studio 3 (VOYAGE.01 (March 1996)) → Studio 9 (VOYAGE.02 & VOYAGE.03 (September 1997–January 1998))
Future GPX Cyber Formula EARLYDAYS RENEWAL	April 1996–June 1996	Studio 7
Future GPX Cyber Formula SAGA	August 1996–July 1997	Studio 10
City Hunter: Good-Bye My Sweetheart	April 1997	Studio 6
Brave Command Dagwon: The Boy with Crystal Eyes	October 1997–December 1997	Studio 7
GUNDAM Mission to the Rise	August 1998	Sunrise D.I.D
Dinozaurs	December 1998	Sunrise D.I.D
Future GPX Cyber Formula Sin	December 1998–March 2000	Studio 10
Z-Mind	February 1999–July 1999	Studio 8
City Hunter: Death of the Vicious Criminal Ryo Saeba	April 1999	Studio 8
Gundam Wing: Operation Meteor	April 1999–May 1999	Studio 1
	May 1999–June 1999	Studio 1
Aesop World	April 1999–December 1999	Studio 5
The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final	January 2000–March 2003	Studio 7
Passage of the Stars - Birth	April 2000	Studio 5
Crest of the Stars: SPECIAL	April 2000	Studio 5
G-Saviour	December 2000	Sunrise D.I.D
	March 2001	Studio 6
	June 2001	Sunrise D.I.D
Banner of the Stars: SPECIAL	July 2001	Studio 5
Argento Soma: Alone and by myself	February 2002	Studio 9
Kagero Kakun	May 2003		In association with TMS Entertainment
Gundam Evolve	September 2003–January 2007	Sunrise D.I.D
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED AFTER PHASE	March 2004	Studio 9
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO	July 2004–April 2009	Sunrise D.I.D
	August 2004–October 2004	Studio 9
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation	May 2005–March 2006	Studio 7
	August 2005	Nerima Studio
Banner of the Stars III	August 2005–September 2005	Studio 5
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: FinAL PLUS	December 2005	Studio 3
The Wings of Rean	December 2005–August 2006	Nerima Studio
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Special Edition	May 2006–January 2007	Studio 3
Cluster Edge Secret Episode	September 2006	Studio 1
	November 2006	Studio 3
My-Otome Zwei	November 2006–August 2007	Studio 8
Freedom Project	November 2006–May 2008	Nerima Studio
SOS! Tokyo Metro Explorers: The Next	May 2007	Sunrise D.I.D
	October 2007–August 2008	Sunrise D.I.D
Code Geass: Black Rebellion	February 2008	Studio 4
My-Otome 0~S.ifr~	February 2008–November 2008	Studio 8
Urusei Yatsura: The Obstacle Course Swim Meet	December 2008	Studio 8
Code Geass: Zero Requiem	July 2009	Studio 4
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Special Edition	October 2009–February 2010	Studio 3
	December 2009	Nerima Studio
Black God: Tiger and Wings	December 2009	Studio 11
My-HiME: The Black Dance	January 2010	Studio 8
My-Otome: The Holy Maiden's Prayer	March 2010	Studio 8
Armored Trooper Votoms: The Phantom Chapter	March 2010–October 2010	Sunrise D.I.D
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn	March 2010–June 2014	Studio 1
Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G	August 2010–December 2010	Sunrise D.I.D
Armored Trooper Votoms: Case;Irvine	November 2010	Studio 8
Votoms Finder	December 2010	Sunrise D.I.D
Armored Trooper Votoms: Alone Again	January 2011	Sunrise D.I.D
Coicent	February 2011	Nerima Studio
Five Numbers!	April 2011	Nerima Studio
Code Geass: Nunnally in Wonderland	July 2012	Studio 4
Code Geass: Akito the Exiled	August 2012–February 2016	Studio 4
Accel World: Awakening of the Silver Wings	October 2012	Studio 8
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team: Battle in Three Dimensions	February 2013	Studio 3
Mobile Suit Gundam AGE: Memory of Eden	July 2013	Studio 3	In association with Level-5
Buddy Complex: The Final Chapter	September 2014	Studio 8
	February 2015–November 2016
Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt	December 2015-June 2016
Gundam Build Fighters Try: Island Wars	August 2016	Studio 3
	June 2017
Gundam Build Fighters: GM's Counterattack	August 2017
Gundam Build Fighters: Battlogue	August 2017
Isekai Izakaya ~Koto Aitheria no Izakaya Nobu~	April 2018–September 2018
SD Gundam World Sangoku Soketsuden	July 2019–
	October 2019–August 2020	Sunrise Beyond Inc.
Mashin Eiyūden Wataru: Seven-Souled Ryūjinmaru	April 2020–
Artiswitch	May 2021–September 2021
	TBA

Foreign production history

Title	Year(s)	Studios	Notes
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds	October 1981–March 1982	Nippon Animation	Co-production with BRB Internacional
Inspector Gadget	September 1983–February 1986	DIC Entertainment	Additional services for TMS Entertainment for the ink and painting process
Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors	September 1985–December 1985
ThunderCats	September 1985–September 1989	Rankin/Bass Animated Entertainment
The Centurions	April 1986–December 1986	Studio 7; Ruby-Spears Productions
	December 1990–May 1993	C&D	Co-production with AB Productions and CNC
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice	September 1992–December 1993		Co-production with Golden Films and Bohbot Entertainment
	September 1992–September 1995	Studio 6; Warner Bros. Animation
Street Fighter	October 1995–May 1997	Studio 1	Co-production with InVision Entertainment, Graz Entertainment, USA Studios, Madhouse Studios
	August 1996	DIC Entertainment
	September 2000–March 2001	Carrere Groupe	Co-production with D'Ocon Films Productions and La Coloniale
Team Galaxy	August 2006–July 2007	Marathon Media	Co-production with Image Entertainment Corporation
Barangay 143	October 2018–February 2021	Shin-Ei Animation	Co-production with ASI Animation Studio

Video game animation work

Title	Year(s)	Notes
	1986
Suishō no Dragon	1986
Blazing Lazers	1989
SD Gundam Neo Batoringu	1995
Brave Saga	1998
Real Bout Fatal Fury Special: Dominated Mind	1998
Sunrise Heroes	1999
Brave Saga 2	2000
Sunrise Heroes 2	2001
	2001
	2001
	2001
Sunrise World War	2003
	2003
	2004
	2004
Brave Wars	2005
Battle of Sunrise	2008
	2012
Zone of the Enders HD Collection	2012
Xuccess Heaven	2015
Starwing Paradox	2018
Love Live! School Idol Festival All Stars	2019
Scarlet Nexus	2021
Tales of Luminaria	2021	Co-production with Kamikaze Douga
Saikyō Kamizmode: Burst Spirits	2024

Miscellaneous work

• Nagoya TV (1981–1987, The "Space Boy" mascot opening/closing credits)
• Pink Crows (did the animation and designs for this animated band and their music videos)^{[17] [18]}
• Shadow of China (1989 live action movie)
• Cold Fever (1994, live action movie co-produced with Icelandic Film Corporation, Iciclefilm, Pandora Film, Zentropa Entertainments and George Gund III
• Pop Team Epic (2020–2022, Series 1 Special Episode 1 1st half prologue skit and opening animation; Series 2 Episode 2 story part and ending animation)
• Cowboy Bebop (2021, live action TV series co-produced with Netflix, Midnight Radio and Tomorrow Studios)

International distribution

Most anime produced by Sunrise and Bandai and licensed by Bandai Visual in Japan was licensed and distributed in the United States by Bandai Entertainment and in Europe by Beez Entertainment, but both companies shut down in 2012 after Bandai Entertainment's restructuring. In North America, distributors such as Funimation, Viz Media, Sentai Filmworks, NIS America and Aniplex of America, as well as Sunrise USA, have licensed Sunrise properties. In Europe, Anime Limited and Manga Entertainment (in the UK) and Kazé (in France) have begun to distribute titles distributed by Beez and other unreleased Sunrise productions. In Australia, Sunrise productions are licensed and distributed by Madman Entertainment. At Anime Boston 2013, Sunrise confirmed that they would begin licensing anime in North America and were negotiating with Sentai, Funimation, and Viz to distribute their titles on DVD and Blu-ray.^[19] Right Stuf agreed to distribute and re-release Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn on DVD in North America.^[20] In 2014 the deal expanded, releasing the Gundam previously licensed by Bandai Entertainment (Mobile Suit Gundam, Turn A Gundam) and several works not released in North America (including Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ) in 2015.^[21]

Anime studios founded by former Sunrise animators

• Studio Deen (founded in March 1975) by Hiroshi Hasegawa and Takeshi Mochida.
• Studio Dub (founded in January 1983) by Masa Yahata, taken over and became as BNP Iwaki Studio in 2019.
• Lifework (founded in 1984) by Yutaka Kanda and Masahiro Toyozumi, today closed.
• Studio Takuranke (founded in September 1987) by Yasuhiko Kondō and Hiroyuki Yamada.
• Studio Gazelle (founded in September 1993) by Ikuo Sato.
• Bones (founded in October 1998) by Masahiko Minami.
• Manglobe (founded in February 2002) by Shinichirō Kobayashi and Takashi Kochiyama, files for bankruptcy on 29 September 2015.^[22]
• A-1 Pictures (founded in May 2005) by Masuo Ueda and Mikihiro Iwata.
• Bridge (founded in August 2007) by Chie Ohashi.
• Odd Eye Creative (founded in February 2011) by Naotake Furusato.
• Yaoyorozu (founded in August 2013) by Tatsuki, closed in 2020, animation business transferred and integrated to the new company named 8million.^[23]
• Buemon (founded in April 2014) by Kiyohiko Takayama, former 3DCG staff in Nerima Studio.

External links

• • Official Website for Sunrise
    • Sunrise International

Notes and References

1. Web site: https://www.bnfw.co.jp/corporate/profile/. ja:会社概要 / バンダイナムコフィルムワークス . ja. Company Profile. Bandai Namco Filmworks INC.. August 3, 2023.
2. Web site: Sunrise Official Site . 2006-02-06 . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060105093120/http://www.sunrise-inc.co.jp/company/company.html . January 5, 2006 . mdy-all .
3. Web site: SUNRISE INTERNATIONAL Information . 2006-02-06.
4. News: ANNtv Inside Sunrise. Anime News Network. 17 May 2011. 5 June 2016.
5. Web site: Hodgkins . Crystalyn. February 8, 2022. Bandai Namco Details Restructuring of Sunrise, Other IP Production Operations. . August 3, 2023.
6. Web site: サンライズが社名変更 4月から「バンダイナムコフィルムワークス」に. 2022-02-12. ITmedia NEWS. ja.
7. Web site: International. Sunrise Inc.. August 3, 2023.
8. Web site: March 1, 2024 . 株式会社エイトビット 完全子会社化のお知らせ 主力 IP のさらなる拡大と制作ライン拡充による継続的な IP 創出を促進 . March 1, 2024 . Bandai Namco Filmworks, Inc..
9. Web site: 2024-03-01 . Bandai Namco Filmworks Makes Anime Studio 8-Bit Into Wholly Owned Subsidiary . 2024-03-01 . Anime News Network . en.
10. Web site: SUNRISE INTERNATIONAL Information [Company Outline] |publisher=Sunrise-inc.co.jp |access-date=2017-02-06].
11. Animage Editorial Staff. August 1987. Arata na michi o mosakusuru orijinaru robotto anime no sōhonzan . ja:新たな道を模索するオリジナルロボットアニメの総本山. The main office searches for a fresh original robot anime. Animage. 110. 60–65. ja.
12. Web site: Sunrise Launches "Yatate Bunko" Light Novel Imprint . . 15 September 2016 . 11 February 2017 . April 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230415161736/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2016/09/14-1/sunrise-launches-yatate-bunko-light-novel-imprint . dead .
13. Web site: Sunrise Moves to New Head Office Named After Gundam's White Base. October 4, 2023 .
14. Web site: SUNRISE BEYOND SUNRISE BEYOND INC. . 2024-01-09 . sunrisebeyond.co.jp . ja.
15. Web site: Sunrise Inc. . Sunrise/Bandai Namco Filmworks history. August 3, 2023.
16. Web site: Sunrise Reveals Classicaloid Comedy TV Anime for 2016. 2015-07-03. Anime News Network. 2016-03-23.
17. 1257849364921401351. ArtofLostandCan. Here are screenshots for various lost.... May 6, 2020.
18. Web site: Pink Crows (Lost music video animation; 1985) - the Lost Media Wiki.
19. News: Funimation, Sentai in Talks Over Former Bandai Titles. Anime News Network. 25 March 2013. 24 June 2013.
20. News: Right Stuf to Release Gundam UC on DVD. Anime News Network. 14 May 2013. 24 June 2013.
21. News: Sunrise Partners with Right Stuf to Release Gundam Franchise Stateside. Anime News Network. 2014-10-11. 2014-10-12.
22. Web site: 2015-10-01 . Manglobe Anime Studio Files for Bankruptcy . 2024-03-01 . Anime News Network . en.
23. Web site: 2020-04-02 . Anime Studio Yaoyorozu Folded Into New Company 8million . 2024-03-01 . Anime News Network . en.