Bandai Namco Filmworks

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
Kabushiki gaisha Bandai Namuko Firumuwkusu
FormerlySunrise Studio, Limited (1972–1976)
Nippon Sunrise Inc. (1976–1987)
Sunrise Inc. (1987–2022)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryAnime
Film distribution
Home entertainment
FoundedSeptember 1972 (1972-09) (as Sunrise)
April 1, 2022 (2022-04-01) (as Bandai Namco Filmworks)
HeadquartersOgikubo,
Suginami, Tokyo
,
Japan
Key people
Makoto Asanuma
(president and CEO)
Satoshi Kawano
(executive vice-president)
Yoshitaka Tao
(managing director)
Number of employees
646 (as of April 1, 2024)[1]
ParentBandai (1994–2005)
Bandai Namco Holdings (2005–present)
DivisionsSunrise (IP Production Group)
Bandai Visual
Emotion
Bandai Channel
SubsidiariesBandai Namco Pictures
Actas
Sotsu
Evolving GUNDAM
Eight Bit
Websitebnfw.co.jp
Footnotes / references
[2][3]

Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc.[a] is a Japanese entertainment company owned by Bandai Namco Holdings with its business focused on the planning, production and management of anime films and television series. It was founded in September 1972 by former Mushi Production staff as Sunrise Studio, Limited,[b] the animation studio branch of Shoeisha Co., Ltd.[c]. In 1977, it gained independence from Shoeisha and Tohokushinsha and rebranded itself to Nippon Sunrise Inc.[d] In 1987, the studio rebranded to Sunrise Inc.,[e] a name which would remain in use for over 35 years. In 1994, the company was acquired by toy and entertainment company Bandai and was integrated into Namco Bandai Holdings in 2005.

In 2022, as part of a major group restructuring of the Bandai Namco Group, the company would merge with the home video division of Bandai Namco Arts and Bandai Namco Rights Marketing to form Bandai Namco Filmworks. As part of this restructuring, Sunrise would continue to operate as a division within the company (officially known as a "brand") with the changes taking effect on April 1, 2022.[4]

Its current divisions include Sunrise (animation production), Bandai Visual (including Emotion, home video distribution) and Bandai Channel (streaming services) and currently owns other studios such as Bandai Namco Pictures, Actas, Eight Bit and the advertising agency Sotsu.

  1. ^ 会社概要 / バンダイナムコフィルムワークス [Company Profile]. Bandai Namco Filmworks INC. (in Japanese). Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  2. ^ "Sunrise Official Site" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 5, 2006. Retrieved February 6, 2006.
  3. ^ "SUNRISE INTERNATIONAL Information". Retrieved February 6, 2006.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference restructuring was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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