Overview

Studio Sunrise is an animation production company now going by Bandai Namco Filmworks.

Part of the Bandai Namco Group.

It is known for producing many robot anime such as the Gundam series, anime adaptations of manga works such as Inuyasha and Gintama, anime adaptations of novels such as Accel World, and idol anime such as the Aikatsu! and Love Live! series.

Brief Histrory

Sunrise was formerly known as Osamu Tezuka's Mushi Production, and was established mainly by the sales and production staff who became independent from Mushi Production. (For example, Yoshiyuki Tomino does not belong to Sunrise, but is an outsourced staff member.)

In June 1987, the company changed its name from Nippon Sunrise to the current name.

In April 1994, the company became a group company under the Bandai Group (later the Bandai Namco Group) following capital participation by Bandai.

Since 2007, when the Bandai Group and NAMCO merged, the number of tie-up titles with the NAMCO brand has increased, while the number of existing toy tie-ups has decreased around this time.

In the 2010s, the company entered production in the idol anime field more frequently. In April 2015, the company established a subsidiary, Bandai Namco Pictures, which separates out works for the children and family audience. As a result, from 2015 onwards, the main productions will be aimed at an older audiences (from late teenagers and above to adulthood).

In 2018, the animation production company Xebec, a subsidiary of Production I.G., transferred most of its video production business to Sunrise, which established Sunrise Beyond Inc. as a new Sunrise subsidiary and took over the business.

In 2021, the company moved to a new building, White Base, together with the two subsidiaries mentioned above. This consolidated as many as 20 affiliated companies.

In April 2022, the company merged with the visual division of Bandai Namco Arts (Bandai Visual) and Bandai Namco Rights Marketing, and changed its corporate name to Bandai Namco Filmworks. 'Sunrise' continues to be used as the animation production brand.

Main Works

※Asterisks (☆) are given to works whose copyrights were transferred to Bandai Namco Pictures after their production.

※In Japanese kana alphabetical order.

Animated adaptations with original works

• Aikatsu! series (2012-2016)(☆)
• Idolmaster: XENOGLOSSIA (2007)
• Accel World (2012)
• Inuyasha (2000-2004, 2009-2010)
• Obatarian (1990)
• Onmyō Taisenki (2004-2005)
• Kaiketsu Zorori (2005-2007)(☆)
• Gambalist! Shun (1996-1997)
• Horizon on the Middle of Nowhere (2011, 2012)
• Kyōryū Tankentai Born Free (Produced by Tsuburaya Productions. In charge of the animation part. 1976-1977)
• Gintama (2006-2010, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2015-2016, 2017-2018, 2021)(☆)
• Crusher Joe (1983, 1989)
• Crush Gear series (2001-2003)
• Kekkaishi (2006-2008)
• Keroro Gunsou (2004-2011)(☆)
• Dinosaur King (2007-2008)(☆)
• Cyborg 009 (The 1979 version was commissioned by Toei Animation to Sunrise for production. 1979-1980)
• The Ultraman (1979-1980)
• City Hunter series (1987-1989, 1989-1990, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2019)
• Scarlet Nexus (2021)
• Steamboy (2004)
• Crest of the Stars, Banner of the Stars and Fragments of the Stars (Hiroyuki Morioka's Seikai series. 1999, 2000-2001, 2005, 2000)
• Seraphim Call (1999)
• Sentimental Journey (1998)
• Dirty Pair (1985)
• Daily Lives of High School Boys (2012)
• Tales of the Abyss (2008-2009)(☆)
• Mighty Cat Masked Niyander (2000-2001)(☆)
• Battle Spirits series (2008-2014, 2015-2017, 2020, 2022)(☆)
• Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon (2020-2021, 2021-2022)
• Good Luck Girl! (2012)
• Planetes (2003-2004)
• Majokko Tickle (Produced under commission from Toei to Sunrise. 1978-1979)
• Mister Ajikko (1987-1989)
• Yakitate!! Japan (2004-2006)
• Love Live! series (2013-2015, 2016-2019, 2020-, 2021-, TBA)

Original Anime

※In Japanese kana alphabetical order.

• Witch Hunter Robin (2002)
• The Girl Who Leapt Through Space (2009)
• Cowboy Bebop (1998-1999, 2001)
• Kagaku Bōkentai Tansar 5 (1979-1980)
• ClassicaLoid (2016-2017, 2017-2018)(☆)
• Cluster Edge (2005-2006)
• Future GPX Cyber Formula (1991, 1992-1993, 1994-1995, 1996-1997, 1998-2000)
• s-CRY-ed (2001, 2011, 2012)
• Sacred Seven (2011)
• Outlaw Star (1998)
• Angel Links (1999)
• Zero Tester (1973-1974)
• TIGER & BUNNY (2011, 2012, 2014, 2022)(☆)
• Tribe Cool Crew (2014-2015)(☆)
• Natsuiro Kiseki (2012)
• Hazedon (Sunrise Studio's first TV series. 1972-1973)
• Phi Brain (2011-2012, 2013-2014)(☆)
• My-HiME (2004-2005)
• Mama wa Shōgaku 4 Nensei (1992)
• Brigadoon: Marin & Melan (2000-2001)
• Samurai Troopers (also known as Ronin Warriors, 1988-1989)
• La Seine no Hoshi (1975)
• Robokko Beeton (1976-1977)
• Kum-Kum (1975-1976)

Robot Anime

As robot anime is the studio's forte genre, there are many well-known works other than Gundam, which are listed separately.

• Blue Comet SPT Layzner (1985-1986)
• Argento Soma (2000-2001)
• Eldran series (1991-1994)
• Overman King Gainer (2002-2003)
• Valvrave the Liberator (2013)
• Gasaraki (1998-1999)
• Gundam series (1979-present)
• Gear Fighter Dendoh (2000-2001)
• Metal Armor Dragonar (1987-1988)
• Mobile Police Patlabor (TV series and New OVA series. 1989-1990 and 1990-1992)
• Cross Ange: Rondo of Angels and Dragons (2014-2015)
• Code Geass series (2006-2007, 2008)
• Robot King Daioja (1981-1982)
• The Big O (1999-2000, 2003)
• Jushin Liger (1989-1990)
• Heavy Metal L-Gaim (1984-1985)
• Combat Mecha Xabungle (1982-1983)
• Aura Battler Dunbine (1983-1984)
• Zegapain (2006)
• Zone of the Enders (2001)
• Armored Trooper Votoms (1983-1984, 1985, 1986, 1988)
• Fang of the Sun Dougram (1981-1983)
• Raideen the Superior (1996-1997)
• The Vision of Escaflowne (1996, 2000)
• Space Runaway Ideon (1980-1981)
• Robot Romance Trilogy (Produced under commission from Toei to Sunrise. 1976-1979, 1979-1980)
• Haō Taikei Ryū Knight (1994-1995)
• Buddy Complex (2014)
• Brain Powerd (1998)
• Mashin Hero Wataru series (1988-1989, 1990-1991, 1993, 1994, 1997-1998, 2020)
• Madö King Granzört (1989-1990)
• Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3 (1978-1979)
• Invincible Super Man Zambot 3 (1977-1978)
• Invincible Robo Trider G7 (1980-1981)
• Brave series (1990-1991, 1991-1992, 1992-1993, 1993-1994, 1994-1995, 1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1997-1998)
• Brave Raideen (1975-1976)

Related Articles

†1: She left voice acting to work for Sunrise.

†2: animation studios founded by former Sunrise employees who became independent.

Related Links

Bandai Namco Filmworks - Wikipedia

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