Bandai Spirits Co., Ltd.[a] is a Japanese toy manufacturer based in Minato, Tokyo, owned by Bandai, a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings. The company manufactures and distributes toys and collectibles mainly aimed at adults, such as the Banpresto and Tamashii Nations brands, B-Train and plastic models such as Gunpla among others, which before 2018, were previously handled by Bandai as well as Banpresto's prize and convenience store businesses, which were inherited from the second incarnation of Banpresto in 2008 following the original company's absorption into Namco Bandai Games. The formation of the company was the final stage of a major restructuring of Bandai Namco Holdings, aimed at creating more properties, which also involved the spin-off of Bandai Namco Entertainment's amusement machine division to Bandai Namco Amusement and the formation of Bandai Namco Pictures, an animation studio that transferred several productions previously produced by Sunrise to BNP. Bandai Spirits' products are distributed internationally via Bandai's subsidiaries and local distributors.
 | |
 Headquarters in Minato, Tokyo | |
Native name | 株式会社BANDAI SPIRITS |
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Toy |
| Predecessor | Banpresto (second incarnation) |
| Founded | February 15, 2018 |
| Headquarters | Sumitomo Fudosan Tokyo Mita Garden Tower, Minato, Tokyo , Japan |
| Brands | Banpresto Gunpla Tamashii Nations B-Train Ichiban Kuji |
| Owner | Bandai Namco Holdings |
| Parent | Bandai |
| Subsidiaries | Bandai Namco Nui |
| Website | bandaispirits |
History
editBandai Spirits was founded on February 15, 2018, and its restructuring plan was approved by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry a month later on March 28.[1] On February 22, 2019, Bandai Spirits announced that it would absorb the second incarnation of Banpresto, which was completed by April 1, 2018.[2] On December 22, 2022, the company announced the acquisition of stuffed toy company Sunrise (unrelated to the animation division of Bandai Namco Filmworks, also owned by Bandai Namco).[3]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "産業競争力強化法に基づき株式会社BANDAI SPIRITSの事業再編計画を認定しました". Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (in Japanese). 28 March 2018. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "BANDAI SPIRITSとバンプレストが合併...バンプレストは解散へ". Gamebiz (in Japanese). 22 February 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
- ^ "BANDAI SPIRITS、ぬいぐるみメーカー・サンライズの子会社化を発表". Hobby Watch (in Japanese). 20 December 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2024.