Good Smile Company, Inc. (株式会社グッドスマイルカンパニー, Kabushiki-gaisha Guddo-sumairu-kanpanī, also known as GSC or Good Smile) is a Japanese manufacturer of hobby products such as the Nendoroid and figma product lines, as well as scale figures. In addition to production and manufacturing, its business includes design, marketing and distribution. Its products are usually based on anime, manga or video games that are currently popular in Japan, China and the United States, although the company also produces products based on other media properties such as the voice synthesizer software Vocaloid, VTubers[1][2] and various western franchises such as Marvel Cinematic Universe and Masters of the Universe.

Good Smile Company, Inc.
Native name
株式会社グッドスマイルカンパニー
Kabushiki gaisha Guddo Sumairu Kanpanī
Company typePrivate KK
Yūgen gaisha before 2012
IndustryHobby Goods, Figures
FoundedMay 1, 2001
FounderAki Takanori
HeadquartersAkiba CO Building, 3-16-12 Sotokanda, Tokyo, Japan
ProductsNendoroid, figma, Scale Figures, Goods
Websitegoodsmileus.com

History

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Good Smile Company was established by Aki Takanori in 2001 as an event management and talent company. Thereafter it began working with Max Factory on hobby related products which soon become the main focus of the company. Good Smile Company is now primarily involved in the planning, production, manufacturing and sales of figures and toys, but also markets accessories and other goods.

Good Smile Company also acts as a distributor for a number of other hobby related companies including Max Factory, FREEing and Phat! Company. The company has a particularly long relationship with Max Factory, and often shares booths and display space with them at events such as Wonder Festival. As of June 2012, Good Smile Company moved from Matsudo, Chiba to the Tokyo Skytree's East Tower, which has become the joint headquarters for them and Max Factory.

'Kahotan's Blog' is a popular blog which introduces both Good Smile Company and related products to the public through the eyes of one of the female staff members. The blog is available in both English and Japanese.

Corporate history

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A summarized history of the company can be found below.[3]

  • May 2001 – Good Smile Company established in Matsudo, Chiba.
  • January 2002 – Planning of toys, OEM production begins
  • September 2004 – First Good Smile Company branded figure is released.
  • April 2005 – Distribution of hobby related products begins
  • February 2006 – Start of the Nendoroid series.
  • January 2008 – Start of the figma series.
  • 2010
    • March – Work begins on the Black Rock Shooter series.
    • August – The Good Smile Cafe is opened.
  • 2012

Products lines

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Good Smile Company sells a variety of products with a focus on PVC character figurines. Most products are based on anime, manga or video game characters that are popular within Japan. They have products based on American movies and comics popular in the West such as Star Wars and characters from Marvel Comics. Popular series included in companies product line-up include Hatsune Miku, Black Rock Shooter products, Puella Magi Madoka Magica products, as well as characters from Nintendo games. They are most well known for:

  • The Nendoroid figure series.
  • The articulated figma figure series (with planning and development by Max Factory).
  • Scale Figures
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Good Smile Company has been involved in the following productions as a member of the production committee.

Additionally, they were involved in the production and distribution of the Black Rock Shooter film (2010).

Good Smile Racing

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Goodsmile Racing's Mercedes-AMG GT GT3 that won the team's third GT300 championship title in 2017.
 
Goodsmile Racing 's Mercedes-AMG GT GT3 in 2018.
 
Goodsmile Racing-themed Lamborghini Murciélago on display at Anime Expo in 2022

In 2008, Good Smile Company became the primary sponsor of Studie GLAD Racing, a team which took part in the GT300 race division of the Super GT racing series in a car featuring illustrations of Hatsune Miku. In 2010, Good Smile Racing split from Studie to establish its own independent entry in the series. Good Smile Racing also produces model cars and related goods to support the racing team with sponsors.[3]

The team made its Super GT debut in 2010, featuring drivers Taku Bamba and Masahiro Sasaki in a Porsche 911 GT3, but would find little success early on. The team would prove to be a revalation in its second year of competition, though, winning three out of eight races and taking the 2011 GT300-class title, fielding the new BMW Z4 GT3 and a new driver in Nobuteru Taniguchi alongside Bamba.

They would later win another two GT300-class championships in the 2014 and 2017 seasons with drivers Nobuteru Taniguchi and Tatsuya Kataoka, becoming one of the most successful GT300-class teams in Super GT history.

In 2017, they also made their international GT debut, becoming the first Japanese GT3 team participating in the Spa 24 Hours of Intercontinental GT Challenge. The driver lineup featured former Formula One driver Kamui Kobayashi alongside Taniguchi and Kataoka.

For the 2019 24 Hours of Spa, they partnered with Type-Moon (as Type-Moon Racing), TRIGGER, and German racing team Black Falcon to field three Mercedes-AMG GT GT3 cars with Hatsune Miku, Fate, and Promare liveries.[4] Maro Engel drove the Promare-themed car to pole position and would eventually finish third alongside his teammates, while the Hatsune Miku-themed car would finish third in the Silver class.[5][6]

In 2022, Good Smile Racing made its foray into the United States market, positioned as a clothing and hobby product brand.

Good Smile is also a longtime personal sponsor of former Formula One driver and two-time FIA WEC champion Kamui Kobayashi. The company's logo has been present on Kobayashi's helmet since 2011, and multiple figures bearing his likeness were released during his time in Formula One.

Complete Super GT results

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Year Car Class Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Pos. Pts
2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (996) GT300   Taku Bamba
  Masahiro Sasaki
  Mitsuhiro Kinoshita
SUZ
12
OKA
10
FUJ
14
SEP 20th 4
Porsche 911 GT3-R (997) SUG
12
SUZ
10
FUJ
C
MOT
9
2011 BMW Z4 GT3 (E89) GT300   Nobuteru Taniguchi
  Taku Bamba
OKA
4
FUJ
5
SEP
1
SUG
6
SUZ
5
FUJ
1
AUT
9
MOT
1
1st 87
2012 BMW Z4 GT3 (E89) GT300   Tatsuya Kataoka
  Nobuteru Taniguchi
OKA
3
FUJ
1
SEP
12
SUG
7
SUZ
Ret
FUJ
8
AUT
5
MOT
4
5th 52
2013 BMW Z4 GT3 (E89) GT300   Tatsuya Kataoka
  Nobuteru Taniguchi
  Jörg Müller
OKA
2
FUJ
9
SEP
6
SUG
15
SUZ
DSQ
FUJ
1
AUT
1
MOT
4
3rd 70
2014 BMW Z4 GT3 (E89) GT300   Tatsuya Kataoka
  Nobuteru Taniguchi
OKA
1
FUJ
1
AUT
16
SUG
15
FUJ
4
SUZ
5
CHA
3
MOT
3
1st 78
2015 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 GT300   Tatsuya Kataoka
  Nobuteru Taniguchi
OKA
5
FUJ
5
CHA
13
FUJ
18
SUZ
8
SUG
16
AUT
7
MOT
2
12th 35
2016 Mercedes-AMG GT3 GT300   Tatsuya Kataoka
  Nobuteru Taniguchi
OKA
2
FUJ
18
MOT
18
SUG
7
FUJ
5
SUZ
5
CHA
8
MOT
3
7th 47
2017 Mercedes-AMG GT3 GT300   Tatsuya Kataoka
  Nobuteru Taniguchi
OKA
1
FUJ
11
AUT
5
SUG
4
FUJ
2
SUZ
19
CHA
2
MOT
3
1st 77
2018 Mercedes-AMG GT3 GT300   Tatsuya Kataoka
  Nobuteru Taniguchi
OKA
8
FUJ
5
AUT
8
SUG
7
FUJ
2
SUZ
3
CHA
19
MOT
3
4th 56
2019 Mercedes-AMG GT3 GT300   Tatsuya Kataoka
  Nobuteru Taniguchi
OKA
8
FUJ
6
SUZ
4
CHA
12
FUJ
8
AUT
4
SUG
2
MOT
5
4th 47.5
2020 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO GT300   Tatsuya Kataoka
  Nobuteru Taniguchi
FUJ
9
FUJ
27
SUZ
8
MOT
9
FUJ
8
SUZ
3
MOT
2
FUJ
15
8th 36
2021 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO GT300   Tatsuya Kataoka
  Nobuteru Taniguchi
OKA
14
FUJ
8
SUZ
3
MOT
5
SUG
23
AUT
6
MOT
Ret
FUJ
4
10th 33
2022 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO GT300   Tatsuya Kataoka
  Nobuteru Taniguchi
OKA
7
FUJ
16
SUZ
11
FUJ
13
SUZ
1
SUG
26
AUT
6
MOT
7
9th 33
2023 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO GT300   Tatsuya Kataoka
  Nobuteru Taniguchi
OKA
9
FUJ
Ret
SUZ
18
FUJ
12
SUZ
5
SUG
5
AUT
6
MOT
11
14th 20
2024 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO GT300   Tatsuya Kataoka
  Nobuteru Taniguchi
OKA
9
FUJ
4
SUZ
12
FUJ SUZ SUG AUT MOT 10th* 12*

* Season still in progress.

Anime production business

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In recent years, the company played a large part in bringing together four smaller animation companies (Sanzigen, Trigger, Ordet and LIDEN FILMS) and pooling their talent together as a new holding company named ULTRA SUPER PICTURES. This business is a part of the animation production industry, but focuses not only on the production and development of high quality animation projects, but also the licensing of works, general management and training of new staff in order to create content aimed at a worldwide audience.[7]

Associated companies

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  • Max Factory
  • Phat! Company
  • Good Smile Racing
  • Good Smile Logistics & Solutions
  • native
  • Gift
  • MAGES.
  • MEM
  • Good Smile Shanghai
  • HiTUBE
  • Ultra Super Pictures
  • Orange Rouge
  • 4chan

Controversy

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The company's attempt to sue its former executives in 2020 was met with a counter-lawsuit, which notably alleged that Good Smile Company invested in 4chan.[8] This claim was later confirmed in a partnership agreement that was obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, revealing that Good Smile Company invested $2.4 million and acquired a 30% share when Hiroyuki Nishimura purchased 4chan for $8 million in 2015.[9]

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References

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  1. ^ "Nyatasha Nyanners is the First VShojo Nendoroid". Siliconera. 12 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Gawr Gura and Mori Calliope Among Hololive Vtuber Figures Announced". Siliconera. 3 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b 会社案内 (in Japanese). Good Smile Company. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  4. ^ "「Fate」「プロメア」「初音ミク」デザインのマシンが「スパ24時間」を走る! "グッスマ"が「Black Falcon」のアートディレクションを担当". Car Watch (in Japanese). July 22, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  5. ^ Kilshaw, Jake. "Engel Pips Vanthoor to 24H Spa Pole". Sportscar365. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  6. ^ Kilshaw, Jake. "GPX Porsche Wins Rain-Affected 24H Spa". Sportscar365. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  7. ^ ULTRA SUPER PICTURES Company Overview. 2013-06-05.
  8. ^ Carpenter, Nicole (September 15, 2021). "Nendoroid toymaker sued by former execs over 'over-sexualized anime figures'". Polygon. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  9. ^ Ling, Justin (March 29, 2023). "How a Major Toy Company Kept 4chan Online". WIRED UK. Retrieved April 12, 2023.