Sotsu Co., Ltd.[a] is a Japanese advertising agency and, since March 2020, a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings, having substantial relations with it before the acquisition, especially with its now-corporate sibling, Bandai Namco Filmworks.
 | |
 Sotsu's headquarters in the World Trade Center in Minato, Tokyo. | |
Native name | 株式会社創通 |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Kabushiki gaisha Sōtsū |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Advertising |
| Founded | October 1, 1965 |
| Headquarters | Chūō, Tokyo |
Area served | Japan |
Key people | Hideyuki Nanba (president) Yūji Nasu (representative chairman) Akihiro Yuasa (representative president) |
| Revenue | ¥414.750 million (2019) |
Number of employees | 29 (2019) |
| Parent | Bandai Namco Filmworks |
| Subsidiaries |
|
| Website | www.sotsu.co.jp |
History
editIt was founded in 1965 as Toyo Agency (東洋エージェンシー, Tōyō Ējenshī),[1] with it being designated by baseball team Yomiuri Giants as its primary agency for the planning and distribution of the team's merchandising interests.[1] In 1977, it changed its name to Sotsu Agency (創通エージェンシー, Sōtsū Ējenshī). The agency was first listed in the JASDAQ stock exchange in 2003.[1] On April 1, 2007, the company changed its name to Sotsu (創通, Sōtsū).[1]
It has been involved in the production and licensing of numerous television programs, beginning in 1972 with Thunder Mask.[1] The first anime series it produced was Sunrise's Invincible Super Man Zambot 3, after which the company produced numerous others. In 1979, it produced Mobile Suit Gundam.[1]
In October 2019, Bandai Namco Holdings announced plans to acquire Sotsu, a move which would grant the company rights to the entire Gundam franchise.[2] The next month, however, Chicago, Illinois-based investment firm RMB Capital forced Bandai Namco to raise the tender offer price for Sotsu in a follow-on tender offer targeted at the general shareholders of Sotsu.[3] On March 1, 2020, Sotsu finally became a fully owned subsidiary of Bandai Namco.[4]
Productions
editSunrise productions
edit- Aura Battler Dunbine
- Combat Mecha Xabungle
- Gundam series
- Haou Taikei Ryū Knight
- Heavy Metal L-Gaim
- Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3
- Invincible Super Man Zambot 3
- Wild Knights Gulkeeva
- Metal Armor Dragonar
- Outlaw Star
- Saikyō Robo Daiōja
- Shippu! Iron Leaguer
- Trider G7
Nippon TV programs
editTV Asahi/ABC programs
editTV Tokyo programs
edit- Battle Hawk (as Toyo Agency)
- Cardfight Vanguard (formerly aired on TV Aichi for the first season)
- Capeta
- Dai-Guard
- E's Otherwise
- Earth Girl Arjuna
- Eat-Man (1997 anime)
- Eden's Bowy
- Elemental Gelade
- Glass no Kamen
- Grander Musashi RV
- Hare+Guu
- Hyper Police
- Kinkyū Hasshin Saver Kids
- Legend of Heavenly Sphere Shurato
- Doki Doki Densetsu Mahōjin Guru Guru
- Master of Mosquiton ('99)
- Papuwa
- Saber Marionette J
- Kyatto Ninden Teyandee
- School Rumble
- Shadow Skill
- Shiawa Sesō no Okojo-san
- Shura no Toki
- Silent Mobius
- Simoun
- Sorcerer Hunters
- Spiral: Suiri no Kizuna
- Tekkaman Blade
- Shin Tenchi Muyo!
- Those Who Hunt Elves
- Virus Buster Serge
- YuruYuri[5]
UHF programs
edit- Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni
- Play Ball
- Shōnen Onmyōji
Source:[6]
Notes
edit- ^ Japanese: 株式会社創通, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Sōtsū
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "History". Retrieved 2007-05-03.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (11 October 2019). "Bandai Namco Makes Takeover Bid for Gundam Sponsor Sotsu". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ "RMB Presses Bandai Namco to Raise the Tender Offer Price for Sotsu's Minority Shareholders". Business Wire. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- ^ "株式の併合等に係る承認決議に関するお知らせ" [Notice Regarding Approval of Resolution Concerning Share Consolidation] (PDF). Sotsu website. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- ^ "ゆるゆり" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ 作品一覧 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2007-05-03.