Studio Trigger
{{Short description|Japanese animation studio}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Trigger, Inc.
| native_name = 株式会社トリガー
| native_name_lang = ja
| romanized_name = Kabushiki-gaisha Torigā
| logo = Trigger Logo.svg
| type = Subsidiary
| slogan =
| foundation = {{start date and age|2011|08|22}}
| founders = Hiroyuki Imaishi
Masahiko Ōtsuka
| hq_location = Kichijōji
| hq_location_city = Musashino, Tokyo
| hq_location_country = Japan{{cite web |url=http://www.st-trigger.co.jp/recruit/ |title=RECRUIT - TRIGGER Inc. |access-date=February 11, 2014}}
| predecessor = Gainax
| origins =
| key_people = {{ubl|Masahiko Ōtsuka{{efn|Co-founder, president, and CEO}}|Yoshiki Usa{{efn|Executive vice president}}|Hiroyuki Imaishi{{efn|Co-founder and board director}}|Kazuya Masumoto{{efn|Board director}}}}
| area_served =
| industry = Anime and production enterprise
| products =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees =
| parent = Ultra Super Pictures
| subsid = Trigger Dōga-bu (2013)
| owner =
| homepage = {{Official URL}}
| footnotes =
}}
{{nihongo|Trigger, Inc.|株式会社トリガー|Kabushiki-gaisha Torigā|lead=yes}}, also known as Studio Trigger, is a Japanese animation studio founded by former Gainax employees Hiroyuki Imaishi and Masahiko Ōtsuka in 2011. It has produced anime works including Kill la Kill (2013), Little Witch Academia (short films, 2013 and 2015; TV series, 2017), Promare (2019), BNA: Brand New Animal (2020), Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022), and Delicious in Dungeon (2024), as well as the animated continuations of Gridman the Hyper Agent: SSSS.Gridman (2018), SSSS.Dynazenon (2021), and Gridman Universe (2023).
History
Studio Trigger was founded by former Gainax employee Hiroyuki Imaishi, following his success with Gurren Lagann (2007). This led to the creation of Studio Trigger, with Gurren Lagann{{'}}s visual humor and style defining the studio's work, and Trigger being seen as a successor to Gainax.{{cite web |last1=Qu |first1=Hans |title='Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann' and Taking Up the 'Evangelion' Torch |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/tengen-toppa-gurren-lagann/ |website=Film School Rejects |access-date=December 29, 2019 |date=June 20, 2019}}{{cite web |title=The 50 Best Anime Series of All Time |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/10/the-50-best-anime-series-of-all-time.html |website=Paste Magazine |access-date=December 26, 2019 |date=October 3, 2018 |archive-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223001652/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/10/the-50-best-anime-series-of-all-time.html |url-status=dead }}
Studio Trigger was established on August 22, 2011,{{Cite web |date=2019-01-21 |title=ABOUT 会社概要 {{!}} 株式会社トリガー {{!}} ANIMATION STUDIO TRIGGER Inc. |url=https://www.st-trigger.co.jp/about/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |language=ja}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-16 |title=Hiroyuki Imaishi's New Studio's Name, Website Revealed |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-10-07/hiroyuki-imaishi-new-studio-name-website-revealed |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=Anime News Network |language=en}} by Hiroyuki Imaishi and Masahiko Ōtsuka{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1536195/ |title=Masahiko Ōtsuka |website=IMDB |access-date=July 29, 2018}} shortly after leaving Gainax.{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-10-06/animator/gurren-lagann-helmer-imaishi-establishes-studio |title=Animator: Gurren Lagann Helmer Imaishi Establishes Studio |publisher=Anime News Network |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=May 8, 2013}} The studio name and official website was revealed in October 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-10-07/hiroyuki-imaishi-new-studio-name-website-revealed |title=Hiroyuki Imaishi's New Studio Name, Website Revealed |publisher=Anime News Network |date=July 10, 2011 |access-date=May 8, 2013}} The first animation they released was for the game Project X Zone.{{cite web|first=Egan|last=Loo|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-07-25/studio-trigger-evangelion-yoko-takahashi-work-on-project-x-zone-opening|title=Studio Trigger, Evangelion's Yoko Takahashi Work on Project X Zone Opening|website=Anime News Network|date=July 25, 2012|access-date=May 8, 2013}} Along with assisting production on various series, Trigger released a short film, Little Witch Academia,{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-06-06/gonzo-trigger-pierrot-madhouse-make-anime-mirai-2013 |title=Gonzo, Trigger, Pierrot, Madhouse Make Anime Mirai 2013 |publisher=Anime News Network |date=June 6, 2012 |access-date=May 8, 2013}} and developed its first original anime television series, Kill la Kill, which aired from October 2013 to March 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-02-09/studio-trigger-1st-tv-series-teaser-streamed |title=Studio Trigger's 1st TV Series Teaser Streamed |publisher=Anime News Network |date=February 9, 2013 |access-date=May 8, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-08/kill-la-kill-anime-reunites-gurren-lagann-director-writer |title=Kill La Kill Anime Reunites Gurren Lagann Director, Writer |publisher=Anime News Network |date=May 8, 2013 |access-date=May 8, 2013}} On July 8, 2013, Trigger launched a Kickstarter project in order to fund a second episode of Little Witch Academia. The project was well received and achieved its goal of $150,000 in under five hours, and went on to raise a total of $625,518.{{cite web |url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1311401276/little-witch-academia-2 |title=Little Witch Academia 2 |website=Kickstarter |access-date=July 9, 2013}}
Studio Trigger, along with studios Sanzigen and Ordet, joined joint holding company Ultra Super Pictures.{{cite web|title=Sanzigen, Ordet, Trigger Form Ultra Super Pictures Holding Firm|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-10-27/sanzigen-ordet-trigger-form-ultra-super-pictures-holding-firm|publisher=Anime News Network|date=27 November 2011|access-date=8 February 2014}}
In 2018, Studio Trigger created a Patreon with the goal of acquiring necessary funding for projects and merchandise. As of February 2025, Studio Trigger's Patreon offers two support tiers for patrons (US$1/month and US$5/month), has over 6000 members, and raises over US$3,000 per month.{{Cite web |title=Studio TRIGGER is creating Animation and Illustration |url=https://www.patreon.com/TRIGGER |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Patreon |language=en-GB}}
In 2023, Trigger announced it had acquired the rights to Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt and Gurren Lagann, and announced a follow-up series for Panty & Stocking and a North American re-screening of both Gurren Lagann movies.{{cite web|title=Trigger Unveils Announcement Video for New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt Anime Project |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-07-01/trigger-unveils-announcement-video-for-new-panty-and-stocking-with-garterbelt-anime-project/.199878|website=Anime News Network|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|date=July 1, 2023|access-date=July 6, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Mateo |first1=Alex |last2=Hodgkins |first2=Crystalyn |title=Studio Trigger to Re-Screen 2 Gurren Lagann Films in Japan, N. America, Taiwan in This Year |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-07-01/studio-trigger-to-re-screen-2-gurren-lagann-films-in-japan-n-america-taiwan-in-this-year/.199864 |website=Anime News Network |access-date=15 October 2024 |language=en |date=1 July 2023}}
Productions
=Anime television series=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" class="unsortable" width=10 | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Network ! scope="col" | Director(s) ! scope="col" | {{abbr|Eps.|Episodes}} ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Note(s) ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Refs.|References}} |
|---|
| scope="row" |2013–2014
|MBS |24 | style="text-align: left" |Original work. |
| scope="row" |2014
|When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace |Masahiko Ōtsuka (chief) |12 | style="text-align: left" |Based on a light novel by Kōta Nozomi. |
| scope="row" rowspan="2" |2016
|AT-X |Hiroyuki Imaishi |13 | style="text-align: left" |Original work. |
| Kiznaiver
|ABC |Hiroshi Kobayashi |12 | style="text-align: left" |Original work. |
| scope="row" |2017
|25 | style="text-align: left" |Based on Trigger's short film of the same name. |
| scope="row" rowspan="2" |2018
|Tokyo MX |Atsushi Nishigori |24 | style="text-align: left" |Original work. |
| SSSS.Gridman
|Akira Amemiya | 12 | style="text-align: left" |Based on the tokusatsu series Gridman the Hyper Agent by Tsuburaya Productions. |
| scope="row" |2020
|12 | style="text-align: left" |Original work. |
| scope="row" |2021
|Tokyo MX |Akira Amemiya |12 | style="text-align: left" |Studio's 10th anniversary project. |
| scope="row" |2024–present
|Tokyo MX | Yoshihiro Miyajima | 24+ | style="text-align: left" | Based on a manga by Ryoko Kui. | {{cite web |title=Delicious in Dungeon Anime's Teaser Trailer Reveals Main Cast, More Staff, January 2024 Debut |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-05-25/delicious-in-dungeon-anime-teaser-trailer-reveals-main-cast-more-staff-january-2024-debut/.198425 |website=Anime News Network |date=May 25, 2023 |access-date=May 25, 2023}} |
| scope="row" |2025
| New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt | {{TBA}} | Hiroyuki Imaishi | {{TBA}} | style="text-align: left" | Upcoming project based on the original series by predecessor studio Gainax. |{{cite web |title=New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt Anime to Air in 2025 |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-07-04/new-panty-and-stocking-with-garterbelt-anime-to-air-in-2025/.212867 |website=Anime News Network |date=July 4, 2024 |access-date=July 4, 2024}} |
=Anime films=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" class="unsortable" width=10 | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Director(s) ! scope="col" | {{abbr|Dur.|Duration}} ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Note(s) ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Refs.|References}} |
|---|
| scope="row" |2013
|rowspan="2" | Yoh Yoshinari |30m | style="text-align: left" |Original work. |
| scope="row" |2015
|Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade |55m | style="text-align: left" |Original work. |{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-07-09/trigger-little-witch-academia-2-meets-kickstarter-goal |title=Trigger's Little Witch Academia 2 Meets Kickstarter Goal |publisher=Anime News Network |date=July 9, 2013 |access-date=January 9, 2016}} |
| scope="row" |2019
|Hiroyuki Imaishi |115m | style="text-align: left" |Original work. |
| scope="row" |2023
|Akira Amemiya |118m | style="text-align: left" |Crossover between SSSS.Gridman and SSSS.Dynazenon. |
=Original net animations=
=Other productions=
{{Columns-list|
- Project X Zone (2012; game) – Opening animation production{{cite web|first=Egan|last=Loo|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-07-25/studio-trigger-evangelion-yoko-takahashi-work-on-project-x-zone-opening|title=Studio Trigger, Evangelion's Yoko Takahashi Work on Project X Zone Opening|website=Anime News Network|date=July 25, 2012|access-date=May 8, 2013}}
- Yonhyakunijuu Renpai Girl (2013; PV) – Promotional video for light novel published by Enterbrain{{cite web|first=Egan|last=Loo|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-01-25/trigger-makes-anime-promo-for-enterbrain-winning-novel|title=Trigger Makes Anime Promo for Enterbrain's Winning Novel|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 3, 2016|date=January 25, 2013}}
- Hacka Doll (2014; PV) – Promotional videos for mobile news app by DeNA{{cite web|first=Crystalyn|last=Hodgkins|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-08-16/studio-trigger-makes-promo-anime-for-dena-hacka-doll-app/.77647|title=Studio Trigger Makes Promo Anime for DeNA's Hacka Doll News App|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 3, 2016|date=August 16, 2014}}
- Bishoujo Mobage: Mobami-chan (2014; PV) – Promotional video for mobile game by DeNA{{cite web|first=Sarah|last=Nelkin|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-08-16/trigger-animates-promo-for-dena-line-of-bishojo-social-games/.77682|title=Trigger Animates Promo For DeNA's Line of Bishōjo Social Games|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 3, 2016|date=August 16, 2014}}
- Black Dynamite (2014; TV) – Season 2 opening animation production; co-production with Sanzigen{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/09/10/kill-la-kill-director-helms-black-dynamite-opening|title="Kill La Kill" Director Helms "Black Dynamite" Opening|first=Scott|last=Green|website=Crunchyroll|date=September 10, 2014|access-date=October 19, 2014}}
- Hacka Doll the Animation (2015; TV) – Animation assistance{{cite web|first=Crystalyn|last=Hodgkins|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-05-03/dena-hacka-doll-app-inspires-tv-anime/.87776|title=DeNA's Hacka Doll News App Inspires TV Anime|date=May 3, 2015|website=Anime News Network|access-date=October 26, 2015}}
- Battlesaurs (2015; OVA) – Opening animation production{{cite web|title=Studio Trigger Animates Extra For Toy Story That Time Forgot Home Video Release|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-11-07/studio-trigger-animates-extra-for-toy-story-that-time-forgot-home-video-release/.95114|website=Anime News Network|access-date=January 9, 2016|date=November 7, 2015}}
- Chunithm (2015; MV) – Music video animation production{{cite web|first=Lynzee|last=Loveridge|title=Trigger Animates Music Video for Sega's Chunithm Rhythm Game|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-07-20/trigger-animates-music-video-for-sega-chunithm-rhythm-game/.90676|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 3, 2016|date=July 20, 2015}}
- Fire Emblem Fates (2015; game) – Live2D illustrations{{cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/3ds/fire-emblem-fates-birthright/credits|title=Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright Credits|website=MobyGames|access-date=January 31, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/3ds/fire-emblem-fates-conquest/credits|title=Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest Credits|website=MobyGames|access-date=January 31, 2020}}
- Hyoketsu (2016; CM) – TV commercial animation production for beverage by Kirin Company{{cite web|first=Lynzee|last=Loveridge|title=Studio Trigger Fukuoka Animates Kirin Beer Ad|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2016-08-02/studio-trigger-fukuoka-animates-kirin-beer-ad/.104948|website=Anime News Network|access-date=February 9, 2017|date=August 2, 2016}}
- Steven Universe (2016; TV) – Animation production assistance for S4E4, "Mindful Education"{{cite web |last=Hori |first=Takafumi |date=August 25, 2016 |title=New episode of Steven Universe this Thursday... |url=http://porigoshi.tumblr.com/post/149420873384/new-episode-of-steven-universe-this-thursday |publisher=Tumblr |access-date=August 25, 2016}}{{cite web|first=Crystalyn|last=Hodgkins|date=August 25, 2016|title=Studio Trigger Animator Takafumi Hori Works on Latest Episode of Steven Universe Animated Series|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-08-25/studio-trigger-animator-takafumi-hori-works-on-latest-episode-of-steven-universe-animated-series/.105751|website=Anime News Network|access-date=February 14, 2022}}
- OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes (2017; TV) – Opening animation production{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/ok-ko-ian-jones-quartey-interview/#cartoon-network|title='OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes' Creator Ian Jones-Quartey on His Robot-Punching Protagonist|first=Dave|last=Trumbore|website=Collider|date=August 1, 2017|access-date=January 31, 2020}}
- Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time (2017; game) – Cutscene animation production{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2017/11/little-witch-academia-chamber-time-details-trigger-produced-anime-scenes-character-strengthening|title=Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time details Trigger-produced anime scenes, character strengthening, more|first=Sal|last=Romano|website=Gematsu|date=November 2, 2017|access-date=January 31, 2020}}
- Kill la Kill: The Game: IF (2019; game) – Development supervision{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/05/30/how-kill-la-kill-went-from-anime-to-game|title=How Kill la Kill Went from Anime to Game|first=Miranda|last=Sanchez|website=IGN|date=May 30, 2019|access-date=January 31, 2020}}
- Shantae and the Seven Sirens (2019; game) – Opening animation production{{cite web|title=Studio Trigger Is Handling The Opening Animation For Shantae 5|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/07/studio_trigger_is_handling_the_opening_animation_for_shantae_5|first=Liam|last=Doolan|website=Nintendo Life|date=July 2, 2019|access-date=April 27, 2022}}
- Delicious in Dungeon (2019; PV) – Promotional video for manga published by Enterbrain{{cite web|title=Delicious in Dungeon Manga Gets Tasty 30-Second Anime Ad by TRIGGER|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-09-05/delicious-in-dungeon-manga-gets-tasty-30-second-anime-ad-by-trigger/.150770|first=Lynzee|last=Loveridge|website=Anime News Network|date=September 5, 2019|access-date=August 9, 2022}}
- Indivisible (2019; game) – Opening animation production; co-produced with Titmouse, Inc.{{cite web|title=Skullgirls developer teams up with anime studio Trigger for Indivisible|url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/12/6/13850780/indivisible-studio-trigger-animation-lab-zero-games-anime|first=Michael|last=McWhertor|website=Polygon|date=December 6, 2016|access-date=December 6, 2016}}
- Idolish7 (2020; MV) – Music video animation production{{cite web|title=TRIGGER-Animated "IDOLiSH7" Idol Group TRIGGER's New MV "Crescent rise" Streamed|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/en-gb/anime-news/2020/01/27-1/trigger-animated-idolish7-idol-group-triggers-new-mv-crescent-rise-streamed|first=Mikikazu|last=Komatsu|website=Crunchyroll|date=January 28, 2020|access-date=April 25, 2020}}
- Metallic Child (2021; PV) – Promotional video for video game published by Crest{{cite web|title=Studio Trigger Animates Trailer for Metallic Child Game|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-07/studio-trigger-animates-trailer-for-metallic-child-game/.174912|author=Alex Mateo|website=Anime News Network|date=July 7, 2021|access-date=February 14, 2022}}
- Omega Strikers (2023; PV) – Promotional video for video game published by Odyssey Interactive{{cite web|title=Studio Trigger Animates Trailer for Omega Strikers Game|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-04-21/studio-trigger-animates-trailer-for-omega-strikers-game/.197315|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|website=Anime News Network|date=April 21, 2023|access-date=April 21, 2023}}
- "Chocolat Cadabra" (2024; MV) – Music video animation production{{cite web|title=Ado Releases 'Chocolat Cadabra' Full Length Studio TRIGGER-Animated Music Video|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2024/1/31/ado-releases-chocolat-cadabra-full-length-studio-trigger-animated-music-video|last=Harding|first=Daryl|website=Crunchyroll|date=January 31, 2024|access-date=April 24, 2024}}
- Transformers 40th Anniversary Special Movie (2024; PV) - Promotional video for the 40th anniversary of the Transformers media franchise by Takara Tomy and Hasbro, with assistance from Production I.G., Madhouse, Studio Colorido, Studio Kai and Production +h{{cite news|url=https://news.tfw2005.com/2024/09/12/transformers-40th-anniversary-special-video-by-studio-trigger-full-reveal-520795|title=Transformers 40th Anniversary Special Video by Studio Trigger, Full Reveal!|website=TFW2005 (Transformer World 2005)|date=September 12, 2024|access-date=September 29, 2024}}
}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website}} {{in lang|ja}}
- [https://twitter.com/trigger_inc Trigger Inc.] on Twitter {{in lang|ja}}
- {{anime News Network|company|10354}}
- {{anime News Network|company|17116|Trigger Fukuoka}}
{{Studio Trigger}}
{{Ultra Super Pictures}}
{{Gainax}}
{{Japanese animation studios}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Animation studios in Tokyo
Category:Japanese animation studios
Category:Japanese companies established in 2011