Studio Trigger

“	If a work was a bullet, we want to be the trigger that launched it, this is where the studio's name came from.	”
—Studio Trigger's possible motto. ^[1]

Studio Trigger, also known as Trigger Inc. (株式会社トリガー, Kabushiki kaisha Torigā^?) is the studio responsible for the animation production of the initial short film Little Witch Academia in 2013, its sequel The Enchanted Parade in 2015, and the Little Witch Academia anime series in 2017.

It was founded by former Gainax employees Hiroyuki Imaishi and Masahiko Ōtsuka on August 22, 2011^[2]^[3]^[4], and its establishement was publicized on October 7, 2011^[5]. The studio is known for producing other anime series such as Kill la Kill, Inferno Cop, Space Patrol Luluco, Kiznaiver and Darling in the Franxx. Yō Yoshinari is a key employee that joined soon after who was instrumental in the character design and direction of the Little Witch Academia animation franchise.

Studio Trigger is the main animation partner in the joint holding company Ultra Super Pictures, which in charge of the management and presentation of the work while the studio itself handled the production^[6].

As explained by Masahiko Ōtsuka in an interview, the decision to form Studio Trigger was in response of a paradigm shift concerning the method of production and management and the search for an ideal environment for the production of animation due to the same reason. Most notably, the method of watching animation is gradually shifting from buying the content on Blu-Ray or DVD to watching it on the internet via streaming and therefore viewers have a wider selection of platforms such as PC, smartphones, etc., hence the method of doing business has naturally shifted in line with such modern changes. This was also done with realization of a production studio must engage in both phases of animation and promotion, especially the way to present its work to the fans. Of course, such thing only made possible through agreement from everyone in the studio outside of the production section. Around that time, he and Hiroyuki Imaishi are joined by Kazuya Matsumoto who initially had some doubts until he tagged along under the condition where the new company would be able to make a 2-hour long original movie with Imaishi as its director. In principle though, they wouldn't change the arrangements for production that most animation studios in the Tokyo area – including Gainax – choose, bringing in together a team of independent animators for each work. Though it had come up with an original animation project at the time, Studio Trigger participated in works by other studios during the preparation phase before eventually capable of producing an original and ambitious animation on its owners^[6]^[7]^[8]^[4].

The studio's laser-like focus on taking creative risks proved that being part of a larger holdings company was a smart idea. To elaborate, during its foundation in 2011, Studio Trigger, along with the likes of Liden films, Sanzigen and Ordet, formed a holdings company named Ultra Super Pictures, which would manage their licenses collectively^[8].

Despite being a separate animation studio, Studio Trigger nevertheless retained some of Gainax's ideals since majorities of its members were former Gainax staff, Hiromi Wakabayashi included.^[9]

During its early days, Studio Trigger was involved in animation for Project X Zone with Hiroyuki Imaishi being the director for his talents and Akira Amemiya, who have joined the studio at that point, worked on much of its several aspects (direction, character design, animation, etc.). Bandai Namco enlisted the Studio into this collaboration after being impressed by Imaishi's works, which helped by Akira Amemiya entrusted him the endeavor of directing it. Studio Trigger also collaborated with other notable animation studios such as (Ebichû (エビ中) and GIZMON) during which Atsushi Nishigori worked on its behalf^[10]^[11]. The studio's establishment was also done through trial and error process not only because majorities of its starting members were still new in business management, but also found themselves often seeking advice from other studio managers. For the same reasons, the legal work for the studio was handled by Ultra Super Pictures^[8].

Studio Trigger also made good use with social medias as means of promoting its work, notably Twitter and Facebook.^[10] As of during the interview in Anime Matsuri Hawaii in 2015, the Studio still considering which streaming platform to put its anime online, though they already used Netflix in Japan.^[12]^[13]

According to Masahiko Ōtsuka during an interview during Anime Matsuri Hawaii in 2015, Studio Trigger had a "hiccup" during the development of Kill la Kill. Though unconfirmed, this may be referring to its staff's struggles in ensuring the series surpassed Gurren Lagann prior. At that point however, they had easier time thanks to being more experienced, spending more time in completing character designs for Kill la Kill than while working on Gurren Lagann. Same went to the entire visuals of the work; the coloring, the background touches, and directional approach. It helped by Nakashima and Imaishi settled with the idea of Kill la Kill to be the most interesting story they could think of instead of just to surpass Gurren Lagann alone, taking notes from school resistance-themed shounen manga and 1970s Toei Pinky Violence as well as Delinquent Detective and Fist of the North Star for reference.^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]. The success of Kill la Kill, as well as Inferno Cop and Little Witch Academia shorts saw the growing interest of fans outside Japan.^[18]

As of 2022, this studio have employed over one hundred staff.

In stark contrast of other studios, Studio Trigger focuses more on original works rather than adapting pre-existing works such as ones from manga and light novels. Notable exceptions are Delicious in Dungeon, Cyberpunk Edgerunners, and two of shorts of Star Wars: Visions (The Elder and The Twins). Metaphorically speaking, their difference is not unlike a restaurant being content with decent burger instead of finest foods its rivals worked on. As Shigeto Koyama pointed out, the name of the studio sounded violent owing to the word 'trigger' being associated with firearms compared to those of other animation studios he worked on, though he admitted it sounds very lofty while saying it in a normal conversation nonetheless.^[19] On a related note, Wakabayashi confirmed the studio had complete control over its works with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners being among few exceptions^[20].

According to Hiroyuki Imaishi, the essence of TRIGGER is that the directors and the teams make what they think is fun and interesting^[17]. He also stated that the goal which shaped it is the ability to take risks. Masahiko Ōtsuka added that while freedom of creativity is said to be the greatest environment an animator or creator wish for but, he worried it would lead to them becoming indifferent to taking risks^[8].

As stated by Yoshinari and Wakabayashi in an interview, they aimed to make Studio Trigger as accomplished as the likes of either P.A. Works, Pixar, or Kyo-Ani.^[21]

List of Works

Kill la Kill (first independent project^[22])
When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace
Inferno Cop
Space Patrol Luluco
Kiznaiver
Little Witch Academia
Darling in the Franxx
SSSS.Gridman
BNA: Brand New Animal
SSSS.Dynazenon
Delicious in Dungeon (upcoming)
New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (upcoming)

Other Productions

Project X Zone (2012; game) – Opening animation production
Yonhyakunijuu Renpai Girl (2013; PV) – Promotional video for light novel published by Enterbrain
Hacka Doll (2014; PV) – Promotional videos for mobile news app by DeNA
Bishoujo Mobage: Mobami-chan (2014; PV) – Promotional video for mobile game by DeNA
Black Dynamite (2014; TV) – Season 2 opening animation production; co-production with Sanzigen
Hacka Doll the Animation (2015; TV) – Animation assistance
Battlesaurs (2015; OVA) – Opening animation production*Chunithm (2015; MV) – Music video animation production
Fire Emblem Fates (2015; game) – Live2D illustrations
Hyoketsu (2016; CM) – TV commercial animation production for beverage by Kirin Company
Steven Universe (2016; TV) – Animation production assistance for S4E4, "Mindful Education"
OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes (2017; TV) – Opening animation production
Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time (2017; game) – Cutscene animation production
Kill la Kill: The Game: IF (2019; game) – Development supervision
Shantae and the Seven Sirens (2019; game) – Opening animation production
Delicious in Dungeon (2019; PV) – Promotional video for manga published by Enterbrain
Indivisible (2019; game) – Opening animation production; co-produced with Titmouse, Inc.
Idolish7 (2020; MV) – Music video animation production
Metallic Child (2021; PV) – Promotional video for video game published by Crest
RRR (2022; film) - Promotional Illustration for 2023 release in Japan.^[23]
Omega Strikers (2023; PV) – Promotional video for video game published by Odyssey Interactive

Trigger in-house staff

This section is a stub. You can help the Little Witch Academia Wiki by expanding it.

Employees who worked on the Little Witch Academia franchise:

Kazuya Matsumoto
Yō Yoshinari
Kou Yoshinari
Naoko Tsutsumi
Hiroyuki Imaishi
Masahiko Ōtsuka
Hiromi Wakabayashi
Michiru Ōshima
Michiru Shimada
Yusuke Yoshigaki
Takafumi Hori (Became freelance)
Tatsuru Tatemoto (Tattun)
Kai Ikarashi
Rie Ishige
Syūichi Iseki (Moved to Khara)
Shiori Miyazaki
Akira Amemiya
Arai Hiroki
Naoki Takeda
Yoshihiro Miyajima
Sushio
Hisao Dendō
Akitarō Daichi
Masaru Sakamoto
Ryouji Masuyama
Hiroshi Kobayashi
Daizen Komatsuda
Hiroaki Sakurai
Makoto Nakazono
Masayuki
Yūto Kaneko
Shunsuke Shida
Kumiko Sano

Freelancers

This section is a stub. You can help the Little Witch Academia Wiki by expanding it.

Freelancers hired to work on the Little Witch Academia franchise:

Ryouta Hayatsu (Ryota-H)
Masamichi Ishiyama

Others

Shigeto Koyama
Bahi JD^[24]
Kazuki Nakashima

Collaborators

Alexander Grant (Setting Assistant of "Don't Stop Me Now" and "Sleeping Sucy").
Hiroaki Otsuji (Key Animation of "The Fountain of Polaris (episode)", "Samhain Magic", and "Chariot and Croix").
Toyonori Yamada (Director of Photography of 2013 Little Witch Academia film)
Kazuya Tsurumaki (Key Animation of "Tree of Leaves"^[25]^[26])

History

This is a table displaying a comprehensive timeline of various events and occasions Studio Trigger in-house staff and affiliates either participated in or organized over the years. It is a nonexhaustive list as Studio Trigger might continue to partake in or orchestrates more events as time goes on, and the list might be missing past events due to lack of awareness or information availdable. Comment below the article if you know of any details that can be added to this table.

Events	Start	End	Participated Members
AnimeNEXT 2014	Jun 6, 2014	Jun 8, 2014	Hiromi Wakabayashi, Shigeto Koyama, Tatsuru Tatemoto
AnimeExpo 2014	Jul 3, 2014	Jul 6, 2014	Hiromi Wakabayashi
Anime Matsuri 2015	Apr 3, 2015	Apr 5, 2015	Shigeto Koyama, Michiyo Murase, Sushio, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Yoh Yoshinari
AnimeNEXT 2015	Jun 12, 2015	Jun 14, 2015	Shigeto Koyama, Sushio, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Takafumi Hori, Tatsuru Tatemoto
AnimeExpo 2015	Jul 1, 2015	Jul 4, 2015	Hiromi Wakabayashi, Yoh Yoshinari, Naoko Tsutsumi, Tatsuru Tatemoto, Masahiko Otsuka
MCM London Comic Con 2015	Oct 23, 2015	Oct 25, 2015	Shigeto Koyama
STGCC 2015	Sep 12, 2015	Sep 13, 2015	Shigeto Koyama
Anime Matsuri Hawaii	Nov 27, 2015	Nov 29, 2015	Masahiko Otsuka
Kawaii Kon 2016	Apr 8, 2016	Apr 10, 2016	Hiromi Wakabayahi, Shigeto Koyama
AnimeNEXT 2016	Jun 10, 2016	Jun 12, 2016	Akira Amemiya, Shigeto Koyama, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Tatsuru Tatemoto
Anime Matsuri 2017	Apr 7, 2017	Apr 9, 2017	Megumi Han^[27], Mago^[28]
TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku (Tokyo) Monthly Screening of the TV Anime "Little Witch Academia" Episode 14-17	Apr 28, 2017 20:00	Apr 28, 2017 22:10	Arisa Shida, Rie Murakawa, Reina Ueda, YURiKA, Yuiko Ōhara^[29]
TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku (Tokyo) Monthly Screening of the TV Anime "Little Witch Academia" Episode 18-21	May 26, 2017 20:00	May 26, 2017 22:10	Megumi Han, Fumiko Orikasa^[30], Michiyo Murase, Yoko Hikasa, YURiKA, Yuiko Ōhara
AnimeNEXT 2017	Jun 9, 2017	Jun 11, 2017	Yoh Yoshinari, Shuhei Handa, Shigeto Koyama, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Tatsuru Tatemoto, Reina Ueda, Noriko Hidaka
TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku (Tokyo) Monthly Screening of the TV Anime "Little Witch Academia" Episode 22-25	June 23, 2017 20:00	June 23, 2017 22:10	Megumi Han, Yoh Yoshinari, Shuhei Handa, Naoko Tsutsumi, YURiKA, Yuiko Ōhara
AnimeExpo 2017	Jul 1, 2017	Jul 4, 2017	Hiromi Wakabayashi, Yoh Yoshinari, Shigeto Koyama, Takafumi Hori^[31]
Trigger Night Vol. 6	Aug 9, 2017	Aug 9, 2017	Yoh Yoshinari, Shuhei Handa, Masahiko Otsuka, Naoko Tsutsumi, Hiroyuki Imaishi, Hiromi Wakabayashi, etc
MCM London Comic Con 2017	Oct 27, 2017	Oct 29, 2017	Yoh Yoshinari
AnimeExpo 2018	Jul 5, 2018	Jul 8, 2018
“The World of Hiroyuki Imaishi” Exhibition	May 29, 2021	Jun 27, 2021	Hiroyuki Imaishi, Shigeto Koyama, Hiromi Wakabayashi
AnimeExpo 2022	Jul 1, 2022	Jul 4, 2022	Yoh Yoshinari, Shigeto Koyama, Hiromi Wakabayashi
Otakon 2022	Jul 29, 2022	Jul 31, 2022	Yoh Yoshinari, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Tatsuru Tatemoto
Trigger Night Vol.11 & Vol.12	Oct 10, 2022	Oct 10, 2022
AnimeExpo 2023	Jul 1, 2023	Jul 4, 2023	Masahiko Otsuka, Hiroyuki Imaishi, Sushio, Shigeto Koyama
Otakuthon 2023	Aug 11, 2023	Aug 13, 2023	Yoh Yoshinari, Naoko Tsutsumi
Comic Fiesta 2023	Dec 23, 2023	Dec 24, 2023	Yoh Yoshinari, Naoko Tsutsumi
Sakura-Con 2024	Mar 29, 2024	Mar 31, 2024	Shigeto Koyama, Hiromi Wakabayahi
Convention Jonetsu 666	May 4, 2024	May 5, 2024	Yoh Yoshinari, Naoko Tsutsumi
Animazement 2024	May 24, 2024	May 26, 2024	Noriko Hidaka, Erica Mendez
Otakon 2024	Aug 2, 2024	Aug 4, 2024	Masahiko Otsuka, Aoi Abe, Sae Ōtani

Trivia

Many of Studio Trigger's works featuring formidable female protagonists (ex. Atsuko Kagari and Ursula aka. Chariot from Little Witch Academia and Ryūko Matoi from Kill la Kill. Whereas Shigeto Koyama claimed it attributed to Hiroyuki Imaishi's affinity to strong women, Hiromi Wakabayashi joked that the Studio's staff are masochists.^[9]
Wakabayashi elaborated in an interview that when it comes about working on a series, everyone gather and put up ideas they come up in order to make it professional and marketable as well as refine it and see whether such ideas can be completed throughout the production.^[9]
Various mechas in Studio Trigger's works such as Stanship's Grand Charion configuration noted to be slightly "organic" and "flexible" compared to the likes of Gundam, which clearly attributed to Yoshinari's past involvement with Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise in which Evangelions are actually cyborgs^[32]
According to Masahiko Ōtsuka about how Studio Trigger handling budget for its works as iterated by Tatsuru Tatemoto in an interview^[4]: "For a budget we received from the government about like, twice the amount, compared to a usual television series for one episode does. But on the other hand, when we make a television series, we usually get the budget for the whole series, if it's like one season, it will be for like, 13 episodes, we have, we have more freedom, you know, maybe we'll use like 10% on Episode One and 5% of the budget on episode two. So in terms of that we made probably felt like maybe like 1.5 times more than like a normal episode."
- In the same interview, he states that the studio aimed to work on what it wanted to see, showing that anime franchises Studio Trigger develop isn't restricted to ones suitable for younger audience only.
As reported by a blog article from Reverse Thieves during AnimeNEXT 2014^[33]:
- Majorities of Studio Trigger staff are fans of American comics, particularly ones by Marvel Comics. This even reflected by subtle Marvel Comics influence on their works (ex. Kill la Kill's second ending theme has a secret wink and nod to World War Hulk and Inferno Cop being inspired by Ghost Rider).
- In the same event, the panel of Inferno Cop was less attended than that of Kill la Kill due to its style being too peculiar to Japanese audience's liking, which also attributed to its unusual development approach (Studio Trigger only allowed one hour per week to work on Inferno Cop, which didn't help by those involved took their time rather than doing so seriously like the latter). Notably, its storyboard consisted of just a single sheet of paper with three hap-hazardly drawn boxes inside which were the loosest of sketches for the action.
- While Little Witch Academia's original short was as reputable as Kill la Kill that the sequel was greenlit, fans apparently saved questions pertaining it in bigger events such as AnimeExpo since none of them brought that up in AnimeNEXT 2014.
- Just like TV Series adaptation of Little Witch Academia later on, initial storyline was confirmed to be much darker and edgier than final product as indicated by initial versions of first five episode storyboards in which Ryūko Matoi initially depicted as a bounty hunter and Elite Four being all-female member band. Not only that, Ryūko and Mako's early designs were more adorable and masculine elements in Satsuki's design initially more prominent.
As revealed by Koyama in an interview with Ogiue Maniax during AnimeNEXT 2015, Inferno Cop was made possible through a commission by Google, which was surprising given to the amount of money Google known to have and how little money and effort was placed into it, which wasn't an issue as the studio set up a rule that it could only spend two hours a week on the series.^[34]
- Studio Trigger's initial pitch on what would become Inferno Cop was Superson, the story of an ordinary guy in a superhero academy which rather underwhelming in comparison.
  - The major highlight of the event was Inferno Cop X Little Witch Academia crossover, which also featured Sucy depicted in the former series' style.
- Studio Trigger's other work, Turning Girls was indeed created and produced by its non-animator female staff. It was created as the way to see how people with no experience in animation would make an anime. Despite failing in attracting much of an audience abroad, it interested sponsors involved more against all odds, though they refused to make more of the series. It's worth mention that the series' titular characters apparently based on the staff members themselves, particularly the one with shades of Kaerun, the highly abrasive aspiring idol from Turning Girls.

Gallery

Website frontpage artworks

Videos

Studio Trigger and Little Witch Academia Anime Studio Spotlight

Making of Little Witch Academia - Studio Trigger

TRIGGER - THE ANIME STUDIO - NHK WORLD-JAPAN On Demand

【海外イベント】TRIGGER in マレーシア！吉成曜監督と『COMIC FIESTA』に参加して来ました！

References

External links