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Trigger Logo
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], and its establishement was publicized on October 7, 2011[4]. 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[5].

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. 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. 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[5].

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[6][7].

Studio Trigger also made a good use with social medias as means of promoting its work, notably Twitter and Facebook.[6]

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.[8]

List of Works

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.[9]
  • 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:

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

Collaborators

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
Anime Matsuri 2015 Apr 3, 2015 Apr 5, 2015 Shigeto Koyama, Michiyo Murase, Sushio, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Yoh Yoshinari
Anime Matsuri Hawaii Nov 27, 2015 Nov 29, 2015 Masahiko Otsuka
Kawaii Kon 2016 Apr 8, 2016 Apr 10, 2016 Hiromi Wakabayahi, Shigeto Koyama
Anime Matsuri 2017 Apr 7, 2017 Apr 9, 2017 Megumi Han[13], Mago[14]
AnimeExpo 2017 Jul 1, 2017 Jul 4, 2017
Trigger Night Vol. 6 Aug 9, 2017 Aug 9, 2017 Yoh Yoshinari, Shuhei Handa, Masahiko Otsuka, Naoko Tsutsumi, Imaishi Hiroyuki, Hiromi Wakabayashi, etc
AnimeExpo 2018 Jul 5, 2018 Jul 8, 2018
AnimeExpo 2022 Jul 4, 2024 Jul 8, 2024
AnimeExpo 2023 Jul 1, 2023 Jul 4, 2023


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