“ | ” | |
—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
- Kill la Kill
- 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.[9]
- Omega Strikers (2023; PV) – Promotional video for video game published by Odyssey Interactive
Trigger in-house staff
- 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
Freelancers hired to work on the Little Witch Academia franchise:
- Ryouta Hayatsu (Ryota-H)
- Masamichi Ishiyama
Others
- Shigeto Koyama
- Bahi JD[10]
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"[11][12])
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 |
Gallery
Website frontpage artworks
Videos
References
- ↑ TRIGGER - THE ANIME STUDIO - NHK WORLD-JAPAN On Demand at NHK World Japan (original video archived)
- ↑ https://www.st-trigger.co.jp/about/
- ↑ https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-10-07/hiroyuki-imaishi-new-studio-name-website-revealed
- ↑ https://twitter.com/tuka_trg/status/122012552698929152
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW OF TRIGGER STUDIO
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE DU STUDIO TRIGGER
- ↑ English translation of Studio Trigger Fr Interview 2
- ↑ INTERVIEW: Studio Trigger's Hiromi Wakabayashi and Shigeto Koyama at Anime News Network (retrieved in November 2, 2023)
- ↑ https://twitter.com/trigger_inc/status/1681151610742018048
- ↑ https://imgur.com/DXl6Kzd
- ↑ Little Witch Academia Chronicles, Chapter 2, page 71
- ↑
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10158167277980652
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/AnimeMatsuri/photos/a.297626805651/10158241955255652/
External links
News
- Anime News Network
- Animator: Gurren Lagann Helmer Imaishi Establishes Studio by Egan Loo October 7, 2011
- Hiroyuki Imaishi's New Studio's Name, Website Revealed by Crystalyn Hodgkins October 8, 2011
- Trigger's Little Witch Academia's Storyboard Image Posted by Lynzee Loveridge September 25, 2012
- Studio Trigger to Launch Kickstarter for New Little Witch Academia Episode by Crystalyn Hodgkins July 6, 2013
- Trigger's Little Witch Academia 2 Meets Kickstarter Goal by Egan Loo July 9, 2013
- Studio Trigger to Preview Little Witch Academia 2 at Anime Matsuri 2015 with Director Yoshinari Yoh in Attendance September 29, 2014
- Little Witch Academia Streamed Again by Karen Ressler December 26, 2014
- Little Witch Academia TV Anime's Announcement Video Aired by Karen Ressler June 25, 2016
- Studio Trigger Graffiti Shibuya PARCO Wall by Lynzee Loveridge August 7, 2016 (Archived on February 18, 2024)
- Japanese source (Kai-You) - TRIGGER今石洋之、すしおらが休業前の渋谷PARCO壁面にペインティング) by Kodak Kawaguchi August 4, 2016 (Archived on February 18, 2024)
- Studio Trigger to Announce New Titles at Anime Expo (Updated) by Anita Tai June 25, 2017
- Otakon Hosts Studio Trigger President, Animators by Adriana Hazra June 26, 2023
- Anime Evo
- Little Witch Academia TV series announced! by Flower on June 24, 2016
- Anime Trending
- Studio TRIGGER Releases 10th Anniversary Video by Melvyn Tan August 22, 2021
- Anime Matsuri
- Little Witch Academia 2 coming to Anime Matsuri by John Leigh September 25, 2014
- Crunchyroll
- COVEREDGEEKLY
- Fighting For Nippon
- Sprinkle of Magic – Little Witch Academia Interview w/ Yoh Yoshinari, Naoko Tsutsumi, and Yosuke Futami by Jakiba (Reddit) November 26, 2017 (Archived on 1/12/2017)
- Gigazine
- Free animation film "Little Witch Academia" full-length release on YouTube · Nico Nico video by logc_nt April 19, 2013
- KITSUNE'S THOUGHTS
- Studio Trigger and Little Witch Academia by Kitsune January 21, 2017
- NHK World-Japan
- TRIGGER by The Anime Studio on October 5, 2022, available until October 5, 2023 (web.archive version) / Article page
- Operation Rainfall
- Kickstarter Launched For Second Episode Of Little Witch Academia By Angela Hinck July 8, 2013
- PixiVision
- We visited Studio Trigger, the anime creators studio behind "Little Witch Academia" and "Kill La Kill"! by Abeshi of the pixivision editorial department September 8, 2017 (Archived on 19/7/2023)
- WHO THE HECK IS AYUMU KASUGA?
- Da Nu’s: Little Witch Academia Episode 2, New Short Peace promo, Psycho Pass S2 by Otaku Ascetic July 8, 2013
- Da Nu’s: LWA KS OHKO; Silver Spoon 1st trailer; Gatchaman Crowds suits revealed; Ghibli Doc by Otaku Ascetic July 9, 2013
- Da Nu’s: LWA stretch goals; Les Mis manga; New Fate/Stay anime and more by Otaku Ascetic July 15, 2013
Interviews
- Anime News Network
- INTERVIEW: Studio Trigger's Hiromi Wakabayashi and Shigeto Koyama by Lynzee Loveridge November 28, 2022
- Anime Herald
- COLORS, VISUALS, & ACTION: TRIGGER TALKS TO ANIME HERALD by Seth Burn September 3, 2019 (Archived on 6/7/2023)
- Otaku News
- An Interview with Little Witch Academia Creators By Joe Curzon November 6, 2017 (Archived on 19/7/2023)
- Studio Trigger.com
- Exclusive Interview of Studio Trigger by Otaking December 30, 2011 (Archived on October 16, 2014)
- INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE DU STUDIO TRIGGER by Otaking March 1, 2013 (Archived on July 14, 2013) | English translation
- Focus on Little Witch Academia by Otaking April 29, 2013 (Archived on June 4, 2019) | English translation
- Exclusive Interview With Studio Trigger In Paris by Otaking May 9, 2013 (Archived on June 4, 2019)
Misc
- GAMERANT
- A Beginner's Guide to Studio Trigger by Kevin Credo March 18, 2022