Studio Trigger
Japanese animation studio
Trigger, Inc. (Japanese: 株式会社トリガー, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Torigā; stylized in all caps), 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).
01History
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.
Studio Trigger was established on August 22, 2011, by Hiroyuki Imaishi and Masahiko Ōtsuka shortly after leaving Gainax. The studio name and official website was revealed in October 2011. The first animation they released was for the game Project X Zone. Along with assisting production on various series, Trigger released a short film, Little Witch Academia, and developed its first original anime television series, Kill la Kill, which aired from October 2013 to March 2014. 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.
Studio Trigger, along with studios Sanzigen and Ordet, formed the joint holding company Ultra Super Pictures in 2011.
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.
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.
02Productions
Anime television series
| Year | Title | Network | Director(s) | Eps. | Note(s) | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-2014 | Kill la Kill | MBS | Hiroyuki Imaishi | 24 +OVA |
Original work. | |
| 2014 | When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace | TV Tokyo | Masahiko Ōtsuka (chief) Masanori Takahashi |
12 | Based on a light novel by Kōta Nozomi. | |
| 2016 | Space Patrol Luluco | AT-X | Hiroyuki Imaishi | 13 | Original work. | |
| Kiznaiver | BS11 | Hiroshi Kobayashi | 12 | Original work. | ||
| 2017 | Little Witch Academia | Tokyo MX | Yoh Yoshinari | 25 | Based on Trigger's short film of the same name. Released on Netflix. | |
| 2018 | Darling in the Franxx | Tokyo MX | Atsushi Nishigori | 24 | Original work. Co-production with CloverWorks and A-1 Pictures. |
|
| SSSS.Gridman | WOWOW | Akira Amemiya | 12 | Based on the tokusatsu series Gridman the Hyper Agent by Tsuburaya Productions. | ||
| 2020 | BNA: Brand New Animal | +Ultra | Yoh Yoshinari | 12 | Original work. | |
| 2021 | SSSS.Dynazenon | Tokyo MX | Akira Amemiya | 12 | Studio's 10th anniversary project. Related to SSSS.Gridman. |
|
| 2024-present | Delicious in Dungeon | Tokyo MX | Yoshihiro Miyajima | 24+ | Based on a manga by Ryoko Kui. | |
| 2025 | New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt | Tokyo MX / AT-X / BS NTV | Hiroyuki Imaishi | 13 | Second season revival based on the original series by predecessor studio Gainax. Released on Amazon Prime Video. |
Anime films
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Dur. | Note(s) | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Little Witch Academia | Yoh Yoshinari | 30m | Original work. Produced for Anime Mirai 2013. |
|
| 2015 | Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade | 55m | Original work. Sequel to the first Little Witch Academia film. |
||
| 2019 | Promare | Hiroyuki Imaishi | 115m | Original work. CG animation produced by Sanzigen. |
|
| 2023 | Gridman Universe | Akira Amemiya | 118m | Crossover between SSSS.Gridman and SSSS.Dynazenon. |
Original net animations
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Eps. | Note(s) | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-2013 | Inferno Cop | Akira Amemiya | 13 | Original work. Released on YouTube. |
|
| 2013 | Turning Girls | Masahiko Ōtsuka Ren Shimorenjaku |
7 | Original work. Released on YouTube. |
|
| 2015 | Japan Animator Expo | Akira Amemiya (#9) Yasuhiro Yoshiura (#11, #29) Hiroyuki Imaishi (#14) |
, N/a | Four shorts: Electronic Superhuman Gridman: Boys Invent Great Hero (#9; based on Gridman the Hyper Agent), Power Plant No. 33 (#11; co-produced with Studio Rikka), Sex & Violence with Machspeed (#14), and Bureau of Proto Society (#29; co-produced with Studio Rikka). | |
| Ninja Slayer From Animation | Akira Amemiya | 26 | Based on the novel series by Bradley Bond and Philip "Ninj@" Morzez. Released on Niconico. |
||
| 2021 | Star Wars: Visions Volume 1 | Hiroyuki Imaishi (#3) Masahiko Otsuka (#7) |
, N/a | Episodes #3 ("The Twins") and #7 ("The Elder"). Co-production with Lucasfilm, released on Disney+. |
|
| 2022 | Cyberpunk: Edgerunners | Hiroyuki Imaishi | 10 | Based on the video game Cyberpunk 2077 published by CD Projekt. Co-production with CD Projekt, released on Netflix. |
|
| 2025 | Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 | Masahiko Otsuka | , N/a | Episode #7 ("The Smuggler"). Co-production with Lucasfilm, released on Disney+. |
|
| 2025 | The Lenticulars | Akira Amemiya | 8 | Original work. Released on YouTube. |
|
| 2026 | Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 | Kai Ikarashi | 10 | Stand-alone sequel to Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Co-production with CD Projekt, released on Netflix. |
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
- Marble Knights (2020-23; game), Opening animation production
- Metallic Child (2021; PV), Promotional video for video game published by Crest
- Omega Strikers (2023; PV), Promotional video for video game published by Odyssey Interactive
- "Chocolat Cadabra" (2024; MV), Music video animation production
- 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
Sources and credits
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