Bandai Namco and Sunrise announced an organizational change that will take effect on April 1, 2022. The holding company will merge its movie-producing subsidiaries — including Sunrise — to form a new company named Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc. While Sunrise will lose its name, Bandai Namco promised that it will retain its individuality as a brand.
This merger will be part of a larger reorganization that produces two new companies. Bandai Namco Rights Marketing and Bandai Namco Arts' movie division will also merge into Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc. At the same time, the holding company will combine Sunrise Music with Bandai Namco Music Creative and Bandai Namco Arts' music division to form Bandai Namco Music Live Inc.
Sunrise is a Japanese anime studio best known for creating the Gundam, Code Geass, and Love Live! franchises. It originally appeared as a standalone limited company named Sunrise Studio in 1972. It then became a Bandai subsidiary in April 1994. After fully acquiring Sotsu in March 2020, Bandai Namco now has complete ownership of the Gundam franchise.
The new White Base office, established in October 2021, served as a precursor for these mergers. Bandai Namco has gradually moved Sunrise and other related studios into the same building. Sunrise Beyond will complete the office's roster in June 2022.
Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc. and Bandai Namco Music Live Inc. will officially appear on April 1, 2022. Both subsidiaries will use the new logo that Bandai Namco will use starting in April 2022.
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