Sunrise

is an anime production brand owned by Bandai Namco Filmworks.

History & Overview
Animation studio Soeisha Inc. was founded in 1972 by former Mushi Production animators. In 1976, its corporate name became Nippon Sunrise Inc. In 1987, the corporate name was changed to Sunrise Inc. In April 2022, the Bandai Namco Arts Inc. film business and Bandai Namco Rights Marketing Inc. merged with Sunrise Inc., with Sunrise surviving and the company name changing to Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc. Both Sunrise and Bandai Namco Filmworks are listed in the copyrights for anime produced since the merger.

They are notable for their renowned and original mecha series including Gundam, the Brave Series, The Vision of Escaflowne and many others, which have won many Animage Awards. Sunrise also adapt popular manga such as Gintama and City Hunter from Weekly Shōnen Jump and InuYasha from Weekly Shōnen Sunday and light novels such as Accel World and Dirty Pair. Studio Deen, Bones, Manglobe and A-1 Pictures were all founded by Sunrise members.

Many of Sunrise's original anime have other such as masked identities, all accompanied by fluid animation and created in-house by their staff under the pseudonym of the studio founder, Hajime Yatate. When most of Sunrise titles began international distribution, most were licensed were licensed by Japan's Bandai Visual, Europe's Beez Entertainment, and America's Bandai Entertainment until both western companies were shut down in 2012 after Bandai Entertainment's restructuring. Currently, Funimation, Viz Media, Sentai Filmworks, Aniplex of America, Madman Entertainment, etc. are the main distributors with Sunrise confirming future co-operation regarding DVD and Blu-ray merchandise.

Along with Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan, Sunrise was one of the co-founding and shareholding studios for the TV network Animax along with co-founders and shareholders including and the noted animation studios Toei Animation, TMS Entertainment, and NAS.

Soeisha Inc. era

 * Chief Joker (October 5, 1972 – March 29, 1973)
 * Zero Tester (October 1, 1973 – December 30, 1974)