ILCA, Inc.^[a] is a Japanese video game developer based in Tokyo. The studio is most known for developing Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (2021) and One Piece Odyssey (2023). The company also has offices based in Nagoya, Kyoto, and Kobe.

^ https://www.ilca.co.jp/company/

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History

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ILCA was formed by former Cavia employees on October 1, 2010, in Tokyo, Japan, with the studio's name being an acronym of the phrase "I Love Computer Art". In 2017, ILCA formed TIA as a joint venture with Anima [ja]; Toho would eventually buy out Anima's stake and rename the studio Toho Animation Studio in 2022.^[1]

While the company initially started out as a CG-based video production company, it eventually branched out to work on video game projects. It has worked as a support studio for games such as Yakuza 0, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, Nier: Automata, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 and Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown,^[2] as well as applications such as Pokémon Home. In 2020, it was announced that the director for Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, Daisuke Ichihara, had joined ILCA's Kyoto office.^[3]

The studio received more attention when it was revealed as the lead developer for Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (2021).^[4] It had since then developed a close relationship with publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment, working on games such as The Idolmaster: Starlit Season,^[5] One Piece Odyssey and Sand Land.^[6] It also formed a new studio named Bandai Namco Aces with the publisher in 2022 to work on the next Ace Combat game. Bandai Namco will own 51% of the new studio, while ILCA will own the remaining 49%.^[7]

The company founded The Pokémon Works in 2024 as a joint venture alongside The Pokémon Company to develop games in the Pokémon series; its first project is Pokémon Champions.^[8]

^ Antonio Pineda, Rafael (September 20, 2022). "TOHO Acquires Controlling Stake in TIA, Renames it to Toho Animation Studio". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
^ Doolan, Liam (February 28, 2021). "Some History About ILCA, The Japanese Studio Working On The Pokémon Diamond And Pearl Remakes". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
^ Stenbuck, Kite (December 17, 2020). "Monster Hunter Director Daisuke Ichihara Left Capcom". Siliconera. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
^ Carpenter, Nicole (February 26, 2021). "Pokémon Diamond and Pearl remakes are coming to Nintendo Switch". Polygon. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
^ Romano, Sal (September 1, 2021). "The Idolmaster: Starlit Season goes gold". Gematsu. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
^ Ivan, Tom (January 12, 2024). "The game based on Akira Toriyama's Sand Land has been dated". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
^ Partis, Danielle (July 1, 2022). "Bandai Namco and Ilca partner to form Bandai Namco Aces". Gameindustry.biz. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
^ "COMPANY｜株式会社ポケモンワークス｜The Pokémon Works". The Pokemon Works (in Japanese). Retrieved March 1, 2025.

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