Trigger, Inc. (Japanese: 株式会社トリガー, Hepburn: Kabushiki-gaisha Torigā), also known as Studio Trigger, is a Japanese independent 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).

^ "RECRUIT - TRIGGER Inc". Retrieved February 11, 2014.

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History

[edit]

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.^[1]^[2]

Studio Trigger was established on August 22, 2011,^[3]^[4] by Hiroyuki Imaishi and Masahiko Ōtsuka^[5] shortly after leaving Gainax.^[6] The studio name and official website was revealed in October 2011.^[7] The first animation they released was for the game Project X Zone.^[8] Along with assisting production on various series, Trigger released a short film, Little Witch Academia,^[9] and developed its first original anime television series, Kill la Kill, which aired from October 2013 to March 2014.^[10]^[11] 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.^[12]

Studio Trigger, along with studios Sanzigen and Ordet, formed the joint holding company Ultra Super Pictures in 2011.^[13]

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.^[14]

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.^[15]^[16]

^ Qu, Hans (June 20, 2019). "'Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann' and Taking Up the 'Evangelion' Torch". Film School Rejects. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
^ "The 50 Best Anime Series of All Time". Paste Magazine. October 3, 2018. Archived from the original on December 23, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
^ "ABOUT 会社概要 | 株式会社トリガー | ANIMATION STUDIO TRIGGER Inc" (in Japanese). January 21, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
^ "Hiroyuki Imaishi's New Studio's Name, Website Revealed". Anime News Network. February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
^ "Masahiko Ōtsuka". IMDB. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
^ "Animator: Gurren Lagann Helmer Imaishi Establishes Studio". Anime News Network. October 6, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
^ "Hiroyuki Imaishi's New Studio Name, Website Revealed". Anime News Network. July 10, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
^ Loo, Egan (July 25, 2012). "Studio Trigger, Evangelion's Yoko Takahashi Work on Project X Zone Opening". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
^ "Gonzo, Trigger, Pierrot, Madhouse Make Anime Mirai 2013". Anime News Network. June 6, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
^ "Studio Trigger's 1st TV Series Teaser Streamed". Anime News Network. February 9, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
^ "Kill La Kill Anime Reunites Gurren Lagann Director, Writer". Anime News Network. May 8, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
^ "Little Witch Academia 2". Kickstarter. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
^ "Sanzigen, Ordet, Trigger Form Ultra Super Pictures Holding Firm". Anime News Network. November 27, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
^ "Studio TRIGGER is creating Animation and Illustration". Patreon. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 1, 2023). "Trigger Unveils Announcement Video for New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt Anime Project". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
^ Mateo, Alex; Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 1, 2023). "Studio Trigger to Re-Screen 2 Gurren Lagann Films in Japan, N. America, Taiwan in This Year". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 15, 2024.

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