List of Companies
This article is a list and overview of companies which have had major involvement in the Digimon franchise.
Japanese[edit]
Bandai Namco Holdings[edit]
- Main article: Bandai
| Company | Description | Digimon Credits | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bandai Co., Ltd. 「株式会社バンダイ」 1950-present |
Bandai Co., Ltd. is a Japanese developer, manufacturer and distributor of toys, trading card games, general merchandise and, formerly, video game hardware and software. Originally an independent company, it has operated as a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings since 2005, following a merger between itself and video game company Namco.[1] It produces toys and merchandise based on both its own intellectual properties and other licensed properties; in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Bandai also produced the WonderSwan family of handheld game consoles. In collaboration with WiZ, Bandai created the Digimon franchise, and is the principal manufacturer and distributor of toys, card games, LCD games, and other merchandise for the franchise within Japan. Prior to the Bandai Namco merger, it was the publisher of the majority of Digimon video games, on both the WonderSwan family and other systems. |
Selected works |
[1] |
 WiZ Co., Ltd. 「株式会社ウィズ」 1986-2019 |
WiZ Co., Ltd. was a Japanese toy company which provided planning, design and development services for toys, animation and video games on behalf of its clients. It was originally an independent company, until its 2016 acquisition by Bandai Namco Holdings.[1] In collaboration with Bandai, one of its primary toy development clients, WiZ created the Digimon franchise, and contributed to product development and character design. In 2019, WiZ was dissolved following its merger with PLEX. |
Selected works | [2] |
 PLEX Co., Ltd. 「株式会社プレックス」 1981-present. |
PLEX Co., Ltd. is a Japanese toy company which provides planning, design and development services for toys. It has been a subsidiary of Bandai/Bandai Namco Holdings since 1985 as a result of Bandai's acquisition of its parent company Popy, with which it was later merged in 2007. Bandai Namco subsequently merged it with WiZ in 2019.[2] PLEX currently has a dedicated Digimon team in its Planning and Design department,[3] and contributes to Digimon character design and product development. |
Selected works | [3] |
 Bec Co., Ltd. 「株式会社ベック」 1990-2011 |
Bec Co., Ltd. (an abbreviation of "Bandai Entertainment Company") was a Japanese video game developer. It was founded as a joint venture between Bandai and Human Entertainment; following Human Entertainment's bankruptcy in 1999, Bec became a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai, and later of Bandai Namco Games. Bec developed many video game adaptations of the Digimon franchise from 1999 to 2010. In particular, it originated the Digimon World and Digimon Story subseries. In 2011, Bec was merged with fellow Bandai Namco subsidiary Banpresto to form B.B. Studio.[1] |
Selected works
|
[4] |
 Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. 「株式会社バンダイナムコエンターテインメント」 2006-present |
Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (known as "Bandai Namco Games Inc." in Japan, and "Namco Bandai Games Inc." in English-speaking regions, until 2015) is a Japanese video game publisher and former developer, and a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings. It was established in 2006 following the merger of Bandai and Namco, by merging the two original companies' video game operations.[1] It publishes games developed by both its own subsidiary game developer studios, and third-party studios. Bandai Namco Entertainment has been the publisher of the majority of Digimon video games since its creation, both in Japan and in other countries through its various regional headquarters. |
Selected works
|
[5] |
Anime[edit]
| Company | Description | Digimon Credits | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
 Toei Animation Co., Ltd. 「東映アニメーション株式会社」 1948-present |
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. is a Japanese animation studio which, since 1956, has been primarily controlled by film studio Toei Company. It produces anime television series and films which are frequently adaptations of, or tie-ins into, other companies' properties. Toei Animation has produced every anime adaptation of the Digimon franchise. It has also occasionally contributed animation services for Digimon video games. Since 1999, the copyright notices for the majority of Digimon productions, even outside the anime, have identified the copyright as belonging to Toei Animation, alongside "Hongo Akiyoshi." |
Selected works
|
[6] |
 Fuji Television Network, Inc. 「株式会社フジテレビジョン」 1957-present |
Fuji Television Network, Inc. is a Japanese commercial television broadcast network. It operates distribution networks of entertainment and news programming for 28 affiliate television stations across Japan, including its own flagship Odaiba-based Fuji TV, as well as three premium television channels. It is a subsidiary of Fuji Media Holdings, Inc., due to a corporate restructuring and split in 2008.[4] The majority of Digimon television anime series have aired on Fuji Television in its 9:00 AM Sunday timeslot. The network also acts as a producer on both the Digimon series that it airs and, historically, contemporary films based on said series. |
Selected works
|
[7] |
| TV Asahi 「テレビ朝日」 1957-present |
TV Asahi is a Japanese commercial television broadcast station that is operated by the TV Asahi Corporation's All-Nippon News Network, of which it is the flagship station. TV Asahi aired, and acted as a producer on, Digimon Xros Wars. It was the first time that a Digimon series had not first aired on, or been produced by, Fuji TV. |
|
[8] |
| TV Tokyo 「テレビ東京」 1968-present |
TV Tokyo is a Japanese commercial television broadcast station that is operated by the TV Tokyo Holdings Corporation's TX Network, of which it is the flagship station. TV Tokyo aired, and acted as a producer on, Digimon Universe Appli Monsters. |
|
[9] |
| Yomiko Advertising Inc. 「株式会社読売広告社」 1946-present |
Yomiko Advertising Inc. is a Japanese advertising agency. As part of its advertising and marketing services, it also maintains an "IP Business Creative Room" unit which frequently collaborates with other companies in production, development and marketing for their television productions.[5] Yomiko Advertising and its IP Business Creative Room are frequently involved in Digimon anime productions in the capacity of producers. |
Selected works
|
[10] |
| Yumeta Company Co., Ltd. 「株式会社ゆめ太カンパニー」 1990-present |
Yumeta Company is a Japanese animation studio. It has been contracted by Toei Animation to animate two of its Digimon feature films. |
|
[11] |
Other[edit]
| Company | Description | Digimon Credits | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shueisha Inc. 「株式会社集英社」 1925-present |
Shueisha Inc. is a Japanese publishing house which is known for its Jump line of manga periodicals. It was originally established as an entertainment-focused subsidiary of fellow publishing house Shogakukan, but was spun off into an independent company in 1926 and eventually incorporated in 1949.[6] Every Digimon manga has been published or serialized in a Shueisha-owned Jump periodical; of these, all but two have run in V Jump. Both V Jump and, formerly, Weekly Shonen Jump have also historically provided coverage of Digimon news. Numerous Digimon books have been published by various Shueisha imprints, including novelizations, reference books, and guidebooks for games and LCD toys. Until Digital Monster X-evolution, the "Original Concept" credit in every Digimon anime production also acknowledged Shueisha for serialization in V Jump, in addition to the usual crediting to "Hongo Akiyoshi." In some later series, such as Digimon Xros Wars and Digimon Universe Appli Monsters, Shueisha and its magazines received separate "Serialization" credits. |
Selected works
|
[12] |
| SIMS Co., Ltd. 「シムス株式会社」 1991-present |
SIMS Co., Ltd. is a Japanese video game developer. It was founded as a partly-owned (later wholly-owned) subsidiary of Sega, but became independent in 2004.[7] SIMS was the developer of several Digimon video games for Bandai's WonderSwan console family, including all entries in the Akiyama Ryo "Tamer" sub-series. |
Selected works
|
[13] |
Asia[edit]
| Company | Description | Digimon Credits | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
Bandai Namco Asia Co., Ltd. 1977-present |
Bandai Namco Asia Co., Ltd.—known as Bandai (H.K.) Co., Ltd. (colloquially, "Bandai Asia") prior to 2015—is a Hong Kong-based subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings (specifically, of its regional holding company Bandai Namco Holdings Asia Co., Ltd. since 2016[1]). It conducts Bandai Namco's toy production, sales and marketing operations in countries in Asia (other than Japan itself) and Oceania, as well as distribution via a network of local distributors.[8][9] Bandai Namco Asia markets Digimon toys, video games and card games in Asia. Over the years, its Digimon product line has included both items from Bandai in Japan and Bandai Namco America, or variants thereof; and items which it developed and manufactured itself, some of which have no counterparts at all in other regions' product lines. |
Selected works | [14] |
 Toei Animation Phils., Inc. 1986-present |
Toei Animation Phils., Inc. (TAP) is a Filipino animation studio. Since 1999, it has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Toei Animation. It originated as ITCA, a contractor for anime finishing work established as a subsidiary of Filipino construction firm EEI Corporation; from 1992 to 1999, it existed as EEI-TOEI Animation Corp., a joint venture between EEI and Toei Animation.[10] TAP is among the animation studios who provide production assistance to Toei Animation; according to the latter, TAP conducts approximately 70% of its "workload in animation pictures, background, and the finishing processes."[10] This includes Digimon anime productions and other animation work for the franchise. |
Selected works
|
[15] |
| Rightman Publishing Ltd. “正文社出版有限公司” 1994-Present |
Rightman Publishing Ltd. is a Hong Kong publishing house animation studio that is known for its comic publications, including both domestic manhua and foreign imports including manga. From 1997 to 2019, it published the weekly comics periodical Co-co! In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Rightman Publishing serialized many manhua based on the Digimon franchise, including both adaptations of anime series and original titles, in Co-co! All of these were written by Yu Yuen-wong. |
|
[16] |
| Chuang Yi Publishing Pte Ltd. “创艺出版社” 1990-2013 |
Chuang Yi Publishing Pte Ltd. was a Singaporean publishing house that specialized in comics, including English and Simplified Chinese translations of imported comics and manga. Chuang Yi produced and published English translations of some Rightman Publishing's manhua adaptations of Digimon anime series for the Singaporean market, some of which were subsequently published in other countries by companies such as Otter Press in Australia. |
|
[17] |
| Imagi Animation Studios Limited 2000-2010 |
Imagi Animation Studios Limited was a Hong Kong animation studio that specialized in CGI animation. It was contracted to handle the CGI animation in Digital Monster X-evolution. |
|
[18] |
| MOVEINTERACTIVE Co., Ltd. “㈜무브인터렉티브” 2002-present Via subsidiaries:
|
MOVEINTERACTIVE Co., Ltd. is a South Korean developer and operator of massively multiplayer online role-playing games and mobile games. MOVEINTERACTIVE has developed several MMORPG adaptations of various Digimon anime series for the South Korean market. Its subsidiary GameKing is often responsible for operating their English-language versions. |
|
[19] |
North America[edit]
General[edit]
| Company | Description | Digimon Credits | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc. 1978-present |
Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc.—known as Bandai America Inc. until a 2022 merger with Bandai Namco Collectibles LLC—is an American subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings (specifically, of its regional holding company Bandai Namco Holdings USA Inc. since 2006[11]). It conducts Bandai Namco's toy production, sales, marketing and distribution operations in the United States, including collectibles aimed at adult audiences.[8] Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America is the master licensee for toys, video games and card games for the Digimon franchise in the United States. Over the years, its Digimon product line has included both Bandai's Japanese items and variants thereof, and unique items which it developed and manufactured itself. |
Selected works
|
[20] |
Anime[edit]
| To-do list | |
|---|---|
| |
| Company | Description | Digimon Credits | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saban Entertainment N.V. 1980-2001 |
Saban Entertainment N.V. was an American-Israeli production company, specializing in children's television programming, that was founded by investor Haim Saban and television producer Shuki Levy. Originally an independent company, from 1996 onward it operated as a subsidiary of Fox Family Worldwide ("Fox Kids Network Worldwide" between 1996 and 1997), a company jointly owned by News Corporation and Saban, following the merger of the independent Saban Entertainment with News Corporation's Fox Children's Network.[12] Saban Entertainment acquired the American Digimon anime license in the late 1990s. It produced English dubs of the first three Digimon anime series, which aired on Fox Family Worldwide's Fox Kids programming block. It also produced Digimon: The Movie, which was both initiated[13] and distributed by News Corporation's 20th Century Fox film studio. When News Corporation and Saban sold Fox Family Worldwide to The Walt Disney company in 2001, Saban Entertainment was among the assets included in the sale, as were the rights to its library of programming.[14] Following the sale, the Saban Entertainment unit was renamed BVS Entertainment. |
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|
| Spliced Bread Productions 1996-present |
Spliced Bread Productions is an American production company that was founded by Jeff Nimoy and Bob Buchholz. They were hired by Fox to handle writing and direction duties on the Saban Entertainment dubs of Adventure and Adventure 02, partway through the Adventure dub's run (Nimoy had already been involved in the production as the dub voice of Tentomon).[15] In 2001, Nimoy, Buchholz and Spliced Bread withdrew from the production toward the end of the Adventure 02 dub due to clashes of personality with other production staff. The company is now solely owned by Buchholz, as Nimoy sold his stake in it to him in 2002.[15] |
† Spliced Bread Productions was never credited; only Nimoy and Buchholz individually |
|
| The Walt Disney Company 1923-present Via subsidiaries:
|
The Walt Disney Company is a major American media conglomerate, best known for the animated feature films produced by its subsidiary Walt Disney Animation Studios. On October 24, 2001, News Corporation and Haim Saban sold Fox Family Worldwide to Disney for $2.9 billion cash, plus $2.3 billion in debt assumption; following the sale, Fox Family Worldwide was renamed ABC Family Worldwide.[16] Saban Entertainment (renamed "BVS Entertainment N.V." post-sale) and the rights to its library of programming were included in the sale, so as a result, Disney acquired the American Digimon anime license, including the rights to all previously dubbed anime episodes.[14] Two Digimon anime series, as well as four Toei Anime Fair films, were dubbed during Disney's ownership of the license. With the exception of the original run of Digimon Frontier (aired on Viacom's UPN network as part of a prior programming deal which did not expire until 2003[17]), Digimon dubs aired on their ABC Family and Toon Disney channels (for the latter, in their Jetix programming block). |
|
[21] |
Sensation Animation, Inc. 2002-20??[N 1] |
Sensation Animation, Inc. was an American production company. It produced an English dub of one Digimon anime series during Disney's time as the Digimon anime license holder. Said dub is its only known credited work of any kind. |
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|
| Studiopolis, Inc. 2004-present |
Studiopolis, Inc. is an American production company and recording studio that specializes in ADR production for cartoons and dubs of anime, live-action productions, and video games. Studiopolis has been involved in every American English Digimon anime dub production since 2005, as well as some video game localizations. In addition to providing ADR production services, in the case of anime dubs, it also often acts as a producer in association with, or on behalf of, the license holder and/or another production company. |
Selected works
|
[22] |
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. 1948-present Via subsidiaries:
|
Toei Animation Inc. is an American subsidiary of Toei Animation Co., Ltd. which primarily oversees licensing and distribution of its parent company's anime productions in countries in North America, Latin America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. On several occasions, the American Digimon anime rights have reverted to Toei Animation as a result of the expiry of another company's license; as of 2022, Toei Animation is the current rights holder, following the expiration of Saban Brands' license. Since 2007, Toei Animation Co., Ltd. has also engaged directly in the production of some English Digimon dubs. |
|
[23] |
| Saban Capital Group LLC 2001-present Via subsidiaries:
|
Saban Capital Group LLC (SCG) is an American investment firm founded by Haim Saban following the sale of Fox Family Worldwide. Saban Brands was a subsidiary of SCG that was established as a successor to the former Saban Entertainment in the businesses of television production and brand acquisition. On September 25, 2012, Saban Brands reacquired the Digimon anime license (periodically branded "Saban's Digimon" during its license ownership). One Digimon anime series was dubbed during its ownership of the license.[18] Saban Brands' license eventually expired and the rights reverted to Toei Animation. The subsidiary was subsequently closed in 2018, following the sale of many of its assets to Hasbro. |
|
[24] |
| Tonari Animation 2019-present |
Tonari Animation is an American animation studio which also operates in Japan. It was contracted by Toei Animation to provide animation services for several episodes of two Digimon anime series.[19] |
|
[25] |
| Studio Yotta 2012-present |
Studio Yotta is an American animation studio. It was contracted by Toei Animation to provide animation services for several episodes of one Digimon anime series. |
|
[26] |
Additional Information[edit]
| References | Notes |
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