Twin Engine and Bandai Form Strategic Partnership and Commit 4 Billion Yen to New Joint Initiative
Prominent anime planning and production studio Twin Engine—known for its work on acclaimed series such as Vinland Saga, Dororo, and Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku—has announced a major strategic alliance with toy and merchandising giant Bandai Co., Ltd. As part of this collaboration, the two industry leaders plan to develop at least one major collaborative project.
© Twinengine, Bandai
The upcoming initiative will span original manga creation, anime adaptations, and a full line of licensed merchandise and toys. Under the division of labor, Twin Engine will oversee the planning, animation production, publicity, and distribution. Meanwhile, Bandai will spearhead product development, marketing, licensing strategies, and overall efforts to maximize the long-term value of the intellectual property.
To kick off the partnership, both companies are pooling resources for a joint initial investment reaching up to 4 billion yen (approximately US$25.35 million). Further specifics regarding the project are expected to be unveiled in the near future.
Founded in 2014 by representative director Kōji Yamamoto, Twin Engine has steadily expanded its creative network over the years. The company launched the EOTA studio ecosystem in April 2020, designed to help member studios share resources, create global video content, produce social media shorts, and maintain operational flexibility. This collaborative framework was further bolstered in October 2021 when Twin Engine founded two additional anime production houses: BUG FILMS and Scooter Films. Growth continued in March 2024 with the establishment of Studio Chromato and Crew-Cell. Most recently, Twin Engine acquired a stake in Studio NuT earlier this year, integrating it into the growing EOTA fold.
Sources: Twin Engine, Comic Natalie
Disclosure: Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc., is a non-controlling, minority shareholder in Anime News Network Inc.