Studio Trigger

Studio Trigger, legally Trigger, Inc. and commonly styled as Studio Trigger, is a Japanese animation studio established in 2011 by former Gainax employees Hiroyuki Imaishi and Masahiko Ōtsuka. The company emerged after the founders left Gainax, where Imaishi had directed the influential anime series Gurren Lagann. Trigger inherited elements of Gainax's energetic visual language while developing a distinct identity built around bold layouts, exaggerated motion, irreverent humor, unusual character designs, and a willingness to combine genre parody with large-scale action. The studio was founded on August 22, 2011, and publicly introduced its name and website later that year. Its early work included animation for the video game Project X Zone and assistance on other productions. Trigger gained broader recognition through Little Witch Academia, an original short film first presented in 2013. The project demonstrated the studio's interest in compact, visually ambitious stories and became an important example of audience-supported anime production when Trigger used Kickstarter to finance a second short episode. The campaign surpassed its initial goal rapidly and ultimately raised more than the target amount stated in the campaign materials. Trigger's first original television anime, Kill la Kill, aired from 2013 to 2014. Its kinetic action, provocative costume design, comic timing, and highly expressive direction established many of the characteristics associated with the studio. Trigger subsequently expanded its television and film catalog with productions including the Little Witch Academia television series, the science-fiction action film Promare, the original series BNA: Brand New Animal, and entries in the Gridman franchise such as SSSS.Gridman, SSSS.Dynazenon, and Gridman Universe. The company has also worked increasingly across international production and distribution structures. Its credits include Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, a 2022 animated series connected to the Cyberpunk video-game franchise and released internationally through Netflix, as well as Delicious in Dungeon, which premiered in 2024. These projects helped associate Trigger's creative brand with globally distributed anime rather than only with domestic Japanese television and theatrical releases. Trigger operates within a broader production ecosystem. In 2011, it joined Sanzigen and Ordet in forming Ultra Super Pictures, a joint holding structure intended to support collaboration and shared business functions among animation companies. In 2018, Trigger also created a Patreon presence to support project development and merchandise-related funding. The studio's public-facing model combines commissioned work, original intellectual property, adaptations or franchise continuations, theatrical animation, streaming series, and direct engagement with international fans. In 2023, Trigger announced that it had acquired rights connected with Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt and Gurren Lagann. It also announced a follow-up to Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt and North American theatrical re-screenings of the Gurren Lagann films. These moves reflected the company's continuing effort to develop or reactivate properties associated with its founders and creative history. Studio Trigger remains an active independent Japanese animation brand whose reputation rests on distinctive authorship, high-impact visual production, and a strong relationship with anime audiences worldwide.

Studio Trigger was formed on August 22, 2011, by Hiroyuki Imaishi and Masahiko Ōtsuka after both left Gainax. Imaishi's direction of Gurren Lagann had established him as a major creative figure in anime, and the new studio was widely understood as carrying forward some of Gainax's experimental and exuberant traditions while seeking its own identity. The company revealed its name and official website in October 2011. Trigger's earliest publicly identified animation work included material for the video game Project X Zone and assistance on other productions. Its breakthrough as an original creative force came through Little Witch Academia, a short film released in 2013. The film's reception encouraged the studio to develop a second episode, and Trigger used Kickstarter in July 2013 to solicit direct audience funding. The campaign reached its initial target in less than five hours and eventually raised $625,518, according to the cited reference. In the same period, Trigger developed Kill la Kill, its first original anime television series. Broadcast from October 2013 through March 2014, the series established a recognizable house style based on rapid action, extreme expressions, comic spectacle, and genre-aware storytelling. Little Witch Academia later expanded into additional short-form work and a television series in 2017. The studio continued to alternate between original concepts and established properties. It produced the feature film Promare in 2019, the original television series BNA: Brand New Animal in 2020, and several works connected with the Gridman franchise, including SSSS.Gridman in 2018, SSSS.Dynazenon in 2021, and Gridman Universe in 2023. These projects demonstrated Trigger's ability to work across television, theatrical animation, science fiction, action, fantasy, and comedy while retaining a strongly authored visual approach. Trigger also became part of the corporate network Ultra Super Pictures. In 2011, it joined Sanzigen and Ordet in forming that joint holding company. Separately, the studio developed direct-support channels for fans. Its Patreon, launched in 2018, was presented as a way to help fund projects and merchandise; the cited reference describes two public support tiers and thousands of members as of February 2025. International visibility increased through streaming and cross-media partnerships. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, released in 2022, connected Trigger's animation with the globally recognized Cyberpunk game property and was distributed internationally through Netflix. Delicious in Dungeon, which began in 2024, further broadened the studio's profile through a fantasy adaptation aimed at a worldwide anime audience. In 2023, Trigger announced rights acquisitions involving Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt and Gurren Lagann. It paired those announcements with plans for a new Panty & Stocking series and North American theatrical re-screenings of the Gurren Lagann films. The initiatives linked the studio's current operations to properties associated with the creative history of its founders. Studio Trigger remains active and is recognized internationally for original anime, animated films, franchise continuations, streaming productions, and a distinctive creator-centered brand.

• 2024

  Delicious in Dungeon is released

  [1]Studio Triggeren.wikipedia.org

  Trigger produces the anime adaptation Delicious in Dungeon.

• 2023

  Legacy-property rights and follow-up projects are announced

  [1]Studio Triggeren.wikipedia.org

  Trigger announces rights acquisitions involving Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt and Gurren Lagann, plus related follow-up and screening plans.

• 2022

  Cyberpunk: Edgerunners reaches international audiences

  [1]Studio Triggeren.wikipedia.org

  Trigger produces the internationally distributed animated series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

• 2019

  Promare is released

  [1]Studio Triggeren.wikipedia.org

  Trigger releases the original animated feature Promare.

• 2018

  Patreon support program begins

  [1]Studio Triggeren.wikipedia.org

  The studio creates a Patreon channel to support project development and merchandise.

• 2013

  Little Witch Academia crowdfunding campaign

  [1]Studio Triggeren.wikipedia.org

  Trigger launches a Kickstarter campaign for a second Little Witch Academia episode and exceeds its funding target.

• 2013

  Kill la Kill premieres

  [1]Studio Triggeren.wikipedia.org

  Trigger's first original television anime begins broadcasting in Japan.

• 2011

  Trigger is founded

  [1]Studio Triggeren.wikipedia.org

  Hiroyuki Imaishi and Masahiko Ōtsuka establish the studio after leaving Gainax.

• 2011

  Ultra Super Pictures is formed

  [1]Studio Triggeren.wikipedia.org

  Trigger joins Sanzigen and Ordet in forming the joint holding company Ultra Super Pictures.

A creator-led Japanese animation studio positioned around expressive, high-energy, visually unconventional anime and internationally visible original or franchise-based productions.

• Original anime television series · 2013

  Kill la Kill

  Trigger's first original television anime, broadcast from 2013 to 2014. It combines school-action conventions, transformation spectacle, broad comedy, and rapid visual direction, and is one of the clearest expressions of the studio's early identity.

• Short films and anime television series · 2013

  Little Witch Academia

  A fantasy property centered on young witches and magical education. It began as a short film, received a second episode supported through Kickstarter, and later became a television series in 2017.

• Animated feature film · 2019

  Promare

  An original theatrical science-fiction action film released in 2019. The production is characterized by intensely graphic color design, large-scale mechanical action, and the studio's preference for heightened, stylized movement.

• Original anime television series · 2020

  BNA: Brand New Animal

  A 2020 original series set in a world involving human and beast-person societies. It extends Trigger's interest in colorful action, social allegory, distinctive character design, and genre hybridity.

• International streaming anime series · 2022

  Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

  A 2022 animated series connected to the Cyberpunk game universe. Produced by Trigger and released internationally through Netflix, it brought the studio's kinetic style to a major global entertainment property.

• Anime television series · 2024

  Delicious in Dungeon

  A fantasy anime adaptation released in 2024. Its setting combines dungeon exploration, party adventure, and food-focused storytelling, giving Trigger an opportunity to apply its production style to a longer-form fantasy property.

• Franchise anime television series · 2018

  SSSS.Gridman

  Trigger's 2018 continuation of the Gridman property, combining animated television storytelling with giant-hero and science-fiction traditions.

• Franchise anime television series · 2021

  SSSS.Dynazenon

  A 2021 Gridman-related television production that continues Trigger's work in stylized giant-robot and tokusatsu-inspired animation.

• Animated feature film · 2023

  Gridman Universe

  A 2023 animated film expanding Trigger's Gridman-related productions into a feature-length crossover-oriented work.

• 2018Studio Trigger Patreon

  Global

  Trigger launched a recurring-support program intended to help finance projects and merchandise while maintaining a direct relationship with international fans.

  Outcome. The program remained active; the cited reference reports more than 6,000 members and over $3,000 in monthly support as of February 2025.

  Source
• 2013Little Witch Academia 2 Kickstarter

  Global

  Trigger used Kickstarter to fund a second Little Witch Academia short. The campaign reached its initial goal in under five hours and ultimately raised $625,518.

  Outcome. The funding target was exceeded and the follow-up episode was produced.

  Source

• 2023

  Acquire rights connected with Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt and Gurren LagannM&A

  Background

  Trigger announced rights acquisitions involving properties connected with its founders' earlier creative history.

  Action taken

  The studio announced ownership or control of the relevant rights and plans for a Panty & Stocking follow-up, as well as North American Gurren Lagann film screenings.

  Aftermath

  The announcements linked Trigger's current brand with prominent legacy properties and created new opportunities for franchise development and theatrical re-release.

  Source

• 2013

  Use crowdfunding to expand Little Witch AcademiaOther

  Background

  The studio sought funding for a second short episode after the initial Little Witch Academia project attracted audience interest.

  Action taken

  Trigger launched a Kickstarter campaign with a stated initial goal of $150,000.

  Aftermath

  The campaign surpassed its goal rapidly and raised $625,518 in total.

  Crowdfunding raised. $625,518 (2013 Kickstarter campaign)

  Source

• 2011

  Establish an independent creator-led studioStrategy

  Background

  Hiroyuki Imaishi and Masahiko Ōtsuka left Gainax after establishing reputations through anime production and founded Trigger.

  Action taken

  They created a new studio focused on animation production and original creative work.

  Aftermath

  Trigger became associated with a distinctive style often viewed as a successor to aspects of Gainax's creative tradition.

  Source

1. 1Studio Triggeren.wikipedia.org