Studio Trigger

Trigger, Inc. (株式会社トリガー), also known as Studio Trigger, is a Japanese 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)

Business
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.

Studio Trigger was established on August 22, 2011, by Hiroyuki Imaishi and Masahiko Ōtsuka shortly after leaving Gainax. The studio name and official website was revealed in October 2011. Along with assisting production on various series, Trigger has released a short film, Little Witch Academia, and has developed its first original anime television series, Kill la Kill, which aired from October 2013 to March 2014. 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.

Studio Trigger, along with studios Sanzigen and Ordet, joined joint holding company Ultra Super Pictures.

In 2018, Studio Trigger created a Patreon with the goal of acquiring necessary funding for projects and merchandise. As of May 2024, Studio Trigger's Patreon offers two support tiers for patrons (US$1/month and US$5/month), has over 5000 members, and raises over US$3,500 per month.

In 2023, it was announced that the rights to Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt and Gurren Lagann, two of Imaishi's previous work at Gainax, had fully reverted to Imaishi and Studio Trigger; a follow-up to the former was also announced.

Other productions
• Project X Zone (2012; game) – Opening animation production

• Yonhyakunijuu Renpai Girl (2013; PV) – Promotional video for light novel published by Enterbrain

• Hacka Doll (2014; PV) – Promotional videos for mobile news app by DeNA

• Bishoujo Mobage: Mobami-chan (2014; PV) – Promotional video for mobile game by DeNA

• Black Dynamite (2014; TV) – Season 2 opening animation production; co-production with Sanzigen

• Hacka Doll the Animation (2015; TV) – Animation assistance

• Battlesaurs (2015; OVA) – Opening animation production

• Chunithm (2015; MV) – Music video animation production

• Fire Emblem Fates (2015; game) – Live2D illustrations

• Hyoketsu (2016; CM) – TV commercial animation production for beverage by Kirin Company

• Steven Universe (2016; TV) – Animation production assistance for S4E4, "Mindful Education"

• OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes (2017; TV) – Opening animation production

• Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time (2017; game) – Cutscene animation production

• Kill la Kill: The Game: IF (2019; game) – Development supervision

• Shantae and the Seven Sirens (2019; game) – Opening animation production

• Delicious in Dungeon (2019; PV) – Promotional video for manga published by Enterbrain

• Indivisible (2019; game) – Opening animation production; co-produced with Titmouse, Inc.

• Idolish7 (2020; MV) – Music video animation production

• Metallic Child (2021; PV) – Promotional video for video game published by Crest

• Omega Strikers (2023; PV) – Promotional video for video game published by Odyssey Interactive

• "Chocolat Cadabra" (2024; MV) – Music video animation production