Good Smile Company

Good Smile Company, Inc.
Native name
 株式会社グッドスマイルカンパニー
Kabushiki Gaisha
Industry Hobby Goods, Figures
Founded May 1, 2001
Founder Aki Takanori
Headquarters Akiba CO Building, 3-16-12 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Products Nendoroid, figma, Scale Figures, Goods
Website www.goodsmile.info

Good Smile Company (グッドスマイルカンパニー) (also known as GSC or Good Smile) is a Japanese manufacturer of hobby products such as the Nendoroid and figma product lines, as well as scale figures. In addition to production and manufacturing, its business includes design, marketing and distribution. Its products are usually based on anime, manga or games that are currently popular in Japan, although the company has also produced products based on other media properties such as the voice synthesizer software Vocaloid and the Touhou Project game series.

Outline

Good Smile Company was established by Aki Takanori in 2001 as an event management and talent company. Thereafter it began working with Max Factory on hobby related products which soon become the main focus of the company. Good Smile Company is now primarily involved in the planning, production, manufacturing and sales of figures and toys, but also markets accessories and other goods.

Good Smile Company also acts as a distributor and for a number of other hobby related companies including Max Factory, FREEing and Phat! Company. The company has a particularly long relationship with Max Factory, and often shares booths and display space with them at events such as Wonder Festival. As of June 2012, Good Smile Company moved from Matsudo, Chiba to the Tokyo Skytree's East Tower, which has become the joint headquarters for them and Max Factory.

'Kahotan's Blog' is a popular blog which introduces both Good Smile Company and related products to the public through the eyes of one of the female staff members. The blog is available in both English and Japanese.

Corporate history

A summarized history of the company can be found below.[1]

Primary products

Good Smile Company sells a variety of products with a focus on PVC character figurines. Most products are based on anime, manga or video game characters that are popular within Japan. Popular series included in their product line-up include Hatsune Miku, characters from the Touhou Project game series, Black Rock Shooter products, Puella Magi Madoka Magica products, as well as characters from Nintendo games. They are most well known for:

Good Smile Company has been involved in the following productions as a member of the production committee.

Additionally, they were involved in the production and distribution of the Black Rock Shooter film (2010).

Motorsports

In 2008, Good Smile Company became the primary sponsor of Studie GLAD Racing, a team which took part in the GT300 race division of the SUPER GT racing series in a car featuring illustrations of Hatsune Miku. In 2010, a new subsidiary company called Good Smile Racing (GSR) was established which became the new racing team owner. Good Smile Racing also produces model cars and related goods to support the racing team with sponsors.[1] The team took first place and the title of champion in Japan's 2011 Super GT GT300 class series race.[2]

Anime production business

In recent years, the company played a large part in bringing together four smaller animation companies (Sanzigen, Trigger, Ordet and LIDEN FILMS) and pooling their talent together as a new holding company named ULTRA SUPER PICTURES. This business is a part of the animation production industry, but focuses not only on the production and development of high quality animation projects, but also the licensing of works, general management and training of new staff in order to create content aimed at a worldwide audience.[3]

Associated companies

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Good Smile Company.

References

  1. 1 2 会社案内 (in Japanese). Good Smile Company. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  2. ↑ "Good Smile Racing wins Japan's Super GT GT300 class championship". Tomopop. Retrieved 2013-06-07.
  3. ↑ "ULTRA SUPER PICTURES Company Overview". 2013-06-05.
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