Bandai is a Japanese toy making company. It is the world's third largest producer of toys.
History
Bandai was founded in 1950. Some of the early tin plate toys are highly collectible; the pictured model will sell for around US$150.
Subsidaries
Bandai has many subsidiaries. Further detail:
Bandai Visual (Emotion)
Bandai Visual (Emotion), produces (sometimes in conjunction with the Sunrise animation studio, also a Bandai subsidiary) and distributes many popular anime titles. These titles include Cowboy Bebop, Outlaw Star, Escaflowne, the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise and Witch Hunter Robin. The company logo is a statue found on Easter Island.
Bandai America
Bandai America is the American distribution arm of Bandai that makes toy products for the U.S. market, distributes Bandai games, and distributes many of Bandai Visual's anime titles in the United States through its Bandai Entertainment arm headquartered in Cypress, California and in Canada through Bandai Entertainment Canada, which is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario.
Bandai Games
Bandai Games produces and distibutes video games based on Bandai properties including Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front and Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo. Bandai games most recently opened a United States office.
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