Bandai Namco Filmworks to Fully Absorb Sotsu's Gundam IP Operations in Major Restructuring
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Bandai Namco Filmworks is set to take over all of Sotsu’s Gundam-related business and IP production, effective April 1, 2026. This major internal restructuring consolidates planning, production, and copyright management directly under Filmworks, aiming to streamline the entire global franchise operation.
The shift redefines roles within the Bandai Namco group. Sotsu, which Bandai Namco Holdings acquired in 2019, previously focused on merchandising and licensing for Gundam while Filmworks handled animation production. Despite the earlier group merger, overlaps remained in IP management. Filmworks now takes the primary development lead for Gundam and other IPs.
The restructuring also involves Bandai Namco Music Live absorbing Sotsu Music Publishing in an absorption-type split. This move centralizes music copyrights, master recordings, and associated assets. The integrated music company plans a name change following the absorption.
The goal is to create tighter coordination between the animation side and music assets to better support streaming, live events, and merchandise tie-ins across the franchise.
Sotsu will pivot toward non-IP related work, such as broadcast services and sports advertising, moving away from direct Gundam management.
Beyond Gundam, the broader strategy involves merging the production strengths of both entities to develop new original anime projects across various genres. This includes utilizing music strategies to extend the lifecycle of those animations through songs and artist collaborations.
This organizational consolidation follows the 2022 merger that created Filmworks by combining Sunrise, Bandai Namco Arts' visual operations, and rights marketing. Sunrise, the long-time studio behind Gundam, remains central to this structure. This internal realignment comes as Bandai Namco Filmworks America launched this past April to expand overseas licensing, coinciding with development on the live-action Gundam film with Legendary.