Bandai

Bandai is one of the world’s largest toy manufacturers but has also branched out to become a fully fledged media corporation in its own right. The company was founded in the 1950s and found success with toy racing cars in the ‘60s before founding Bandai Models in 1971. In 1978 they founded Bandai America, Inc. and later in the 1980s the company had a smash hit with the iconic Spacewarp series of build-it-yourself rolling ball roller coaster toys.

Bandai also went on to enjoy even more success through helping to creating merchandise for some of the biggest tokusatsu and anime series of the day including Ultraman, Kamen Rider, the Super Sentai and Power Rangers series which they also helped to create, and even Gundam too.

Bandai also operates Bandai Visual which produces and distributes anime and tokusatsu franchises including Cowboy Bebop, Big O, Outlaw Star, Please Teacher!, Escaflowne, Gundam, Kamen Rider, Ultraman, and Super Sentai.