Arms (company)

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Arms
Native name
有限会社アームス
Yūgen-gaisha Āmusu
FormerlyGaryū Studio
Company typeYūgen gaisha
IndustryAnime, hentai (until 2005)
PredecessorDandelion
Triple X
FoundedNovember 18, 1996; 27 years ago (November 18, 1996)
August 31, 2017 (Common Sense)
DefunctJuly 22, 2020; 3 years ago (July 22, 2020)
FateBankruptcy
SuccessorStudio Signpost
HeadquartersSuginami, Tokyo, Japan
Key people
Osamu Shimizu (Representative director)

Arms Corp., Ltd. (Japanese: 有限会社アームス, Hepburn: Yūgen-gaisha Āmusu, stylized as ARMS) was a Japanese animation studio based in Suginami, Tokyo and active from 1996 to 2020.

History[edit]

The studio was formed on November 18, 1996 from a merger between Dandelion (founded in 1992) and Triple X (founded in 1993). After the merger, the studio continued to credit some of its work under the old names Dandelion (ダンディライオン, Dandiraion) and Triple X (トリプルX, Toripuru Ekkusu) until 2002, and did some minor work under the name Garyū Studio in the early 2000s.

The animator and character designer Rin Shin is the chief animation director for several productions by Arms which tend to have an above-average amount of fan service, for example the Ikki Tousen and Queen's Blade series. She also developed the character designs for I"s Pure.

After its founding, ARMS was, at first, a producer of hentai (most notably its productions with Green Bunny), but ceased productions of erotica in the mid-2000s with the growing popularity of their televised works.

Common Sense era[edit]

The company officially changed its name from Arms to Common Sense (株式会社コモンセンス) in August 31, 2017,[1] but maintained the Arms label as a trade name.[2]

On May 31, 2020, Common Sense decided dissolving the company following a shareholder meeting, with Tokyo district court accepting notice of liquidation filed in July 22, 2020.[2][3]

Productions[edit]

Hentai[edit]

Title Director(s) Released Eps Note(s)
La Blue Girl[4] Kan Fukumoto June 26, 1992 – July 9, 1993 4 as Dandelion
New La Blue Girl Kan Fukumoto January 28, 1994 – March 25, 1994 2 as Dandelion
Dōkyūsei: End of Summer Kinji Yoshimoto July 8, 1994 – May 12, 1995 4 as Triple X
Injū Den Twin Dolls Kan Fukumoto July 22, 1994 – August 26, 1994 2 as Dandelion
Erotic Torture Chamber Yoshitaka Fujimoto August 26, 1994 1 as Dandelion
Shin Angel Kaoru Tooyoka October 21, 1994 – November 22, 1995 5 as Dandelion
Venus 5 Osamu Inoue November 11, 1994 – December 9, 1994 2 as Dandelion
My Sexual Harassment Yōsei Morino December 15, 1994 – October 6, 1995 3 as Triple X
Dragon Knight Gaiden Kaoru Toyooka February 25, 1995 1 as Triple X
Injū Seisen Twin Angels Kan Fukumoto May 5, 1995 – September 12, 1997 8 as Dandelion
Kakyūsei Kan Fukumoto June 16, 1995 – November 22, 1995 4 as Triple X
Dragon Rider October 27, 1995 – January 26, 1996 2 as Triple X
Dōkyūsei Climax Kan Fukumoto
Takashi Kobayashi
December 22, 1995 – March 15, 1996 2 as Triple X
Akiko Kaoru Toyooka March 15, 1996 – July 26, 1996 2 as Triple X
Can Can Bunny Extra Katsuma Kanazawa January 19, 1996 – April 21, 1997 2 as Triple X
Dōkyūsei 2 Yōsei Morino March 22, 1996 – December 18, 1998 12 as Triple X
Rei-Lan: Orchid Emblem Hideaki Kushi June 21, 1996 1 as Dandelion
Lady Blue Kan Fukumoto July 26, 1996 – November 8, 1996 4 as Dandelion
Advancer Tina Kan Fukumoto August 21, 1996 1 as Dandelion
Mystery of Nonomura Hospital Nobuetsu Andō November 8, 1996 – January 24, 1997 2 as Triple X
November 18, 1996: Dandelion and Triple X merge to form ARMS.
Although some productions were still credited as works by Dandelion and Triple X until 2002.
Kawarazaki-ke no Ichizoku The Animation 闇黒堂霜魚 November 29, 1996 – April 25, 1997 2 as Triple X
Amy to Yobanaide Kan Fukumoto February 28, 1997 – June 27, 1997 2 as Triple X
Tokyo Private Police Shinichi Higashi July 21, 1997 – August 21, 1997 2 as Dandelion
Virtuacall Kaoru Toyooka August 29, 1997 – October 24, 1997 2 as Triple X
Welcome to Pia Carrot Katsuma Kanazawa October 24, 1997 – April 24, 1998 3 as Triple X
Gloria: House of the Forbidden Fruit Yasuhiro Kuroda November 28, 1997 – April 24, 1998 3 as Triple X
Isaku Katsuma Kanazawa November 28, 1997 – May 29, 1998 3 as Triple X
Dōsō Kai: Yesterday Once More Kan Fukumoto December 19, 1997 – September 25, 1998 4 as Triple X
Desert Island Story X Katsuma Kanazawa July 24, 1998 – April 23, 1999 4 as Triple X
Midnight Panther Yōsei Morino August 25, 1998 – December 18, 1998 2
Welcome to Pia Carrot!! 2 Kan Fukumoto October 23, 1998 – April 23, 1999 3 as Triple X
Natural (also called as Teacher's Pet) Kan Fukumoto February 25, 1999 4
Words Worth Kan Fukumoto August 25, 1999 – November 25, 2000 5
Desert Island Story XX Katsuma Kanazawa December 10, 1999 – June 23, 2000 4 as Triple X
Luv Wave Katsuma Kanazawa March 31, 2000 – October 27, 2000 3
Mezzo Forte Yasuomi Umetsu May 25, 2000 - June 25, 2001 2 A film edition was released in Japan on July 23, 2004. This version includes 20 minutes of extra footage, but without the sex scenes.
Isaku Respect February 23, 2001 – September 21, 2001 3 as Triple X
Inma Seiden Kan Fukumoto March 25, 2001 – October 25, 2002 6
Él Katsuma Kanazawa April 25, 2001 – July 25, 2001 2
La Blue Girl Returns Kan Fukumoto
Hiroshi Ogawa
May 25, 2001 – May 25, 2002 4
Princess Memory Wataru Tomii June 25, 2001 – September 25, 2001 2
Natural 2: Duo Kinji Yoshimoto November 25, 2001 – July 24, 2003 4
Virgin Touch Yoshitaka Fujimoto May 24, 2002 – August 23, 2002 2
Words Worth Gaiden Wataru Tomii July 25, 2002 – September 25, 2002 2
Dōsō Kai Again Kan Fukumoto July 25, 2002 – December 20, 2002 2 as Triple X
Mizuiro Shigeki Awai August 23, 2002 – December 6, 2002 2
Slave Nurses Katsuma Kanazawa January 24, 2003 – July 25, 2003 3
Crimson Climax Katsuma Kanazawa February 21, 2002 – September 25, 2003 3
Flutter of Birds 2: Tenshi-tachi no Tsubasa Hiroaki Nakajima May 23, 2003 – August 22, 2003 2
Dark Shell: Lust in the Cage Katsuma Kanazawa June 25, 2003 – September 25, 2003 2
One: True Stories Kan Fukumoto November 21, 2003 – May 28, 2004 3 as ARMS+
Body Transfer Yoshitaka Fujimoto December 21, 2003 – March 25, 2004 2 as ARMS+
Kawarazaki-ke no Ichizoku 2 The Animation Yōsei Morino January 23, 2004 – August 27, 2004 4 as ARMS+
Immoral Sisters: Blossoming June 25, 2004 – September 24, 2004 2 as ARMS+
Another Lady Innocent Kinji Yoshimoto
Satoshi Urushihara
November 11, 2004 1 as ARMS+
Night Shift Nurses: Experiment July 29, 2005 – January 27, 2006 3 as ARMS+
Hininden: Gauss Kan Fukumoto December 22, 2005 1 as ARMS+

Television series[edit]

Title Director(s) Released Eps Note(s)
Mezzo DSA Yasuomi Umetsu January 4, 2004 – March 30, 2004 12 Original work.
Elfen Lied Mamoru Kanbe July 25, 2004 – October 17, 2004 13 Adaptation of a manga by Lynn Okamoto.
Episodes 2, 5, and 10 were subcontracted to Studio Guts.
Kakyūsei 2 Yōsei Morino October 1, 2004 – December 24, 2004 13 Based on a game by ELF.
Girls High Yoshitaka Fujimoto April 3, 2006 – June 19, 2006 12 Adaptation of a manga by Towa Oshima.
Himawari! Shigenori Kageyama April 8, 2006 – July 1, 2006 13 Adaptation of a manga by GoDo.
Himawari!! Shigenori Kageyama January 6, 2007 – March 31, 2007 13 Sequel to Himawari!.
Ikki Tousen: Dragon Destiny Koichi Ohata February 26, 2007 – May 14, 2007 12 Sequel to Ikki Tousen: Battle Vixens.
Genshiken Pt.2 Kinji Yoshimoto October 11, 2007 – December 27, 2007 12 Sequel to Genshiken OVA.
Ikki Tousen: Great Guardians Koichi Ohata June 11, 2008 – August 27, 2008 12 Sequel to Ikki Tousen: Dragon Destiny.
Queen's Blade: The Exiled Virgin Kinji Yoshimoto April 2, 2009 – June 18, 2009 12 Based on a series of visual combat books published by Hobby Japan.
Queen's Blade 2: The Evil Eye Kinji Yoshimoto September 24, 2009 – December 10, 2009 12 Sequel to Queen's Blade: The Exiled Virgin.
Hyakka Ryōran: Samurai Girls KOBUN September 4, 2010 – December 20, 2010 12 Adaptation of a light novel series by Akira Suzuki and Niθ.
Queen's Blade Rebellion Yōsei Morino April 3, 2012 – June 19, 2012 12 Media franchise sequel to the Queen's Blade series.
Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero Rion Kujo July 6, 2012 – September 21, 2012 12 Adaptation of a light novel series by Tetsuto Uesu and Tamago no Kimi.
Maoyu: Archenemy & Hero Takeo Takahashi January 5, 2013 – March 30, 2013 12 Adaptation of a light novel series by Mamare Touno, Keinojou Mizutama, and Toi8.
Hyakka Ryōran: Samurai Bride KOBUN April 5, 2013 – June 21, 2013 12 Sequel to Hyakka Ryōran: Samurai Girls.
Wanna Be the Strongest in the World[5] Rion Kujo October 6, 2013 – December 22, 2013 12 Adaptation of a manga by ESE and Kiyohito Natsuki.
Wizard Barristers: Benmashi Cecil Yasuomi Umetsu January 12, 2014 – March 30, 2014 12 Original work.
Brynhildr in the Darkness Kenichi Imaizumi April 6, 2014 – June 29, 2014 13 Adaptation of a manga by Lynn Okamoto.
Isuca Akira Iwanaga January 24, 2015 – March 28, 2015 10 Adaptation of a manga by Osamu Takahashi.
Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid Hiraku Kaneko October 10, 2015 – December 26, 2015 12 Part of a media franchise created by Marvelous.
Shin Ikki Tousen Rion Kujo May 17, 2022 – May 31, 2022 3 Adaptation of a manga by Yūji Shiozaki.

OVAs[edit]

Title Director(s) Released Eps Note(s)
Welcome to Pia Carrot!! 2 DX Yōsei Morino December 18, 1999 – October 25, 2000 6 Adaptation of an eroge by Cocktail Soft, KID, and Stack.
As Garyū Studio.
First Kiss Story Kan Fukumoto February 14, 2000 1 Adaptation of a visual novel by HuneX.
As Garyū Studio.
One: Kagayaku Kisetsu e Yōsei Morino August 10, 2001 – May 24, 2002 4 Adaptation of an eroge by Tactics.
As Garyū Studio.
Nakoruru: Ano Hito kara no Okurimono Katsuma Kanazawa May 25, 2002 1 Adaptation of a fighting game by SNK.
As Garyū Studio.
From I"s Yōsei Morino December 9, 2002 – March 25, 2003 2 Adaptation of a manga by Masakazu Katsura.
Co-produced by Pierrot.
As Garyū Studio.
With You: Mitsumeteitai Yōsei Morino December 25, 2002 – May 25, 2003 2 Adaptation of a game by Cocktail Soft.
As Garyū Studio.
Elfen Lied: Regenschauer Mamoru Kanbe April 21, 2005 1 Episode 10.5 of Elfen Lied.
I"s Pure Mamoru Kanbe November 1, 2005 – July 23, 2006 6 Adaptation of a manga by Masakazu Katsura.
Co-produced by Pierrot.
Saiyuki Reload Burial Koichi Ohata April 27, 2007 – December 28, 2007 3 Adaptation of a manga by Kazuya Minekura.
Ramen Angel Pretty Menma January 25, 2008 1
Queen's Blade: Beautiful Warriors' Kinji Yoshimoto August 8, 2010 – January 9, 2011 6 Sequel to Queen's Blade 2: The Evil Eye.
Ikki Tousen: Shūgaku Tōshi Keppu-roku Rion Kujo November 12, 2011 1 Sequel to Ikki Tousen: Xtreme Xecutor.
Brynhildr in the Darkness: Much Ado About Nothing Kenichi Imaizumi March 26, 2014 1 Episode 11.5 of Brynhildr in the Darkness.
Ikki Tousen: Extravaganza Epoch Masashi Kudō December 21, 2014 – December 28, 2014 3 Sequel to Ikki Tousen: Shūgaku Tōshi Keppu-roku.
Hyakka Ryōran: Samurai After Toshinori Fukushima January 23, 2015 – July 1, 2015 2 Sequel to Hyakka Ryōran: Samurai Bride.
Isuca: Paradise Akira Iwanaga August 16, 2015 1 Episode 11 of Isuca.
Ikki Tousen: Western Wolves Takashi Watanabe (Chief)
Mitsutoshi Satō
January 3, 2019 – February 27, 2019 3

Films[edit]

Title Director(s) Released Length Note(s)
Kite Yasuomi Umetsu February 25, 1998 – October 25, 1998[A] 60 minutes (Uncensored)
45 minutes (Censored)
Original work.
Kite Liberator Yasuomi Umetsu April 8, 2008 60 minutes Original work.
  1. ^ Kite: International was released as a compiled version of the two originally released OVAs for the Western audience. Despite its original two-episode release, Kite is most commonly found in its film format.

References[edit]

  1. ^ 株式会社コモンセンスの企業情報(東京都杉並区)[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b Pineda, Rafael Antonio (2020-08-05). "Ikki Tousen, Elfen Lied's Studio Arms Declares Bankruptcy". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2022-03-14.
  3. ^ "~テレビアニメ「一騎当千」シリーズの制作を手掛けた~".
  4. ^ "これまでの作品ー触手系". Arms. Archived from the original on 2001-04-11. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  5. ^ "'Wanna Be the Strongest in the World' Anime's Promo Streamed". Anime News Network. April 1, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.

External links[edit]