Good Smile Company
Japanese figure company
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Good Smile Company, Inc. (株式会社グッドスマイルカンパニー, Kabushiki-gaisha Guddo-sumairu-kanpanī; also known as GSC or Good Smile) is a Japanese video game developer and hobby product manufacturer headquartered in Chiyoda, Japan. It was formed in May 2001 as an event management and talent company by corporate executive Takanori Aki. The company's products include that of the Nendoroid and Figma product lines, as well as scale figures primarily in PVC. In addition to production and manufacturing, its business includes design, marketing and distribution.
 | |
Native name | 株式会社グッドスマイルカンパニー |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Kabushiki gaisha Guddo Sumairu Kanpanī |
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Video games, hobby goods, figures |
| Founded | May 1, 2001 |
| Founder | Aki Takanori |
| Headquarters | Akiba CO Building, 3-16-12 Sotokanda, Tokyo, Japan |
| Products | Nendoroid, figma, Scale Figures, Goods |
| Website | goodsmileus |
Good Smile Company's products are often based on anime, manga or video games that are currently popular in Japan, China and Western countries, although the company also produces products based on other media properties such as the voice synthesizer software Vocaloid dominantly Hatsune Miku, VTubers and various western franchises such as Marvel Cinematic Universe and Masters of the Universe.
History
2001–2012: Founding and background
Good Smile Company was founded by Aki Takanori in May 2001 as an event management and talent company.[1] The company began working with Max Factory on hobby related products which would soon become the main focus of the company. It is now primarily involved in the planning, production, manufacturing and sales of markets accessories, figures and toys.[2]
The company acts as a distributor for a number of other hobby related companies including Max Factory, FREEing and Phat! Company. The company has a relationship with Max Factory, often sharing 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.
2025–present
In August 2025, the company temporarily halted its US shipments, a decision that was part of the fallout of the US government’s executive order to suspend the "de minimis" exemption.[3][4]
Games
- Black Rock Shooter Pilot Edition (2009)
- Touhou LostWord (2020)
- Smile of the Arsnotoria (2021)
- Jigokuraku: Paradise Battle (2025)
- Dark Auction (2026)
Products lines
Good Smile Company sells a variety of products with a focus on PVC character figurines. Most products are based on the characters of Japanese anime, manga, video games or American movies, video games and comics. Popular series included in companies product line-up include Hatsune Miku, Black Rock Shooter products, Puella Magi Madoka Magica products, as well as characters from Nintendo games.[5]
Related anime productions
Good Smile Company has been involved in the following productions as a member of the production committee.
- Penguin Musume (2008)
- CANAAN (2009)
- Demon King Daimao (2010)
- Tantei Opera Milky Holmes Series (2010, 2012)
- Dog Days Series (2011, 2012)
- Hanasaku Iroha (2011)
- Croisée in a Foreign Labyrinth (2011)
- Haganai: I Don't Have Many Friends Series (2011, 2013)
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky OVA (2011)
- Plastic Nee-san (2011 - 2012)
- Black Rock Shooter (2012)
- Senki Zesshō Symphogear (2012)
- Berserk: The Golden Age Arc (2012)
- Tari Tari (2012)
- Wooser's Hand-to-Mouth Life (2012)
- Da Capo III (2013)
- Senyū (2013)
- Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet (2013)
- Aiura (2013)
- Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend (2015)
- One Punch Man (2015)
Good Smile Racing
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In 2008, Good Smile Company became the primary sponsor of Studie GLAD Racing, a team that took part in the GT300 race division of the Super GT racing series in a car featuring illustrations of Hatsune Miku. In 2010, Good Smile Racing split from Studie to establish its own independent entry in the series. Good Smile Racing produces model cars and related goods to support the racing team with sponsors.[1]
The team made its Super GT debut in 2010, featuring drivers Taku Bamba and Masahiro Sasaki in a Porsche 911 GT3, finding little success early on. The team would prove to be a revelation in its second year of competition, though, winning three out of eight races and taking the 2011 GT300-class title, fielding the new BMW Z4 GT3 and a new driver in Nobuteru Taniguchi alongside Bamba.
Good Smile Racing won another two GT300-class championships in the 2014 and 2017 seasons with drivers Nobuteru Taniguchi and Tatsuya Kataoka, becoming one of the most successful GT300-class teams in Super GT history.
In 2017, they made their international GT debut, becoming the first Japanese GT3 team participating in the Spa 24 Hours of Intercontinental GT Challenge. The driver lineup featured former Formula One driver Kamui Kobayashi alongside Taniguchi and Kataoka.
For the 2019 24 Hours of Spa, they partnered with Type-Moon (as Type-Moon Racing), TRIGGER, and German racing team Black Falcon to field three Mercedes-AMG GT GT3 cars with Hatsune Miku, Fate, and Promare liveries.[6][7] Maro Engel drove the Promare-themed car to pole position and would eventually finish third alongside his teammates, while the Hatsune Miku-themed car would finish third in the Silver class.[8][9]
In 2022, Good Smile Racing made its foray into the United States market, positioned as a clothing and hobby product brand.
Good Smile is also a longtime personal sponsor of former Formula One driver and two-time FIA WEC champion Kamui Kobayashi. The company's logo has been present on Kobayashi's helmet since 2011, and multiple figures bearing his likeness were released during his time in Formula One.
Complete Super GT results
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.[10]
Controversy
The company's attempt to sue its former executives in 2020 was met with a counter-lawsuit, which notably alleged that Good Smile Company invested in 4chan.[11][12] This claim was later confirmed in a partnership agreement that was obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, revealing that Good Smile Company invested $2.4 million and acquired a 30% share when Hiroyuki Nishimura purchased 4chan for $8 million in 2015.[12][13] Following significant media coverage, the company would publish a statement that its relationship with 4chan was limited and severed in June 2022.[14]
