The company anticipates increased demand for its Gundam plastic model kits (Gunpla) inside and outside Japan due to various collaborations marking the franchise’s 40th anniversary, new anime, and the planned Hollywood live-action Gundam film.
Bandai Namco Holdings’ toy and hobby subsidiary BANDAI SPIRITS will begin production at the new Bandai Hobby Center Shinkan factory in fall 2020.
Construction on the new factory will begin on the grounds of the existing Bandai Hobby Center factory in December.
Gunpla kits debuted in 1980, and a total of more than 5 billion kits have shipped as of April.