After the merger with game developer and amusement facility operator Namco, Bandai Co., Ltd. is now under the management of Namco Bandai Holdings Inc. After group reorganisation in 2006, Bandai heads the group's Toys and Hobby Strategic Business Unit (SBU).

History

Bandai was founded in 1950. Some of the early tin plate toys are highly collectible; the pictured model car will sell for around US$150.

In the 1960s Bandai expanded to include export sales. Bandai's racing car set, which first appeared in 1962, became a huge success.

The 1970s continued to see Bandai expand, with Bandai Models being established in 1971. Although not their most profitable range, Bandai's 1/48 scale AFV models dominated that segment of the model kit market. Bandai America Inc. was established as local US sales/marketing operation in 1978.

Since the 1980s, Bandai has become the leading toy company of Japan, and to this day, has the main toy licenses in Japan to popular properties including Daikaiju, Ultraman, Super Robot, Kamen Rider, the Super Sentai and Power Rangers series (which they took part in creating), Gundam and many others.

The managements of Bandai and Sega officially agreed to merge in the late 1990s, but the merger was later cancelled, citing "cultural differences".

Former Bandai Subsidiaries

Before the formation of Namco Bandai Holdings, Bandai had many subsidiaries. After group reorganisation in 2006, they are managed under several strategic business units (SBUs) of the group. Further detail:

Bandai USA

Bandai USA (doing business as Bandai America) is the American distribution arm of Bandai that makes toy products for the U.S. market and manufactures Power Rangers and Ben 10 toys. Other past products include

• Alienators: Evolution Continues
• Astro Boy (2003 TV series)
• Big Bad Beetleborgs /Beetleborgs Mettalix
• Dick Tracy (film)
• D.I.C.E.
• Dinozaurs
• Digimon
• Godzilla
• Gundam
• Saint Seiya for American distribution it was relabled Knights of The Zodiac
• Masked Rider (TV series)
• Mega Man (TV series)
• Sailor Moon
• Tamagotchi Connection
• The Tick (TV series)
• Teen Titans (TV series)
• The Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog
• Ultimate Muscle
• Xyber 9: New Dawn

Bandai Visual

main: Bandai Visual Bandai Visual, Co. Ltd, produces and distributes many popular anime and tokusatsu titles. These titles include Cowboy Bebop, Big O, Outlaw Star, Please Teacher!, Escaflowne, and the popular Gundam, Kamen Rider, Ultraman, and Super Sentai series. The company logo is the Moai, a statue found on Easter Island. It now heads the Visual and Music Contents SBU. Their American division, Bandai Visual USA was absorbed into Bandai Entertainment in July 2008.