Frontwing Co., Ltd. (株式会社フロントウイング, Kabushiki-gaisha Furonto Uingu) is a Japanese visual novel studio known for the production of adult bishōjo games. Its main office is located in Taitō, Tokyo. The representative producer and president is Ryūichirō Yamakawa. “Frontwing” is the company's main brand, but it has also released games under affiliated brands “Survive” (サヴァイブ), “Hotchkiss” (ホチキス), and “b-wing.” These brands have all since merged to become “Frontwing.”
 | |
Native name | 株式会社フロントウイング |
|---|---|
| Company type | Kabushiki gaisha |
| Industry | Computer games |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Taitō, Tokyo, Japan |
Key people | Ryūichirō Yamakawa (Producer, President and CEO) Akio Watanabe (Director and Character Designer) Fumio (Game illustrator) Yōsai Kūchū(Game illustrator and Character Designer)[1] |
| Products | Eroge, Visual novels |
| Owner | Bushiroad (50.625%) |
| Website | frontwing |
Frontwing's games cover a diverse range of genres, from school love life stories to hardcore adult games, and also games that utilize 3D computer graphics. The 3D content production team, Polygon Mura (ポリゴン村), is closely involved in the games’ production by seeking ways to incorporate 3D graphics into essentially 2D projects. Several of their games, originally produced for PC, have been ported to consoles. The development of the ported versions is generally done in-house. The company is also active in many other fields, including the development of the dance 3D software Dance X Mixer, taking part in the bi-annual Comic Market, and Niconico live broadcasts.[2]
Since the company's founding in 1999 as a bishōjo games developer and the release of Frontwing's first title, Canary (Canaria: Kono Omoi o Uta ni Nosete) in August 2000, it has published over 20 titles in the visual novel genre. The studio's flagship games include the Netherworld Angel Djibril series, and the Grisaia trilogy which spawned an animated series in 2015.[3] In regards to the Djibril series, writer Naoki Miyamoto, author of the book "Adult Games: Introduction to Cultural Studies”,[4] has pointed out why there is a big demand for such works: “If the one to fight is a beautiful heroine, the risks she takes stimulate people's erotic imagination.”[5]
In 2011, the first installment of the Grisaia series, The Fruit of Grisaia, won first place in the Moe Game Award.[6] The second installment, The Labyrinth of Grisaia, won second place in 2012.[7]
Frontwing marked its first venture into the overseas market May 29, 2015, with the English release of The Fruit of Grisaia on Steam. The company has since established its own in-house translation team, which made its debut with the English release of The Leisure of Grisaia on May 18, 2016.
On March 16, 2021, Frontwing announced that Bushiroad had acquired a 50.625% controlling stake of the company, with Frontwing becoming a subsidiary of Bushiroad.[8]
List of visual novels
editListed by brand, in chronological order.
Frontwing
| Japan Release date | Japanese title | English title | English Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 4, 2000 | カナリア 〜この想いを歌に乗せて〜 (Kanaria ~Kono Omoi o Uta ni Nosete~) | Canary | N/A |
| November 11, 2001 | フーリガン (Hooligan) | Hooligan | N/A |
| September 27, 2002 | 魔女のお茶会 (Majo no Ochakai) | Tea Society of a Witch | N/A |
| March 28, 2003 | スイートレガシー (Sweet Legacy) | Sweet Legacy | N/A |
| August 29, 2003 | 私立アキハバラ学園 (Shiritsu Akihabara Gakuen) | Private Akihabara Academy | N/A |
| December 19, 2003 | あきばこ～「私立アキハバラ学園」ファンディスク～ (Akibako ~"Shiritsu Akihabara Gakuen" Fandisk~) | Akibox ~"Private Akihabara Academy" Fandisk~ | N/A |
| April 23, 2004 | 魔界天使ジブリール (Makai Tenshi Djibril) | Netherworld Angel Djibril | N/A |
| August 27, 2004 | そらうた (Sorauta) | Sky Song | N/A |
| April 22, 2005 | 魔界天使ジブリール－episode2－ (Makai Tenshi Djibril -episode2-) | Netherworld Angel Djibril -episode 2- | N/A |
| February 24, 2006 | ボーイミーツガール (Boy Meets Girl) | Boy Meets Girl | N/A |
| September 9, 2006 | めがちゅ！ (Megachu!) | Megachu! | N/A |
| March 23, 2007 | きみはぐ (Kimihagu) | Kimi Hug | N/A |
| December 27, 2007 | タイムリープ (Taimu Riipu) | Time Leap | N/A |
| June 27, 2008 | 魔界天使ジブリール－episode3－ (Makai Tenshi Djibril －episode3－) | Netherworld Angel Djibril -episode 3- | N/A |
| December 26, 2008 | ほしうた (Hoshiuta) | Star Song | N/A |
| August 28, 2009 | タイムリープぱらだいす (Taimu Rīpu Paradaisu) | Time Leap Paradise | N/A |
| December 25, 2009 | ほしうたStarlight Serenade (Hoshiuta Starlight Serenade) | Star Song ~Starlight Serenade~ | N/A |
| April 23, 2010 | 魔界天使ジブリール－episode4－ (Makai Tenshi Djibril －episode4－) | Netherworld Angel Djibril -episode 4- | N/A |
| February 25, 2011 | グリザイアの果実 (Gurizaia no Kajitsu) | Le Fruit de la Grisaia (French for The Fruit of the Grisaia) | May 29, 2015 |
| July 29, 2011 | 戦国天使ジブリール－ (Sengoku Tenshi Djibril) | Warring States Angel Djibril | N/A |
| February 24, 2012 | グリザイアの迷宮 (Gurizaia no Meikyū) | Le Labyrinthe de la Grisaia (French for The Labyrinth of the Grisaia) | June 22, 2016 |
| September 28, 2012 | ピュアガール (Pure Girl) | Pure Girl | N/A |
| March 29, 2013 | グリザイアの楽園 (Gurizaia no Rakuen) | Le Eden de la Grisaia (French for The Eden of the Grisaia) | N/A |
| February 28, 2014 | イノセントガール (Innocent Girl) | Innocent Girl | N/A |
| August 15, 2014 | アイドル魔法少女ちるちる☆みちる (Idol Mahō Shōjo Chiru Chiru☆Michiru) | Idol Magical Girl Chiru Chiru☆Michiru | July 29, 2015 |
| March 27, 2015 | ゆきこいめると (Yukikoi Meruto) | Yukikoi Melt | N/A |
| October 23, 2015 | グリザイアの有閑 (Gurizaia no Yūkan) | The Leisure of Grisaia | May 18, 2016 |
| November 27, 2015 | 果つることなき未来ヨリ (Hatsuru Koto Naki Mirai Yori) | From the Future Undying | N/A |
| December 12, 2015 | グリザイアの残光 (Gurizaia no Zankō) | The Afterglow of Grisaia | July 20, 2016 |
| April 28, 2016 | アイランド (Airando) | ISLAND | August 23, 2018 |
| N/A | N/A | Purino Party | June 23, 2016 |
| August 28, 2016 | コロナ・ブロッサム Vol.1 (Korona Burossamu Vol.1) | Corona Blossom Volume 1: Gift From The Galaxy | July 29, 2016 |
| October 28, 2016 | コロナ・ブロッサム Vol.2 (Korona Burossamu Vol.2) | Corona Blossom Volume 2: The Truth From Beyond | October 26, 2016 |
| January 26, 2017 | コロナ・ブロッサム Vol.3 (Korona Burossamu Vol.3) | Corona Blossom Volume 3: Journey To The Stars | January 26, 2017 |
| April 28, 2017 | グリザイア ファントムトリガー（第1・2巻） (Gurizaia:Phantom Trigger) | Grisaia: Phantom Trigger | April 28, 2017 |
| July 28, 2017 | グリザイア ファントムトリガー（第3巻） (Gurizaia:Phantom Trigger) | ||
| January 26, 2018 | グリザイア ファントムトリガー（第4巻） (Gurizaia:Phantom Trigger) | ||
| April 27, 2018 | ももいろクローゼット (Momoiro Kurōzetto) | Momoiro Closet | May 8, 2018 |
| July 27, 2018 | グリザイア ファントムトリガー（第5巻） (Gurizaia:Phantom Trigger) | ||
| October 26, 2018 | ろけらぶ 同棲×後輩 (Rokerabu - Dousei x Kouhai) | Loca-Love: My Cute Roommate | October 26, 2018 |
| April 26, 2019 | グリザイア ファントムトリガー（第5.5・6巻） (Gurizaia:Phantom Trigger) | ||
| August 30, 2019 | ろけらぶ 電車×同級生 | ||
| April 23, 2020 | 電脳天使ジブリール | ||
| June 19, 2020 | Atri: My Dear Moments | ||
| July 22, 2020 | グリザイア ファントムトリガー（第7巻） | ||
| September 25, 2020 | ろけらぶ 神社×先輩 | ||
| November 26, 2020 | グリザイア クロノスリベリオン | ||
| February 25, 2022 | グリザイア ファントムトリガー（第8巻） | ||
| April 5, 2022 | グリザイア 戦場のバルカローレ | ||
| April 28, 2023 | グリザイア クロノスリベリオン | ||
| October 26, 2023 | GINKA | ||
| August 8, 2024 | 少女☆歌劇 レヴュースタァライト 舞台奏像劇 遥かなるエルドラド (Shōjo☆Kageki Revue Starlight Butai Sōzōgeki Harukanaru El Dorado) | Revue Starlight El Dorado | August 8, 2024 |
Survive
edit| Japan Release date | Japanese title | English title | English Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 20, 2002 | アズラエル (Azrael) | Azrael | N/A |
| December 19, 2003 | ゆきうた (Yukiuta) | Snow Song | N/A |
| January 31, 2003 | セパレイトブルー (Separate Blue) | Separation Blues | N/A |
Hotchkiss
edit| Japan Release date | Japanese title | English title | English Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 8, 2002 | クランクイン－早春賦－ (Hotchkiss Crankin) | Hotchkiss Crank In! | N/A |
| October 10, 2003 | ふたごえっち (Futago Ecchi) | Twin Sex | N/A |
b-wing
edit| Japan Release date | Japanese title | English title | English Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 8, 2003 | Take off!! | Take Off!! | N/A |
Incidents
editReferences
edit- ^ "MangaGamer Announces Frontwing and More Guests for Anime Expo - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. 2010-06-25. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
- ^ "Company Profile". Frontwing official English website. Frontwing. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- ^ "Frontwing Plans Anime of Le Fruit de La Grisaia Game - News - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. 2010-10-28. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
- ^ Miyamoto, Naoki (2013). Eroge – Bunka kenkyuu gairon" (Adult Games: Introduction to Cultural Studies). Tokyo: Sougou Kagaku Shuppan. ISBN 978-4-88181-829-9.
- ^ Dengeki Moe King Editorial Department (2013). "THE ART OF THE "GRISAIA" SERIES". Dengeki Moe King. 04340–12 (December): 123–138.
- ^ Moe Game Award Executive Committee. "Moe Game Award 2011 results". Archived from the original on November 24, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- ^ Moe Game Award Executive Committee. "Moe Game Award 2012 results". Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 18, 2021). "Bushiroad Acquires Media Company Frontwing". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
External links
edit- Official website (in Japanese)
- Official website (English)
- Frontwing at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Frontwing on Facebook