This Monday, Studio 3Hz has announced that it has transferred its anime planning and production business to A-1 Pictures.. The company clarified that its activities will continue at A-1 Pictures, ensuring a smooth transition for its current and future projects.

Additionally, both Studio 3Hz and the anime’s official Twitter account “Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online“confirmed that the same team that has been working on the second season will continue to do so under the supervision of A-1 Pictures. The new season is expected to premiere during the fall 2024 period (October-December).

Founded in 2013 by Yuichiro Matsukatogether with Muneki Ogasawara, Masaki Tachibana and Koichi AraiStudio 3Hz has been responsible for a variety of successful anime, including “Princess Principal“, “Flip Flappers“, “BLACKFOX“, “Chidori RSC“, “Dimension W“, “Hataraku Maou-sama!!! Season 2/Season 3“, “Healer girl“, “Celestial Method“, “The Marginal Service“, and “A3! Autumn and Winter Season” and “A3! Spring and Summer Season“. Additionally, the studio produced opening animations for video games, such as “Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana“, “The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III“, and “Tokyo Xanadu“.

The decision to 3Hz Studio A-1 Pictures' decision to transfer its operations to A-1 Pictures may be motivated by a number of factors:

• Financial and strategic restructuringIt is possible that Studio 3Hz faced financial challenges that led them to seek integration with a larger, more stable company. A-1 Pictures, known for its robust infrastructure and success in the industry, would offer a solid platform to continue their projects without interruption.
• Focus on operational efficiency: Integration with A-1 Pictures could allow for better use of resources and technologies, optimizing production and possibly improving content quality.
• Expanding the creative scopeWorking under the A-1 Pictures umbrella could provide Studio 3Hz creatives with greater opportunities to collaborate on larger, more ambitious projects, benefiting from the new studio’s expertise and resources.

This transfer marks a significant shift in the dynamics of the anime industry, with A-1 Pictures strengthening its position as one of Japan's leading animation studios. The continuity of the production team for “Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online” ensures that fans will not see a decrease in the quality of the anime.which is a common concern when there are changes in production.

Source: Official Twitter Account