You may not hear the name much these days, but have you heard of a game company called “Angel”? Active in the 1990s, this company existed as a Bandai affiliate and quietly made a name for itself among game fans at the time. Although it may have seemed to occupy a modest position, in reality it produced memorable works thanks to solid development skills and flexible planning.

In March 1997, Angel was dissolved along with another Bandai-affiliated development company, BI, and subsequently absorbed into Kagaku Giken (now Megahouse). Although its corporate history was not long, it steadily demonstrated its presence as a member of the Bandai Group and played an important role in paving the way for what would later become Megahouse. From the perspective of corporate continuity, a full stop was placed on Angel, but its DNA undoubtedly lives on in today’s hobby industry.

After Angel’s dissolution, its successor Megahouse initially focused on selling party game items. However, it later expanded its lineup with highly detailed figure series such as “Excellent Model” and “Variable Action,” greatly increasing its recognition. Within these products, one can feel the “playfulness” and “technical skill” inherited from the Angel era.

Their approach, which goes beyond mere children’s toys to include designs and features impressive even to adults, can be seen as a direct continuation of the creativity and craftsmanship cultivated during their game development days.

Today, Megahouse operates on two main pillars: general toys for game-related hobbies and both articulated and fixed figures. In addition, they also offer products that bridge the gap between digital and analog, such as entry-level goods for mobile devices and smart gear for children. Seeing this breadth of offerings, one realizes that Angel was not merely a game maker but had, from early on, a perspective on how to build “play platforms,” a mindset that lives on in their diverse developments.

For the younger generation, “Angel” may be a name they’ve never heard before. But by tracing its footsteps, we can see where the ideas and culture flowing through today’s hobby industry originated.

At the origin of Megahouse, which continues to delight people with not just game software but also figures and digital gadgets in various forms, was a company that bore the name “Angel.” I hope you’ll remember that, even just a little.