Bandai Namco Filmworks (BNF) and Bandai Namco Pictures (BNP) have issued a joint apology regarding unauthorized intellectual property references appearing in the recently released film, Shin Gekijōban ☆ Keroro Gunsō Fukkatsu Shite Sokkō Chikyū Metsubō no Kiki de Arimasu! The companies acknowledged a significant communication breakdown led to the inclusion of a reference to Attack on Titan, despite explicit wishes from the manga's rights holders to the contrary.
In their statement, BNF and BNP expressed deep regret to all affected rights holders and fans, admitting a failure in their responsibility to give sufficient consideration to IP usage. The companies stressed that they take this incident seriously and are committed to preventing future occurrences. They plan to implement stricter internal verification systems and enhance management processes to ensure all necessary confirmations from rights holders are secured.
BNF also specifically apologized to the production staff, series creator Mine Yoshizaki, and the editors of Monthly Shōnen Ace, clarifying that these parties were not responsible for the oversight. The film, which opened in Japan on Friday, features the unauthorized nod despite clear directives against it, highlighting a critical internal lapse within the Bandai Namco companies.
Source: Anime News Network(https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2026-06-26/bandai-namco-apologizes-for-sgt-frog-film-unapproved-reference-to-attack-on-titan/.238985)
