Vanpool (company)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games, music software, computer applications, toys |
| Founder | Taro Kudo, Kazuyuki Kurashima |
| Defunct | May 31, 2023 |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Products | Video games (Dillon's Rolling Western, Kirby series) |
Vanpool, Inc. operated as an autonomous Japanese developer specializing in video games, music software, computer applications, and toys. The team featured notable figures such as Taro Kudo and Kazuyuki Kurashima, both previously affiliated with the independent studio Love-de-Lic. The company gained recognition primarily for its contributions to the Dillon's Rolling Western and Kirby franchises. Vanpool officially closed its doors on May 31, 2023.
Titles Developed
| Year | Name | Publisher | Platform | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Endonesia | Enix | PlayStation 2 | |
| 2002 | Coloball 2002 | Enterbrain | ||
| 2006 | Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland | Nintendo | Nintendo DS | |
| 2007 | I am a Fish | Kemco | Mobile phones | |
| Let's Yoga | Konami | Nintendo DS | ||
| Let's Pilates | ||||
| 2009 | Dekisugi Tingle Pack | Nintendo | Nintendo DS (DSiWare) | |
| Irozuki Tingle no Koi no Balloon Trip | Nintendo DS | |||
| 2011 | Wii Play: Motion | Wii | Wind Runner Mini-game | |
| 2012 | Dillon's Rolling Western | Nintendo 3DS | ||
| 2013 | Dillon's Rolling Western: The Last Ranger | |||
| 2015 | Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash | Co-developed with Skip Ltd. | ||
| 2018 | Dillon's Dead-Heat Breakers | |||
| 2019 | Super Kirby Clash | Nintendo Switch | Co-developed with HAL Laboratory | |
| 2020 | Kirby Fighters 2 | |||
| 2023 | Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe |
Support in Development
| Year | Title | Developer | Publisher | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga | AlphaDream | Nintendo | Game Boy Advance | Mini-games contribution |
| 2005 | Red Ninja: End of Honor | Tranji Studios | Vivendi Universal Games | PlayStation 2 | Provided music |
| 2008 | Magician's Quest: Mysterious Times | Aquria | Konami | Nintendo DS | Music composition |
| 2009 | 3°C | COOL&WARM Inc. | Kemco | Wii (WiiWare) | Music production |
| Little King's Story | Cing/Town Factory | Marvelous Entertainment | Wii | Sound and voice effects | |
| PostPet DS | AlphaDream | Nintendo DS | Music creation | ||
| 2010 | Livly Garden | Brownie Brown | Music development | ||
| 2012 | Paper Mario: Sticker Star | Intelligent Systems | Nintendo | Nintendo 3DS | Direction and scriptwriting |
| 2022 | Kirby and the Forgotten Land | HAL Laboratory | Nintendo Switch | Assistance with background modeling and programming |