Key (company)

Key is a Japanese visual novel studio which formed on July 21, 1998 as a brand under the publisher Visual Art's and is located in Kita, Osaka, Japan. Key released their debut visual novel Kanon in June 1999, which combined an elaborate storyline, an up-to-date anime-style drawing style, and a musical score which helped to set the mood for the game. Key's second game Air released in September 2000 had a similar if not more complex storyline to Kanon and a more thorough gameplay. Both Kanon and Air were originally produced as adult games, but Key broke this trend with their third title Clannad which was released in April 2004 for all-ages. Key released their seventh and latest game Little Busters! Ecstasy in July 2008, and has worked in the past with Interchannel and Prototype for the consumer port releases of previous Key titles. Key is in the process of developing their eighth game Rewrite, and are working in collaboration with ASCII Media Works' Dengeki G's Magazine to produce amixed media project named Angel Beats!, which will be produced into an anime.