Gainax Announces Closure: A Major Shift in the Anime Industry
On May 29, 2024, Gainax officially announced its closure, with the announcement released by the studio on June 1, 2024. Although it had been rumored for some time, this decision comes after many years of uncertainty regarding the company’s current operational viability.
Several reasons have been cited for the decline of this iconic anime studio, including significant financial debts, lack of investment, and an inability to secure collaborations with a dedicated CG studio. Additionally, there were various other operational challenges that contributed to this decision.
Yasuhiro Kamimura, the managing director of Gainax, elaborated further in a statement released on Oricon. He stated, “We sincerely apologize to our partners and the companies that have collaborated with us, as we were unable to meet our operational goals and no longer have any options other than to announce our closure.”
He also addressed the timeline of events leading up to this announcement, which involved issues related to copyright transactions in the anime industry, as well as internal disputes that led to the resignation of a director in 2019 due to misconduct allegations.
Ultimately, he noted that Gainax has undergone audits and that the studio’s financial situation has deteriorated significantly.
Fans of the iconic series “Neon Genesis Evangelion” may recognize Khara, Inc., which currently holds the rights to the franchise. Khara, founded by Hideaki Anno in 2006, has produced the “Rebirth of Evangelion” films independently. Although Gainax initially enjoyed tremendous success in the 90s with Evangelion, the studio has since produced numerous other projects, including “Gurren Lagann” in 2007.
Khara has also issued a statement regarding this matter, emphasizing that Anno would continue to support Gainax in any way possible while ensuring no further damage occurs. Khara stated: “At this time, we understand the situation, and we have entered a state where Gainax can no longer be managed, leading to the conclusion that it is difficult to continue operations.”
In conclusion, both Khara and Studio Trigger have expressed their commitment to maintaining Gainax’s legacy. Both studios were founded by creatives who have significantly developed unique paths in the anime industry.
We have seen the release of “Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time” in 2021, which hinted at new directions for the franchise, while Studio Trigger has brought us hits like “Kill la Kill” and “SSSS.Gridman,” two of the best superhero anime in recent years.
