'Neon Genesis Evangelion' studio Gainax shuts down, as founder reveals management issues

Studio Gainax formally closes after 42 years, with founder Hideaki Anno revealing past management issues

Studio Gainax, the Japanese anime studio behind series such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gunbuster, FLCL, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, and Gurren Lagann, has officially closed after more than 42 years.

The studio, founded in 1984 in Musashino, Tokyo, filed for bankruptcy in May 2024 and has now formally ceased operations following the completion of its bankruptcy proceedings.

Hideaki Anno, co-founder of Gainax and creator of Evangelion, provided a detailed statement on Studio Khara’s website, describing the closure as “a truly disappointing end” while acknowledging he accepts it “with a sense of calm.”

Anno confirmed that the studio’s debts, obligations, and materials have been processed, with rights returned to the appropriate creators and companies after years of uncertainty.

The studio’s decline accelerated following the 2019 arrest of then-CEO Tomohiro Maki, who was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for sexually assaulting an underage voice actress.

Anno highlighted years of internal mismanagement, including mishandled rights transfers and withheld royalties, which led to Khara filing a civil lawsuit against Gainax. The case concluded in early 2023 with a settlement of 100 million yen and a formal apology from the defendants.

Anno praised the efforts of Gainax’s final representative director, Yasuhiro Kamimura, for ensuring the safe transfer of rights and materials and facing creditors sincerely during the studio’s dissolution.

He also revealed that previous management had attempted to deceive staff and showed a lack of respect for Gainax’s works and employees, including instances where executives instructed staff to misrepresent their status.

The closure marks the end of one of anime’s most influential studios, leaving a legacy of creative experimentation and alumni who have gone on to establish other prominent studios, including Trigger and Khara.