A very limited selection of anime studios have enough brand power that their names alone can convince countless fans to watch a show. These days, studio MAPPA is likely leading the pack in terms of popularity, only recently joining studios like Kyoto Animation, Bones, Madhouse, and others as industry leaders.
In the ’90s and 2000s, Gainax was one of those studios. Following the moderate success of 1988’s Gunbuster and 1991’s Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Gainax became an overnight household name in Japan with the airing of 1995’s Neon Genesis Evangelion, one of anime’s most popular titles of all time.
Nearly 30 years later, studio Gainax filed for bankruptcy, and was officially dissolved on December 11, 2025. The animation studio helped define one of the most respected and widely beloved generations of anime, and it’s better off dead.
Gainax Is Dead, Leaving a Troubled History Behind
One of Anime’s Most Recognizable Studios Is No More, and the Industry Is Better-Off
Gainax, which was co-founded by Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno, appeared destined for greatness after the massive success of Neon Genesis Evangelion and its follow-up film, The End of Evangelion. However, it didn’t take long for the studio to run into problems. In 1997, Gainax was audited on suspicion of tax evasion. Two years later, its president was arrested.
The mismanagement of funds and perceived unfair treatment from other members caused friction between Anno and Gainax. However, only a short time later, the studio released FLCL, a six-episode OVA that garnered praise from just about every corner of the anime fandom and industry.
Unfortunately, issues persisted and relationships crumbled beyond repair between Hideaki Anno and the remaining members of the studio, and Anno left to create studio Khara in 2006. The new studio aimed to avoid the mismanagement that defined the director’s time at Gainax, and 10 years later, Khara sued Gainax for unpaid royalties from Hideaki Anno’s work.
By that time, Gainax’s last true smash-hit, Gurren Lagann, was nearing a decade old, signaling the end of times for the studio. Following a brief period of decline and other legal troubles, Gainax filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors in 2024.
Gainax Was Responsible for Major Hits, but It Shouldn’t Be Missed
Days after Gainax was officially dissolved, Hideaki Anno posted a statement regarding the situation and his time at the studio on the official Khara website. There, he went into detail about the mistreatment of himself and others by the studio’s other founders, including dishonesty about paying back loans from Khara, the mismanagement of rights, and other deceptive actions.
The legendary founder and director expressed that his anger turned largely to sadness at the betrayal by his co-founders, many of whom were his longtime college buddies. Studio Gainax gave fans some of the most popular anime titles in history, including the Evangelion franchise, but after decades of mismanagement and legal issues, it’s better off dead.
-
Megumi Ogata
Shinji Ikari
-
Megumi Hayashibara
Rei Ayanami
