The End of an Era: Original ‘Evangelion’ Studio Gainax Formally Dissolved
With director and co-founder Hideaki Anno issuing a statement that outlined steps to preserve any remaining works.
Summary
- Gainax, the original animation studio for Evangelion, was formally dissolved as of December 10, 2025
- Studio Khara and Hideaki Anno issued statements reflecting on the collapse and steps to preserve Gainax’s remaining works
The Japanese animation studio Gainax, renowned as a pillar of the industry and the original production house behind the OG Neon Genesis Evangelion series, has formally ceased to exist. Gainax, which was founded in 1984, completed its bankruptcy proceedings and was legally dissolved as of December 10, 2025. The studio’s decline began around 2012, accelerating due to years of mismanagement, including the establishment of regional affiliate companies, unrealized business plans, and the accumulation of massive debts. The crisis came to a head following the 2019 arrest of then-president Tomohiro Maki for sexual assault, causing the company to “completely lose its ability to operate.”
In the wake of the bankruptcy filing in May 2024, a primary concern was the preservation and proper transfer of the studio’s vast body of intellectual property. Hideaki Anno, Gainax co-founder and creator of Evangelion, issued a detailed statement on the website of his current company, Studio Khara (which has produced the Rebuild of Evangelion films since 2007).
Khara, which was Gainax’s largest creditor, worked alongside other companies like Kadokawa and Studio Trigger to ensure the rights, production materials and deliverables for each project were legally transferred back to their “rightful owners” and creators. While Anno accepted the outcome “with a sense of calm,” he expressed profound sadness and regret over the dishonest conduct of the former management team, which included instances of improper transfers of rights and attempts to deceive creditors. The dissolution marks a definitive end to one of anime’s most influential and creatively experimental studios.
庵野秀明による『「株式会社ガイナックス」について』
の文章をカラー公式サイトに更新しました。https://t.co/ySzQqOiuPJ— 株式会社カラー (@khara_inc) December 11, 2025
