Gainax Officially Dissolves After Bankruptcy Proceedings End

Tokyo-based animation studio Gainax Co., Ltd., once regarded as one of Japan’s most influential creative forces, has been formally dissolved following the completion of its bankruptcy proceedings on Dec 10, 2025. The incident marked the end of Gainax’s four-decade run that shaped modern anime with titles such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gurren Lagann, Gunbuster, and the like.

Following the announcement in the Official Gazette, Hideki Anno, one of Gainax’s founding members and a majority shareholder, released an official statement on Khara’s website about the years of legal turmoil and mismanagement at the company, which led to its dissolution. Anno stated the closure as an outcome of long-standing structural problems and leadership failures.

Gainax, established in 1984, became part of an industry-wide evolution that led to the modern generation of Japan’s anime industry. But Gainax’s legacy declined after Anno and many staff left to form Khara and Trigger due to internal instability.

Bankruptcy Leading to Gainax's Shutdown

Gainax’s collapse formally began in May 2024, when the studio filed for bankruptcy amid mounting debt and an inability to meet creditor obligations. The studio was already suffering from reputational damage due to the arrest of former CEO Maki Tomohiro.

Anno described the years of deceptive and irresponsible managerial practices found in early files in his recent declaration. He detailed numerous instances in which Gainax leadership failed to transfer assets and delayed royalty payments, prompting Khara to file a lawsuit in 2023. 

A significant part of the statement centered on Asao Yoshinobu, former representative of Fukushima Gainax, and former Gainax president Hiroyuki Yamaga. Reporting outlines a pattern of misleading actions and unauthorized use of IP-related assets. These issues escalated into lawsuits and loss of industry trust, complicating any path to restructuring.

Despite narrating the dispute, Anno expressed his gratitude to former Gainax employees who helped shape the studio. He also thanked President Yasuhiro Kamimura for protecting the rights and materials from being lost amidst legal and financial unrest.

Major franchises such as Evangelion have long been under Khara’s control. However, it is still unclear how certain lesser-known anime IPs, production materials, and archival assets will be handled. After the dissolution, Khara now holds the credits of the Evangelion rebuild movie series as well, and Trigger is getting the rights to Panty & Stocking.