Iconic Anime Studio Gainax Officially Dissolved After 42 Years

The era of Studio Gainax, the influential powerhouse behind titles like Neon Genesis Evangelion, FLCL, and Gurren Lagann, has officially concluded. The studio was formally dissolved this week following bankruptcy proceedings initiated earlier this year.

The dissolution was announced in the Official Gazette on December 10, 2025, marking the definitive end of the company. This final step closes a turbulent chapter defined by years of documented mismanagement and the fallout from a significant criminal scandal involving a former company president.

Creditors and partner studios spent months working to secure the intellectual property and return the rights to the original creators.

Co-founder and long-time shareholder Hideaki Anno addressed the closure through Studio Khara. He specifically thanked those who worked diligently behind the scenes to ensure the legacy works found their way back to the proper owners.

This marks the close of a 42-year run that began with the Daicon Film collective back in 1984, cementing Gainax's complex legacy as one of anime's most creatively influential, yet ultimately troubled, forces.