Hideaki Anno, representative director of Studio Khara, issued an official statement following the completion of Gainax’s bankruptcy liquidation, marking the end of the studio’s forty two year history. In his message, he expressed deep disappointment toward several former Gainax executives, stating that the relationship “can no longer return to what it once was.”

Founded in 1984, Gainax produced animation and video game titles but filed for bankruptcy in June 2024. At that time, former representative director Yasuhiro Kamimura explained that despite the success of titles such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, mismanagement beginning around 2012 including unrealistic plans for running restaurants, the unplanned establishment of a CG company, large unsecured loans to executives, and failures in investment projects led to the company’s deteriorating financial situation.

On Khara’s official website, Anno wrote that the company has now ceased to exist as of the notice published in the Official Gazette on December 10, 2025. He commented that, having been involved with the studio since its early days and as a shareholder for more than twenty years, he found the ending deeply unfortunate but accepted it calmly.

He first expressed gratitude to the partner companies that assisted Khara in nearly six years of unpaid work to support Gainax’s attempted reconstruction after the 2019 arrest of then president Tomohiro Maki. He noted that through their cooperation, rights to various works and materials were returned properly to the respective creators and rights holders.

Anno also revealed that among the matters previously disclosed about Gainax’s past, almost everything that could be made public was already known. However, he brought up an additional regrettable issue: improper transfers of rights and materials carried out under the former management. As a result, Khara had filed a civil lawsuit, which was settled on January 20, 2023, with the defendants accepting responsibility and offering an apology.

During bankruptcy proceedings, when Gainax’s new management team took over, a detailed review of contracts, emails, and correspondence was conducted to understand the company’s dire condition and prevent further loss of rights or production materials. As Gainax’s largest creditor, Khara also participated in the investigation.

Anno stated that through this process he witnessed numerous examples of insincerity and disrespect by the former management. These included the mishandling of emergency loans Khara had provided, as well as internal communications showing a lack of regard for staff and studio works. He described specific instances involving former Fukushima Gainax head Yoshinori Asao, long time acquaintances Hiroyuki Yamaga and Yasuhiro Takeda, and others, citing false explanations given to Khara, misleading excuses such as Yamaga instructing employees to claim he was hospitalized to avoid communication, antagonistic statements aimed at Khara, and various schemes to evade repayment. Anno wrote that learning of these behaviors filled him with sadness beyond anger.

He concluded that he had come to recognize that it would be impossible to return to their former relationships, finding this outcome profoundly disappointing. He also clarified that agreeing to the earlier settlement was partially due to Khara’s desire to avoid spending further time on issues involving the former executives.

In closing, Anno expressed appreciation to Kamimura, who served as Gainax’s final representative director and a friend since university. Despite the former executives abandoning their responsibilities and leaving many obligations unfulfilled, Kamimura worked with concerned companies to safeguard rights and materials, faced creditors sincerely, and oversaw Gainax’s final chapter. Anno ended with a simple message of gratitude: “Thank you, Kamimura. And well done.”

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Source : ORICON NEWS