Gainax
Japanese animation studio
Gainax Co., Ltd. (株式会社ガイナックス, Kabushiki-gaisha Gainakkusu; stylized in all caps) was a Japanese animation studio based in Musashino, Tokyo. It is famous for its original anime productions such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise, Gunbuster, Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, FLCL, Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, Gurren Lagann, and Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, which have garnered critical acclaim and commercial success, as well as for their association with award-winning anime director and studio co-founder Hideaki Anno. Evangelion has reportedly grossed over ¥150 billion (approximately US$1.2 billion). In a discussion at the 2006 Tekkoshocon, Matt Greenfield claimed that Evangelion had grossed over US$2 billion; Takeda reiterated in 2002 that "It sold record numbers of laserdiscs in Japan, and the DVD is still selling well today". The company was headquartered in Koganei, Tokyo.
From its inception, Gainax worked on stories created in-house, such as Nadia and Evangelion, but also adapted existing manga like Kare Kano, Medaka Box and Mahoromatic. The Animage Anime Grand Prix was awarded to Gainax for Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water in 1991, Neon Genesis Evangelion in 1995 and 1996, and The End of Evangelion in 1997. The studio's last production was in 2015.
On May 29, 2024, Gainax filed for bankruptcy with the Tokyo District Court, which was publicly announced on June 7, 2024, the same day it ceased operations; the company was officially dissolved on December 1, 2025.
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