Creator / Studio Gainax

"['Gainaxy'?] I never know what people mean when they say that. It started out to mean big, bouncy breasts, then became existentialist angst, then became hyper-kinetic psycho-sexual slapstick. What's it mean now?"
"All of that, at once."

— Forum thread

Advertisement:

Studio Gainax is a Japanese anime studio founded in 1984 by Hideaki Anno, Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, Hiroyuki Yamaga, Takami Akai, Toshio Okada, Yasuhiro Takeda and Shinji Higuchi. It is best known for producing works such as Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Neon Genesis Evangelion, FLCL, and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. Their work provides the origin for terms such as Gainaxing and the Gainax Ending.

Gainax is known for their impressive visuals, gripping storylines, and confusing (but no less engaging) plot points. On a less flattering note, they also had a tendency to run out of money before finishing some of their longer projects, with the last episodes of Gainax series often being lower in quality and taking a lot of creative shortcuts. The most famous example of this are the last two episodes of Evangelion, which mostly consisted of reused clips from previous episodes with different dialogue due to the show's main sponsor leaving the project out of frustration with the production. Thankfully, they seemed to have learned their lesson about production planning and budgeting by the mid-2000s.

Advertisement:

A crowd picture◊ for some of the many characters created by Gainax over its lifetime is available.^note Made by Production I.G

While Gainax has collaborated with a good number of other anime studios on the majority of its projects for years, it shared its closest business relationship with Production I.G, who did quite a lot of work on End of Evangelion and FLCL.

However, Gainax is not what it used to be. During the latter half of the 2000s, the studio began to lose some of its longstanding and most noteworthy talent. In 2006, Hideaki Anno would leave to form Studio Khara and take the Evangelion IP with him. A few years later in 2011, Hiroyuki Imaishi would follow suit and establish Studio TRIGGER. Then there's the situation with Gaina (note the lack of an "X"), previously known as Fukushima Gainax: despite being founded by the company in 2015, it soon became a legally-distinct entity that was later bought out in 2018; a sale which included the rights to Gainax properties such as Gunbuster and Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise sequel Uru in Blue. Toss in a number of troubling financial and legal issues, and the end result is an anime studio that was all but dead by the end of the 2010s, now operating out of an apartment. Perhaps most damning, Anno would publicly express severe disappointment towards the conduct of his old employers in an open letter published in 2020, saying the studio had taken several large loans from Studio Khara in the first half of the 2010s, but so far have failed to pay any of them back, and even all but outright stating that he strongly suspected that all that was left of the company was little more than an embezzlement scheme. But whatever may befall Gainax in the 2020s, be it a decisive death or surprise comeback, at least the "Daicon Spirit" lives on through their aforementioned descendant studios.

Advertisement:

---

Studio Gainax has created the following:

Original Productions

Daicon Film-era: The period during which the founders were producing hobbyist films for showcasing at fan conventions.

• Daicon III & IV: Two introductory animated short films for Daicon III (1981) and IV (1983), both iterations of a major Science Fiction convention in Japan. These were their first creations, before they had really formed the studio. Due to the truly staggering amounts of shout-outs to both anime and American science fiction in both, plus the latter using Electric Light Orchestra's song "Twilight" and featuring the protagonist in a Playboy Bunny costume (which is copyrighted by Playboy in the US), any release above and beyond 8mm copies sold at the convention and an unauthorized LaserDisc version based on said 8mm copies have been vetoed by pretty much every license holder.
• Aikoku Sentai Dai-Nippon, a parody of the Super Sentai series. The first of several tokusatsu parodies made by them in the '80s. At this point, they weren't called Gainax yet, but Daicon Film.

• Kaiketsu Noutenki, a parody of Kaiketsu Zubat, made in 1982.
• Return of Ultraman, a parody of the Ultra Series show of the same name, featuring Hideaki Anno as Ultraman!
• Yamata no Orochi no Gyakushu (The Revenge of Yamata no Orochi), a Direct to Video kaiju movie made when Gainax was still Daicon Film, featuring ancient astronauts and a giant cybernetic Yamata no Orochi. Special effects by Shinji Higuchi.invoked

Era One: Loosely defined as the period from the studio's official establishment in the mid-80s to the financial troubles of the 90s.

• Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise (theatrical film; 1987)^note Gainax's first feature film.
• Appleseed (OVA; 1988)^note Produced in cooperation with AIC.
• GunBuster (OVA; 1988-89)^note aka Aim for the Top!; produced in cooperation with Studio Fantasia.
• Sakyo Komatsu's Animation Theater (TV series; 1989-90)^note Produced in cooperation with AIC.
• Beat Shot!! (OVA; 1989)^note One-shot based on a manga of the same name; produced in cooperation with AIC.
• Circuit no Ohkami II: Modena no Tsurugi (OVA; 1990)
• Blazing Transfer Student (OVA; 1990)
• Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (TV series; 1990-91)^note Animation co-produced with Group TAC and Korean studio Sei Young.
  • Nadia: The Movie (theatrical film; 1991)
• Princess Maker series (video game franchise; 1991-2007)
  • Princess Maker
  • Princess Maker 2
  • Princess Maker 3
  • Princess Maker 4
  • Princess Maker 5
• Götzendiener (video game; 1994)^note Based on a novel of the same name.
• Otaku no Video (OVA; 1991)
• Route 20 - Galactic Airport: An unfinished movie based on a Manga of the same name. Originally set for 1993, the only thing ever released was a three minute trailer.

Era Two: The period from the mid-90s to the late 2000s, marked by the studio's high commercial and critical success.

• Neon Genesis Evangelion (TV series; 1995-96)^note Co-production with Production I.G and Tatsunoko Production.
• Koume-chan ga Iku! (TV series; 1999)^note Produced in cooperation with Group TAC.
• His and Her Circumstances'' (TV series; 1998-99)^note co-production with JC Staff.
• Oruchuban Ebichu (TV series; 1999)^note Co-production with Group TAC.
• FLCL (OVA; 2000)^note Co-produced by Production I.G., who would buy the full rights in 2015 and produce FLCL Progressive & Alternative.
• Mahoromatic (TV series; 2001-03, 2009)^note Produced in cooperation with Studio Shaft.
• Anime Tenchō (OVA; 2002)^note A promotional video for Animate.
• Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi (TV series; 2002)^note Produced with Madhouse.
• Petite Princess Yucie (TV series; 2002-03)^note A loose adaptation of the aforementioned Princess Maker series; produced in cooperation with AIC.
• DieBuster (OVA; 2004-06)^note aka Aim for the Top! 2 or Gunbuster 2
• Melody of Oblivion (TV series; 2004)^note Produced in cooperation with J.C. Staff.
• This Ugly Yet Beautiful World (TV series; 2004)^note Produced in cooperation with Shaft.
• Re: Cutie Honey (OVA; 2004)^note Produced in association with Toei Animation.
• He Is My Master (TV series; 2005)^note Produced in cooperation with Shaft.
• Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (TV series; 2007)
• Corpse Princess (TV series; 2008)^note Co-production with Feel.
• Hanamaru Kindergarten (TV series; 2010)
• Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (TV series; 2010)

Era Three: The current era, categorized as following the talent exodus of 2011 and plagued with financial and legal trouble.

• The Mystic Archives of Dantalian (TV series; 2011)
• Medaka Box (TV series; 2012)
• Mahou Shoujo Taisen (TV series; 2014)
• Stella Women’s Academy, High School Division Class C³ - 2nd Key, Finish & In-Between Animation.'' (TV series; 2013)
• Wish Upon the Pleiades (TV series; 2015)^note Collaboration with Subaru (yes, the car manufacturer).
• Jinryoku Senkan!? Shiokaze Sawakaze (ONA; 2017-18)^note Produced in cooperation with Anime R; worked on first two episodes only.

Production Assistance

• .hack (Franchise Collaboration)
• 801 T.T.S. Airbats (assistant animation)
• Afro Samurai: Resurrection (2nd Key Animation)
• Agent Aika (In-Between Animation)
• Ah! My Goddess: The Movie (In-Between Animation)
• AKIRA (Animation Cooperation)
• Alisia Dragoon (Art and Story)
• All-Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku (Animation, OVA)
• Angel Beats! (2nd Key Animation)
• The Animatrix (In-Between Animation for Studio 4°C's Second Renaissance and Beyond)
• Arpeggio of Blue Steel (In-Between Animation; Digital Paint)
• Avenger (In-Between Animation)
• Bastard!! (1988) (In-Between Animation)
• The Big O (In-Between Animation)
• Black Cat (In-Between Animation)
• Black God (In-Between Animation)
• Black Lagoon (Key Animation for Second Barrage)
• Bladeof The Immortal (In-Between Animation)
• Blood: The Last Vampire (2nd Key & In-Between Animation)
  • Blood+ (In-Between Animation)
• Broken Blade (In-Between Animation)
• Buso Renkin (Key Animation)
• The Case Files of Yakushiji Ryoko (In-Between Animation, Animation Assistance)
• Casshan: Robot Hunter (In-Between Animation)
• Code:Breaker (2nd Key Animation)
• Code Geass (2nd Key Animation, R2 season)
• Cromartie High School (In-Between Animation)
• Dead Leaves (In-Between Animation)
• Dirty Pair: Project Eden (In-Between Cooperation)
• Dragon Crisis! (In-Between Animation)
• Eden of the East (2nd Key & In-Between Animation)
• Eureka Seven (2nd Key & In-Between Animation)
  • Eureka Seven AO (In-Between Animation)
• Eyeshield 21 (Animation)
• Fairy Tail (In-Between Animation)
• Gantz (In-Between Animation)
• Genesis of Aquarion (In-Between Animation)
• Ghost Hound (In-Between Animation)
• Ghost Stories (In-Between Animation)
• Giant Robo (Key Animation, through Hideaki Anno and Mahiro Maeda)
• Gintama (2nd Key & In-Between Animation)
• Girls und Panzer (Photography)
• Green Lantern: First Flight (Production Assistance; Key & Assistant Animation. With Studio Jungle Gym, Anime Spot & Mizo Planning, uncredited)
• Guilty Crown (2nd Key Animation; Photography Cooperation)
• GUN×SWORD (In-Between Animation)
• Gunsmith Cats (Opening Animation for the OVA, through Mahiro Maeda)
• Haruka Nogizaka's Secret: Purezza (2nd Key Animation)
• Heroman (In-Between Animation)
• Highschool of the Dead (In-Between Animation)
• House of Five Leaves (In-Between Animation)
• IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix (In-Between Animation)
• Initial D (In-Between Animation, Fourth Stage)
• Ixion Saga DT (2nd Key & In-Between Animation)
• Jeanne d'Arc (In-Between Animation Support)
• Jormungand (In-Between Animation)
• Kuroko's Basketball (In-Between Animation)
• Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing (In-Between Animation)
• A Letter to Momo (In-Between Animation)
• Library War (2nd Key Animation)
• Little Busters! (2nd Key Animation)
• Lupin III Elusiveness Of The Fog (In-Between Animation)
• Madox-01 (Key Animation)
• Major (Key & In-Between Animation)
• Michiko & Hatchin (In-Between Animation; Production Cooperation for episode 8)
• Mobile Fighter G Gundam (Key Animation)
  • Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (In-Between Animation)
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (Mechanical Design)
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (In-Between Animation)
  • Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (Key & In-Between Animation)
• Musashi Samurai Legend (animation and movie production)
• Mutafukaz (In-Between Animation)
• Naruto (In-Between Animation)
• Negima!? (2nd Key & In-Between Animation)
• Nodame Cantabile (2nd Key Animation)
• Noein (2nd Key Animation)
• Ouran High School Host Club (2nd Key Animation)
• Outbreak Company (In-Between Animation)
• PandoraHearts (In-Between Animation)
• Persona 5 (In-Between Animation)
• Pokémon Movies
  • Pokémon 2000 (Digital Animation Assistance)
  • Pokémon 3 (In-Between Animation)
  • Pokémon Heroes (Animation Assistance)
  • Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys (In-Between Animation)
  • Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior (Animation Assistance)
• Prism Ark (Production Cooperation)
• Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney (Gameplay Animation Support)
• Project A-ko (In-Between Animation)
• RahXephon (In-Between Animation)
• Real Drive (In-Between Animation)
• Ranma ½ (Animation Assistance, OVAs)
• Red Line (2nd Key Animation Cooperation)
• Restol, The Special Rescue Squad (Distribution)
• Robot Carnival (Production Cooperation)
• R.O.D the TV (In-Between Animation)
• Rurouni Kenshin (In-Between Animation)
• Sakura Wars:
  • Sakura Wars 2: Thou Shalt Not Die (In-Between Animation)
  • Sakura Wars: The Movie (In-Between Animation)
  • Sakura Wars 4: Fall in Love, Maidens (In-Between Animation)
• Sailor Moon S (Uncredited Key Animation for episode 92) [[note]]Hideaki Anno also animated the transformation sequences for the Outer Senshi.
• Shakugan no Shana (Key & 2nd Key Animation)
• Silver Spoon (In-Between Animation)
• Sky Girls (2nd Key Animation)
• Slayers Great (Production Assistance)
• SoltyRei (Photography)
• Sora no Manimani (In-Between Animation)
• Space Brothers (2nd Key Animation)
• Special A (In-Between Animation)
• Spirited Away (Supporting Animation)
• Spriggan (In-Between Animation)
• Steins;Gate (In-Between Animation Cooperation)
• Strike Witches (2nd Key Animation)
• Summer Wars (Special Thanks)
• Super Dimension Century Orguss 02 (In-Between Animation)
• Tales of Symphonia (Animation Support)
• Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike (In-Between Animation)
• Tekkonkinkreet (In-Between Animation)
• ThunderCats (1985) (Opening Animation, though Masayuki Yamaguchi)
• Tokkô (Composite)
• Toradora! (2nd Key Animation)
• Trinity Blood (Animation)
• Tweeny Witches: The Adventures (In-Between Animation)
• Twin Princess of Wonder Planet (In-Between Animation)
• Un-Go (In-Between Animation)
• Urusei Yatsura: The Final Chapter (Production Assistance)
• Valkyria Chronicles (In-Between Animation)
• Valvrave the Liberator (2nd Key & In-Between Animation)
• Wagnaria!! (2nd Key & In-Between Animation; Production Assistance)
• Wolf's Rain (In-Between Animation)
• The World God Only Knows (Disclaimer Illustration Cooperation)
• XxxHolic (In-Between Animation)
• You're Under Arrest! (Animation Assistance for the OVA, In-Between Animation for the second season and Key Animation for Full Throttle)
• Zetman (In-Between Animation)
• Zoku Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei (In-Between Animation; Production Assistance)

---

Studio Gainax and their works provide examples of:

• Author Appeal: In relation to Japan Takes Over the World, no studio (besides Tokyo Movie Shinsha and Studio Ghibli) has ever done it with more boldness.
• Animation Bump: Most (if not all) of their series exhibit this.
• Art Evolution: Compare the style and design of Gainax's works before FLCL, between that and 2011, and after 2011, and you'll notice huge differences between each other.
• Ass-Kicking Pose: The Badass Arm-Fold. Technically only used in two series and a continuation, it's done memorably enough to be known as the Gainax Pose in Japan.
• Bleached Underpants: When Gainax first branched into video game development, their first title was Cybernetic Hi-School, a quiz game with enough sexual content to get banned in one Japanese prefecture. They also developed a strip mahjong game based on their own Neon Genesis Evangelion.
• Decon-Recon Switch: A meta example: they made GunBuster in the 1980s, Neon Genesis Evangelion in the 1990s, and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann in the 2000s. The first two series even had the same director.
• Fanservice: YES.
  "It's Gainax! Fanservice adds to our character development!"
• In Name Only: In a sense, many feel that Gainax has become this since 2011. Studio TRIGGER is generally considered to be the Spiritual Successor to what Gainax was.
• Limited Animation: Taken to extremes in the last two episodes of Evangelion.
• Off-Model: Episode 4 of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann near-radically changed its entire art style. The fans were pissed off to say the least.
• Postmodernism: A staple of nearly all of their works.
• Shout-Out: To the brim, being a studio of Promoted Fanboys, hence why some of their works are also filled with self-references.

---