Gonzo Faces Possible Bankruptcy
The Gonzo anime production company has revealed its financial report for the fiscal year that ended in March 2009. The company earned 6.332 billion yen (US $65.7 million), which was slightly higher than its anticipated 6.1 billion yen income. But losses for the year were also higher than expected. Gonzo reported an actual loss of 3.401 billion yen (US $35.3 million) attributed to declining DVD sales and the weakening American market for anime. Gonzo’s auditor, BA Tokyo & Co., reported that Gonzo faces insolvency due to its losses.
During the 2008-2009 fiscal year, Gonzo sold its Gonzo Rosso PC game development subsidiary, cut its planned anime production by half, cut staff, and condensed its animation business from two offices to one.
In 2005 Gonzo reported that only 8.2% of the company’s revenue came from American sales. Presumably that percentage has increased in recent years for it to have such an impact on the company in 2009.
Source: Anime News Network
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Gonzo’s gone, people.
Strike Witches might’ve delayed the death, but this will end about the same way CPM just did here in America. Here’s hoping that it’s a bit quicker.
Your sky is falling drama is getting old. You would be happy if a lot of companies went out of business.
Not Gonzo, that’s for sure.
Of course, now that they can no longer make gems like Kaleido Star and have been bankrupted to the point of pedophilic lowest common denominator bullshit like Strike Witches…
starcade …always starcade, you don’t let any chance pass by you. Oh, well.
Anyway to the real topic, based on the anime they have produced lately they obviously don’t admit they share a BIG if not the MAIN responsibility that people don’t want to watch their shows even less buy them, either in Japan or the US.
So unfortunately for them in the case that they really disappear in terms strictly related to quality anime nothing of importance will be lost and would probably do us a favor since it opens the possibility of other anime with better potential and more fresh creativity can be produced and air on tv.
But if Gonzo is producing shows that people don’t want to watch and buy, why is Strike Witches Gonzo’s best selling DVD release in Japan in 8 years?
Sure John, in an era where moe and lolis reign particularly in Japan, Strike Witches has proved to be a financial success, those genres are too popular right now so its no surprise they sale good, regardless 1 popular and arguably quality show isn’t gonna make you survive/live for much, its not like its in the realm of dragon ball, pokemon or similar which would guarantee revenue for quite a while, hence why they claim they are not getting the desired financial results.
Most of their shows since Basilisk which was arguably the last good, quality show they produced, have been a disappointment, they really used to make very good, creative works, its biggest masterpiece for me Gankutsou, but those days are over now, honestly as a fan and I am sure many agree, I dont even feel like trying one of their series, not even taking a peek, in your articles you at least agree that todays Gonzo’s series are not what they used to be.
If citing declining dvd sales does not mean people does not want to buy your series therefore watch them I don’t know what does.
John: 10 year-olds (if that) in their panties. The Jon-Benet Ramsey Effect.
Chise: Don’t need to let the chance pass me by, especially because it’s the studio which, in better times, made my single favorite anime. And now it’s going to die.