There has been some rumours on Twitter that the animation studio Manglobe (Gangsta., The World God Only Knows) might have been bankrupt. A few of their staff members have been talking on Twitter about not being paid and thus are looking for new work.
Manglobe animator Toshio Kobayashi (Samurai Flamenco, Gundam Build Fighters) has recently posted on Twitter that he has not received his current payment from the studio. He has also mentioned multiple times on Twitter that he is currently looking for work.
【急募】 お仕事ください。
— おㄘんㄘん師匠☆٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶★ (@FR3AK50FC0CK) September 30, 2015
【速報】 俺氏、無職になる。 — おㄘんㄘん師匠☆٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶★ (@FR3AK50FC0CK) September 30, 2015
@boroborosu 無職です(・∀・)ゞ
— おㄘんㄘん師匠☆٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶★ (@FR3AK50FC0CK) September 30, 2015
Hideto Komori (Hayate no Gotoku! Heaven Is a Place on Earth, Noragami), another Manglobe animator, has also expressed his concern about whether he would get paid, and received an email confirming that he will not. He further tried to contact the studio, but was unable to site the studio’s website is currently down. He also reported that he is looking into how employees can recover their unpaid income from a bankrupt company.
違う仕事探さないと(*_*)
— 小森秀人@監督業復帰 (@komohide10) September 30, 2015
Furthermore, anime writer Shigeru Morita (Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, Vividred Operation) has hinted that a company has recently gone bankrupt, but did not specify which.
Most of the recent anime that the studio have produced has had less than stellar Blu-ray sales. Here is a list of their recorded sales for each series, with * meaning either 0 or unknown:
- (2004) *2,218 Samurai Champloo
- (2006) *1,998 Ergo Proxy
- (2008) **,*** Michiko to Hatchin
- (2009) *2,159 Seiken no Blacksmith
- (2010) **,*** Saraiya Goyou
- (2010) *3,040 The World God Only Knows
- (2011) *2,117 The World God Only Knows II
- (2011) **,*** DEADMAN WONDERLAND
- (2011) *2,803 Mashiro-iro Symphony
- (2012) **,949 Hayate no Gotoku! CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU
- (2013) *2,912 Zettai Karen Children THE UNLIMITED
- (2013) *4,883 Karneval
- (2013) **,691 Hayate no Gotoku! Cuties
- (2013) *1,628 The World God Only Knows: Goddesses
- (2013) **,281 Samurai Flamenco
The most recent anime that Manglobe has produced is Gangsta.
And their upcoming anime will be the anime film adaptation of Gyakusatsu Kikan (Genocidal Organ).
More information about Manglobe’s situation will come to light soon. The official website of the studio is currently down: http://www.manglobe.net/
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