Kansai-Based Studio Wanpack to Close Following Founder's Death

by arsonal
Feb 1, 2018 10:24 AM | 4 Comments

Studio Wanpack, an Osaka-based anime studio known as a long-time subcontractor to major anime studios, announced early Thursday morning that it will be dissolving the business on February 28, 2018. The announcement follows the death of studio founder Kouji Yamada on January 2.

Founded in 1993, Studio Wanpack produces key animation and storyboard drawings for the rest of the anime industry. In 2017 alone, the studio's clients include major studios such as A-1 Pictures, Production I.G, Wit Studio, TMS Entertainment, ufotable, Studio Deen, OLM, and many more. The studio has never been the primary contractor for any anime title.

As of last April, Studio Wanpack listed more than 80 animators among its employees, and it had employed more than 100 people in the past. In early 2006, the studio saw an exodus of animators who joined the ranks of AIC Takarazuka, Satelight Osaka, and other outsourcing studios. Following this circumstance, Studio Wanpack stopped accepting work from AIC and Satelight studios for some time.

Animators Kana Miyai (Owarimonogatari 2nd Season chief animation director) and Yumiko Ishii (Asu no Yoichi! chief animation director) are among Studio Wanpack's current employees. Its alumni include Jun Nakai (Mardock Scramble character designer), Takashi Nishikawa (Strange+ director), Kazuaki Imoto (Akame ga Kill! animation director), and Yukiko Ban (.hack//Sign character designer).

Source: Studio Wanpack Twitter

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4 Comments Recent Comments

i hope the workers could find a new place to work..

Feb 6, 2018 5:46 AM by Cryanide

Yikes, couldn't there have been something they could've done to salvage the studio? Hopefully the staff can get work elsewhere, I can see at least the animators and more notable talent getting them since that's where the shortages are.

Feb 2, 2018 7:24 AM by Hoppy

Rest in Peace, sir. I hope the cause of death was not overwork.

Feb 2, 2018 2:00 AM by phoenixalia

aww, that's sad... well, since there is animator shotages, i hope they got new workplace soon...

Feb 1, 2018 6:28 PM by Kuma