Xebec Merges With Production I.G After 24 Years of Anime Production

by arsonal
Apr 6, 2019 11:17 PM | 69 Comments

Xebec, the West Tokyo-based anime production company known for titles such as Kidou Senkan Nadesico (Martian Successor Nadesico), Soukyuu no Fafner (Fafner of the Blue Sky), and To LOVE-Ru, will be broken up after 24 years in business. The decision, which was announced on Friday, comes just months after the company's core animation business was sold to Sunrise in November.

According to a press release published by parent company IG Port, Xebec will cease to exist as a business entity on May 31, 2019. Xebec's post-production teams, which were not part of the sale to Sunrise, will be broken up and consolidated into several IG Port companies, but Production I.G will inherit the company's assets. Copyright of Xebec's past works will revert to the IG Port group as a whole.

Xebec Zwei, the company's Nerima-based studio which is responsible for photography and compositing of Soukyuu no Fafner: The Beyond, was transferred to the ownership of Production I.G and renamed IG Zwei in December. Xebec's coloring and finishing department was consolidated into anime production company Signal.MD. Industry insiders have also reported that about half of Xebec's original staff have moved to Tatsunoko Production.

Xebec was founded in 1995 as a subsidiary of Production I.G. Prior to its dissolution, the company had been incurring constant deficits. In the fiscal year ending May 31, 2018, it reported a net loss of ¥126.54 million (US$1.13 million). Most recently, Xebec was responsible for leading the production of Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2202: Ai no Senshi-tachi.

Source: Animation Business Journal

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20 of 69 Comments Recent Comments

i'm still salty about their decision to censor TLR's mikan's nipples

Oct 4, 2022 5:55 AM by Chika_tetsu

I was never really a fan of Xebec as an organization. They have a couple of works under heir belt that were produced pretty well, but most of their works as of late felt pretty lazy and insipid. It's obviously a case of poor management, otherwise they would never have operated this deep under the red.

That being said, it's really a shame to see yet another studio pass away. Was looking forward to seeing how they tackle the rest of Yamato. Sigh, oh well. Rest in peace.

Apr 18, 2019 2:01 PM by -Sabre-

why all this trashtalking? they had man great shows. Full metal panic is love, yamato, Haiyore! and classics like love hina etc. ??

Apr 18, 2019 1:46 PM by Sweanime

I dont think this is as bad as some people treat this news. Bad things need to happen to fix a bad industry. Rather than having so many shows the get released all the time we should have most of these companies run out of business or get sold off like this one. If this happens maybe people in the industry will stop underpaying and overworking people. Cause currently most anime that gets released compete with each other for money and run each other to to the grave. I want a situation where better quality anime is made and the people making them are well off. Also with less competition more money can go to marketing so these shows will be much more profitable.

Apr 9, 2019 9:44 PM by Waro9

TsukuyomiREKT said:
The amount of "I personally didn't like their shows, so fuck them" in this thread is ridiculous. You guys realize that there is people that DO like them right?

そのとおりだ。

Happy note, it is again alive. As group, property is preserved. Positive thoughts, as case may be.

Apr 9, 2019 10:03 AM by anime4ronin

changelog said:
Does this mean that 2202's completion could be compromised and that we probably won't see another Yamato remake?

Man, I am seriously sad.

Well it is an beloved series.
And IG likes to keep franchises alive so an remake or continuation is actually pretty likely to happen.
IG did absorb the assets for a reason.
So when that happens, it might have a better quality.

Apr 9, 2019 6:07 AM by Bourmegar

R.I.P. Xebec, thanks for To Love-Ru and Zoids.

Apr 8, 2019 12:43 PM by Slarkero

Studio Xebec is far from a perfect studio, but to be honest if anyone is preaching for a studio going out of business, sometimes they don't realize effects of said broke or bankrupcy. Chances are the IPs that the studios originally had will go down the drain, meaning that chances for a continuation etc will not happen because of said IP being lost. So even if their track record isn't the best, if they lose an IP that a lot of fans considers to be good, then say good-bye to that IP because they will go down the rabbit hole with the bankruptcy.

At the very least with Xebec's case I.G merged it so the chances of having the IPs having a continuation or remakes are there. Unlike studios like Manglobe where some of their IPs were lost, or most of them because of their bankruptcy. Or whatever the case may be.

Apr 8, 2019 9:41 AM by removed-user

amazing news, im loving it

i love both sunrise and pig, so its nice to see they are gaining more assets

Apr 8, 2019 6:09 AM by DenkiDestroy99X

Does this mean that 2202's completion could be compromised and that we probably won't see another Yamato remake?

Man, I am seriously sad.

Apr 8, 2019 1:36 AM by removed-user

Their big shows have been bombing lately such as Keijo and Clockwork Planet, so this was inevitable. Haven't been keeping track of the new Full Metal Panic!, but I'm guessing it didn't do well enough to pull them out of the red.

Apr 7, 2019 5:17 PM by Skittles

Sunrise and Prod. IG get beefed up and a shitty ecchi studio bites the dust. I won't lose any sleep over this one. Was only a matter of time since their animation unit got sold off.

Hopefully all the staff get settled into their new homes quickly.

Apr 7, 2019 4:42 PM by almost3am

keragamming said:

Cabron said:

How many shows have you seen from them?

A decent amount I would say, though after looking at the list again, the only titles that I know a lot of people like is Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2199 and to love ru.

+ Full Metal Panic

Apr 7, 2019 3:03 PM by Kamiyan3991

Damm... well tbh, most if not all of their workers and resources seemed to be divided inbetween Sunrise and IG, so I dont feel that bad about this, and it is most problem some of the stuff they did, like the lastest FMP, will continue, with IG Productions.

Apr 7, 2019 2:27 PM by Playcool

keragamming said:

Cabron said:

How many shows have you seen from them?

A decent amount I would say, though after looking at the list again, the only titles that I know a lot of people like is Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2199 and to love ru.

Also, Pokemon Origins is regarded as what a Pokemon anime should be. An adaptation of the first game setting, not a merchandise advertising masquerading as a anime, who is plottless and resets all the character development (who is not a lot) entirely each 2 or 3 seasons.
DNAngel is a ages old classic, Nyaruko was really fun and random.

Still, they ruined Tokyo ESP (it had so much potential...pretty much X-Men version Japan, best female lead in ages), and their adaptation of Negima was bad (but that's partially because it was so early).

Apr 7, 2019 2:15 PM by Fabris

This is quite sad to hear.

Apr 7, 2019 2:01 PM by xchyssa

RIP Xebec Keijo will never be forgotten

Apr 7, 2019 2:00 PM by LICK_IT_GOOD

really hope this didnt affect the production of fafner

Apr 7, 2019 1:56 PM by JizzyHitler

Cabron said:

keragamming said:
Never heard of that studio and wasn't a fan of anyone of those shows, nothing of value was lost.

Edit: Just check the list of anime they animated and I don't like not a single one of them, this may sound harsh, but on a business perspective your business is bound to fail when all the titles you create is basically trash.

How many shows have you seen from them?

A decent amount I would say, though after looking at the list again, the only titles that I know a lot of people like is Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2199 and to love ru.

Apr 7, 2019 1:30 PM by keragamming

The amount of "I personally didn't like their shows, so fuck them" in this thread is ridiculous. You guys realize that there is people that DO like them right?

Apr 7, 2019 1:26 PM by TsukuyomiREKT

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