Japanese conglomerate Kinoshita Group announced on Monday that it has acquired animation studio Fukushima Gainax as a subsidiary business. The conglomerate, whose business spans real estate, nursing homes, publishing, music, and radio, said in a press release that the transfer of ownership of Fukushima Gainax's shares was completed on July 26.

As part of the acquisition, Fukushima Gainax will no longer retain the identity of its affiliated namesake, animation studio Gainax based in Mitaka, Tokyo. The company changed its corporate name into Gaina effective August 9 and began using the trade name Studio Gaina. Additionally, it will move its primary studio from Tamura, Fukushima Prefecture, to Koganei, Tokyo.

As reported last week by MyAnimeList, Fukushima Gainax also operated an animation museum in the town of Miharu in Fukushima Prefecture. The museum has been spun off into a new business named Fukushima Gaina effective August 8. The new entity will continue to support reconstruction efforts in the Tohoku region, separate from the animation business of Studio Gaina.

Fukushima Gainax President and Representative Director Yoshinori Asao will continue to serve in the same role at both Studio Gaina and Fukushima Gaina. Film producer Naoya Kinoshita, who also serves as the Kinoshita Group CEO, was appointed as chairman of the board in both companies.

Kinoshita Group formally entered the media business in 2011 with the establishment of Kino Films, a film production and distribution subsidiary. The conglomerate has also sat on the production committees of anime films such as Captain Herlock (2013) and Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary (2014). It funded its first television anime production in 2017 with Seikaisuru Kado.

With additional investment from Kinoshita Group, Studio Gaina's move to Tokyo will allow the company to hire more animators. It has posted openings for character designers, chief animation directors, image board artists, key animators, episode directors, animation producers, production desk managers, and more.

Studio Gaina official site: http://www.studiogaina.com/
Fukushima Gaina official site: http://www.fukushimagainax.co.jp/

Source: Animation Business Journal