Manglobe

Manglobe Inc. was a Japanese animation studio established in Tokyo on February 7, 2002, by Shinichirō Kobayashi and Takashi Kochiyama, both of whom had worked as producers at Sunrise. The studio was based in Suginami, Tokyo, and developed a reputation for projects with distinctive original concepts, visual identities, and mature or unconventional subject matter. Rather than building its profile primarily through adaptations of established manga, Manglobe became particularly associated with original anime productions and with collaborations involving prominent creators and production partners. The studio’s early profile was shaped by Samurai Champloo, an original television series directed by Shinichirō Watanabe that combined Edo-period imagery with hip-hop aesthetics, and Ergo Proxy, a science-fiction series produced in collaboration with other companies. These works helped establish Manglobe as a recognizable name within the Japanese animation industry and gave it an international audience through television broadcasts, home-video distribution, and licensing. The company also worked across different formats and production roles, including original network animation, television series, theatrical films, animation segments for other properties, and game-related cut scenes. From around 2010, Manglobe was involved in several seasons of The World God Only Knows, an anime adaptation of Tamiki Wakaki’s manga. The project represented a significant part of the studio’s later television output. Wakaki described his close working relationship with managing director Takashi Kochiyama and credited the collaboration with contributing to the production’s success. Manglobe also produced or contributed to works such as The Sacred Blacksmith, House of Five Leaves, Deadman Wonderland, Hayate the Combat Butler: Heaven Is a Place on Earth, and Gangsta. Its work on Genocidal Organ was ultimately unfinished when the company became insolvent, and production was later taken over by Geno Studio. Manglobe experienced financial difficulties before formally entering bankruptcy proceedings. On September 29, 2015, it filed for bankruptcy in Japan and removed its official website. Contemporary reporting cited estimated liabilities of approximately 350 million yen and indicated that the company had been insolvent for some time. The bankruptcy disrupted projects in progress and affected release schedules. Genocidal Organ, which had been scheduled for theatrical release in November 2015, was delayed, while the Japanese home-video release of Gangsta experienced a lengthy interruption from its third volume onward. Manglobe’s eventual dissolution ended the studio as an operating animation company, although its catalog continues to circulate through broadcasts, streaming, home video, and licensing arrangements handled by rights holders and production committees.

Manglobe was founded in Tokyo on February 7, 2002, by Shinichirō Kobayashi and Takashi Kochiyama, producers who had previously worked at Sunrise. The studio entered the anime market during a period in which production companies increasingly combined original television concepts with committee-financed projects, licensing, home-video sales, and international distribution. Manglobe’s identity developed around visually and thematically distinctive animation rather than a single long-running commercial franchise. One of the company’s defining early productions was Samurai Champloo. Directed by Shinichirō Watanabe, the series used a historical setting as the basis for a highly stylized mixture of samurai action, contemporary music influences, and unconventional character design. The series gave Manglobe substantial visibility in Japan and abroad. Ergo Proxy further strengthened the studio’s reputation through its dystopian science-fiction setting and complex narrative. These original productions distinguished Manglobe from studios known mainly for adapting existing manga or producing routine franchise installments. The studio’s work later broadened. It produced television animation such as The Sacred Blacksmith, House of Five Leaves, Deadman Wonderland, and several seasons of The World God Only Knows. In addition to television series, Manglobe handled or contributed to original net animation, theatrical projects, game-related animation, and animation segments made for larger multimedia properties. Its credits included Trip Trek, cut scenes for the game Sengoku BASARA, a segment of Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic, the film Hayate the Combat Butler: Heaven Is a Place on Earth, and other short-form or promotional productions. The World God Only Knows became an important later project. Manglobe was responsible for multiple seasons of the anime adaptation beginning around 2010. Manga creator Tamiki Wakaki publicly described his close relationship with managing director Takashi Kochiyama and spoke positively about the collaboration with the studio’s staff. This relationship illustrates Manglobe’s role not only as a production contractor but also as a creative partner for the authors and committees behind its projects. Financial pressure eventually became decisive. Reports in 2015 stated that Manglobe had been insolvent for a period and had considered alternatives such as debt consolidation before seeking bankruptcy protection. On September 29, 2015, the company filed for bankruptcy, with reported estimated debt of about 350 million yen. The collapse had immediate production consequences. Genocidal Organ, then scheduled for a November 2015 theatrical opening, was delayed and later completed under Geno Studio. Gangsta’s Japanese home-video schedule was also interrupted for an extended period beginning with its third volume. Manglobe’s bankruptcy ended its operations as an independent studio, but its completed works remain part of the wider anime catalog and continue to be distributed by their respective rights holders.

• 2017

  Genocidal Organ is released after a studio transfer

  [1]Manglobeen.wikipedia.org

  Genocidal Organ was completed and released after production moved from Manglobe to Geno Studio following Manglobe’s bankruptcy.

• 2015

  Bankruptcy filing

  [1]Manglobeen.wikipedia.org

  Manglobe filed for bankruptcy on September 29, 2015, with reported estimated liabilities of approximately 350 million yen.

• 2010

  Manglobe begins major work on The World God Only Knows

  [1]Manglobeen.wikipedia.org

  Manglobe became responsible for multiple seasons of the anime adaptation of The World God Only Knows.

• 2006

  Ergo Proxy expands Manglobe’s original-anime identity

  [1]Manglobeen.wikipedia.org

  Ergo Proxy reinforced the company’s association with ambitious original science-fiction animation.

• 2004

  Samurai Champloo raises the studio’s profile

  [1]Manglobeen.wikipedia.org

  The original television series Samurai Champloo helped establish Manglobe as a studio associated with distinctive, creator-led anime.

• 2003

  Trip Trek is produced

  [1]Manglobeen.wikipedia.org

  Manglobe produced Trip Trek, an original net animation project that represented one of its early non-television credits.

• 2002

  Manglobe is established

  [1]Manglobeen.wikipedia.org

  Manglobe was formed in Tokyo on February 7, 2002, by former Sunrise producers Shinichirō Kobayashi and Takashi Kochiyama.

A creator-oriented Japanese animation studio associated with original, stylistically distinctive anime and selected high-profile adaptations.

• Original television anime · 2004

  Samurai Champloo

  A stylized original television series directed by Shinichirō Watanabe. It combines an Edo-period setting with hip-hop-influenced music, contemporary visual rhythms, and a road-story structure. The series became one of Manglobe’s best-known productions and a major contributor to its international profile.

• Original television anime · 2006

  Ergo Proxy

  A science-fiction television series set in a dystopian world populated by human communities, androids, and mysterious beings known as Proxies. Its philosophical themes, dark atmosphere, and elaborate visual design exemplified Manglobe’s association with ambitious original animation.

• Television anime adaptation · 2010

  The World God Only Knows

  An anime adaptation of Tamiki Wakaki’s manga. Manglobe produced multiple seasons beginning around 2010. The project became a substantial part of the studio’s later television output and involved a close working relationship between the studio and the manga’s creator.

• Television anime adaptation · 2010

  House of Five Leaves

  A television adaptation centered on a hesitant ronin who becomes involved with a group of kidnappers. The series used restrained pacing, character-focused drama, and an understated visual approach, reflecting the studio’s willingness to produce works outside conventional action-oriented anime formulas.

• Television anime adaptation · 2015

  Gangsta

  A television adaptation of Kohske’s manga, set in a violent city shaped by organized crime, mercenaries, and marginalized superhuman fighters. The series was among Manglobe’s final television productions. Its Japanese home-video schedule was disrupted after the studio entered bankruptcy.

• Theatrical anime film · 2017

  Genocidal Organ

  An animated film based on Project Itoh’s science-fiction novel. Manglobe began production, but the project was delayed after the company’s bankruptcy and was subsequently completed by Geno Studio. The film was released in 2017.

• Animated film segment · 2010

  Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic

  An anthology animated film connected to the Dante’s Inferno video game. Manglobe contributed the segment titled “Limbo,” demonstrating its work beyond Japanese television series and within internationally oriented multimedia properties.

• 2015

  File for bankruptcyOther

  Background

  Manglobe was reported to have been insolvent for some time and had considered alternatives such as debt consolidation before proceeding with a bankruptcy filing.

  Action taken

  The company filed for bankruptcy in Japan on September 29, 2015, and removed its official website.

  Aftermath

  The filing ended Manglobe’s operations, delayed Genocidal Organ, caused a lengthy interruption to Gangsta’s home-video releases, and led to Genocidal Organ being transferred to Geno Studio.

  Estimated debt. Approximately 350 million yen (2015)

  Source

• 2015

  Manglobe files for bankruptcy[1]Manglobeen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy · Other

  Manglobe filed for bankruptcy on September 29, 2015, after reported financial difficulties and estimated liabilities of approximately 350 million yen. The company also removed its official website.

• 2015

  Manglobe bankruptcy disrupts anime releases[1]Manglobeen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy · Other

  The studio’s insolvency delayed the theatrical release of Genocidal Organ and contributed to a prolonged delay in the Japanese home-video release of Gangsta from volume three onward.

• 2015

  Production of Genocidal Organ transferred after Manglobe collapse[1]Manglobeen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy · Product generation · Other

  Following Manglobe’s bankruptcy, production of Genocidal Organ was taken over by Geno Studio, allowing the film to be completed and released later.

1. 1Manglobeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Archived Manglobe official websiteweb.archive.org