Industry news source Anime! Anime! Biz reported on Thursday that anime studio Manglobe filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday. The report confirms earlier speculation of Manglobe’s insolvency.
The report notes that Manglobe has been insolvent for some time, and was investigating ways to settle its debts, but was in a state where it was unable to continue its current business. The report mentions that work on current projects had been proceeding up until the company filed for bankruptcy.
Shinichiro Kobayashi and Takashi Kochiyama founded Manglobe in 2002. The studio produced such series as Samurai Champloo (pictured above), The World God Only Knows franchise, Hayate the Combat Butler franchise, Samurai Flamenco, Gangsta., and this November’s Genocidal Organ film.
Anime! Anime! Biz did not confirm if production on Genocidal Organ was finished or unfinished, but the site did state in the article that, “The film is slated for a November 13 opening. It would be realistic to move the production [of the movie] to another company, but it would require adjusting the schedule.”
The upcoming Genocidal Organ film is one of the three Project Itoh adaptations in the works alongside Studio 4ºC’s Harmony and WIT Studio’s The Empire of Corpses. As a result of Manglobe’s situation, Genocidal Organ has been delayed from its original November 13 opening, and Harmony will take its slot in the meantime.