Gainax

Background

Gainax, Co., Ltd. (stylized as GAINAX) was founded on December 24, 1984 as "Daicon Film", eventually changing their name to "Gainax", basing the name after the Tottori Prefecture term for "giant" ("gaina") with an "x" added to it, as this sounded "good and international". Notable anime produced by this company include Gunbuster, FLCL, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, and, most notably, Neon Genesis Evangelion, which have all gained critical acclaim and have been commercially successful. Unfortunately, the company is currently a shell of its former self--after Panty and Stocking was put on hiatus, many Gainax alumni left the studio to make their own companies, including Khara and Trigger (which features many key Gainax animators). The company has since refocused itself on producing lesser-known anime and manga until 2018. However, a number of major financial difficulties ranging from 2012 to 2024 (including attempts to branch out into other businesses), led to mass resignations, the creation of spin-off companies (including Gaina, Gainax West, Gainax International, Gainax Kyoto, Yonago Gainax, Gainax Niigata, and Gainax West), which are currently unrelated to Gainax as a whole, culminated with a lawsuit from a debt collection company. Because of this, Gainax had no choice but to enter bankruptcy in the Tokyo Court District on May 29 of that latter year and this decision was announced ten days later. The Gainax name, brand and identity was acquired by Khara to prevent misuse of the name and its brand identity. As of 2024, many of Gainax's in-house work (outside of works that were only involved in animation services, such as Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, owned by NHK) has been acquired by other companies such as Trigger, Khara and Gaina.

Contents

1st Logo (March 14, 1987)	2nd Logo (July 19, 1997)	3rd Logo (October 8, 1998-2000's)	4th Logo (April 26, 2000)	5th Logo (2004)

1st Logo (March 14, 1987)

Visuals: Set on a black background, there are two small kanji characters "制作" on the left, with "GAINAX", in a futuristic font, on the right.

Technique: A still graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise.

2nd Logo (July 19, 1997)

Visuals: On a black background, the grungy white text "GAINAX" appears at the bottom-right corner of the screen and vibrates. It appears for a split-second.

Technique: Drawn-on-film animation.

Audio: A record player sound effect.

Availability: Seen only on The End of Evangalion.

3rd Logo (October 8, 1998-2000's)

Visuals: On a black screen, some golden sparkles flow all around the screen, forming six lights that would become the word "GAiNAX". Then, the word zooms out with a trailing effect locking itself on the screen.

Variant: There's also a still variant.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A sparking jingle, with some swooshes and radar sounds.

Availability: This logo is possibly a myth, though it does look legitimate. The animated version is possibly seen on pretty specific prints of Gunbuster or other early Gainax works, at least home video releases of them. The still variant could be seen on the Italian dub of Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi when it aired on MTV and Man-Ga.

4th Logo (April 26, 2000)

Visuals: Scrolling up in the credits underneath the Production I.G. logo, there is the text "GAiNAX" stylized much like in the previous logo but in a thinner font.

Technique: Superimposed animation.

Audio: The closing theme of the show ("Ride on Shooting Star" by The Pillows).

Availability: Seen on FLCL.

5th Logo (2004)

Visuals: On a starry sky, there is a giant orb. The orb engraves in the "20th" while a small blue comet appears and orbits around it. The comet forms the ring, and stops at the "0" in the "20th". The sky later fades to black while the orb itself turns into Gainax's 20th anniversary logo before fading to black.

Technique: CGI.

Variant: A variant with the words "ガイナックス20周年記念作品" also exists.

Audio: A triumphant space-style fanfare with swooshes for the comets.

Availability: Seen on video releases for Gainax's work during this period such as Diebuster and Re: Cutie Honey.