News
Gonzo Sells 3D/VFX Digital Division to Q-Tec (Updated)
posted on by Egan Loo
The Gonzo anime production company has announced on Friday that its board of directors decided to sell its digital video division to the Q-Tec company. Q-Tec will establish a new, wholly owned subsidiary called Graphinica for video work and post-production on April 30. The move is part of the streamlining of anime operations that Gonzo announced on November 10. It is intended to reduce costs and improve the financial structure of the company.
The affected division was responsible for the planning, producing, and editing of video projects with 3D and visual effects. Its fixed assets for digital work had an accounting book value of 16,747,000 yen (about US$172,600) as of the end of March. It also had 20 million yen (US$210,000) in capital stock. 25 employees out of the current total of 80 employees will make the transfer to the new Graphinica subsidiary. Graphinica will have 60 employees after the transfer. Gonzo received a cash payment of 30,000,000 yen (US$310,000) for the transfer.
The same digital video division was responsible for the computer animation work in Blue Submarine No. 6, Yukikaze, and other titles that helped establish Gonzo's brand. Q-Tec has worked on the editing of such anime series as Basquash!, Chrono Crusade, Dennō Coil, Galaxy Angel, Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo, and Speed Grapher.
When it was still known as GDH last month, Gonzo already announced that it would divest itself of its game development subsidiary Gonzo Rosso. It also announced in November that it would sell off its GDH Capital financing subsidiary. That same month, Gonzo projected that it will reduce its annual output of anime from about eight projects to four in the next fiscal year.
Source: animeanime.jp
Update: Background information added.
Erratum: Spelling of Graphinica corrected.
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