{{Short description|Japanese animation studio}} {{Infobox company | name = khara, Inc. | native_name = 株式会社カラー | native_name_lang = ja | romanized_name = Kabushiki-gaisha Karā | logo = Khara Logo.png | type = Kabushiki-gaisha | foundation = {{start date and age|May 17, 2006}} | founder = Hideaki Anno | predecessor = Gainax | location = Shoan | location_city = Suginami, Tokyo<ref>{{cite web|title=khara, Inc. - Company Information|url=http://www.khara.co.jp/info/}}</ref> | location_country = Japan | key_people = Hideaki Anno (president and CEO) | industry = Japanese animation | products = | equity = | num_employees = 90<ref>{{Cite web|title=株式会社カラー|url=https://wakuwork.net/company18.html}}</ref> | divisions = Studio Khara Digital-bu | homepage = {{url|https://www.khara.co.jp/}} }} {{nihongo|'''Khara, Inc.'''|株式会社カラー|Kabushiki-gaisha Karā|stylized as '''khara, Inc.'''}} is a Japanese independent animation studio, located in Suginami, Tokyo, best known for its work on the ''Rebuild of Evangelion'' film tetralogy. {{nihongo|'''Studio Khara'''|スタジオカラー|Sutajio Karā}} is the primary animation production studio and also handles character licensing. It was founded by Hideaki Anno on May 17, 2006, and was shown publicly on August 1, when recruitment notices were posted on his website; Anno remains its president.<ref name="khara">{{cite web|url=http://khara.weblogs.jp/hideakianno/personal-biography.html |title=庵野秀明：公式: Personal Biography |access-date=2010-07-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718101128/http://khara.weblogs.jp/hideakianno/personal-biography.html |archive-date=2010-07-18 }}</ref>
The name ''khara'' comes from the Greek word χαρά, meaning ''joy''. The company's logo is this word handwritten in Greek letters by Anno's wife, Moyoco.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.khara.co.jp/history-en/ |access-date=2025-12-04 |website=株式会社カラー |language=ja}}</ref>
==History== In 2007, Anno left Gainax and transitioned to Khara; as part of his public statements on the ''Rebuild'' films, he wrote:
<blockquote>For this purpose, we are not returning to our roots at Gainax. I have set up a production company and studio, and it is in this new setting that we will start again. Without looking back, without admiration for the circumstances, we aim to walk towards the future. Thankfully, we have gathered staff from the old series, new staff, and many other fantastic staff to work on this series. We realize that we are creating something that will be better than the last series.<ref>[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-02-20/hideaki-anno-releases-statement-about-new-evangelion-movies Hideaki Anno Releases Statement About New Evangelion Movies - Anime News Network<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref></blockquote>
Key contributors brought back to work on the new project include director Kazuya Tsurumaki, character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, storyboard artist Shinji Higuchi, composer Shirō Sagisu, and animator Mahiro Maeda.<ref>{{cite web |title=Guest: Mahiro Maeda |url=https://www.japan-expo-paris.com/en/invites/mahiro-maeda_709.htm |publisher=Japan Expo |access-date=4 March 2022 |date=24 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wescott |first1=Adam |title=Five Years Later, the Spirit of Japan Animator Expo Lives On |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2019/11/07/five-years-later-the-spirit-of-japan-animator-expo-lives-on |publisher=Crunchyroll |access-date=4 March 2022 |date=7 November 2019}}</ref>
By 2014, the copyright for the ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' series was transferred to Khara.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://diamond.jp/articles/-/108195|title=庵野秀明監督が初めて語る経営者としての10年（下）|work=Diamond Online|date=2016-11-16|access-date=2025-10-21}}</ref>
In 2016, Khara sued Gainax for ¥100 million in unpaid royalties from an agreement that Khara would earn royalties from income received on works and properties that founder Hideaki Anno had worked on.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-12-01/evangelion-studio-khara-sues-gainax-for-100-million-yen-in-royalties/.109396|title=Evangelion Studio Khara Sues Gainax for 100 Million Yen in Royalties|work=Anime News Network|date=December 2, 2016|access-date=December 6, 2020}}</ref> The suit alleged that Gainax delayed on paying royalties and incurred a large debt with Khara, which had loaned ¥100 million in August 2014, but had yet to receive payment on the loan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-12-06/gainax-posts-apology-after-khara-lawsuit/.109563|title=Gainax Posts Apology After Khara's Lawsuit|work=Anime News Network|date=December 7, 2016|access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref> On June 7, 2024, Gainax announced that the company has filed for bankruptcy on May 29, making the Gainax trademark being transferred to Khara.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hodgkins |first=Crystalyn |date=June 7, 2024 |title=Anime Studio Gainax Files for Bankruptcy |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-06-07/anime-studio-gainax-files-for-bankruptcy/.211643 |access-date=June 7, 2024 |publisher=Anime News Network |language=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 7, 2024 |title=Notice |url=https://www.gainax.co.jp/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607072533/https://www.gainax.co.jp/ |archive-date=June 7, 2024 |access-date=June 7, 2024 |publisher=Gainax |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 7, 2024 |title=Regarding the news from Gainax Co., Ltd. |url=https://www.khara.co.jp/2024/06/07/240607/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607073130/https://www.khara.co.jp/2024/06/07/240607/ |archive-date=June 7, 2024 |access-date=June 7, 2024 |publisher=Khara |language=ja}}</ref>
On August 21, 2024, Khara announced that they had successfully acquired the intellectual property of all P Productions' tokusatsu works, after the company ceased producing tokusatsu series following ''Lion-Maru G''.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |date=August 21, 2024 |title=P-PRO's copyright management office is Khara Co., Ltd. |url=https://x.com/Info_P_pro/status/1826067652042961209 |publisher= X/Twitter |language=ja}}</ref>
On October 6, 2024, Khara announced that they would begin production on a new ''Space Battleship Yamato'' film in 2025. All that is currently known is that it will be unconnected to prior remakes done by other companies.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-19 |title=Hideaki Anno, Khara Produce New Yamato Anime Film Project |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-10-06/hideaki-anno-khara-produce-new-yamato-anime-film-project/.216403 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Anime News Network |language=en}}</ref>
==Works==
===Television=== * ''The Dragon Dentist'' (2017) * ''The Diary of Ochibi-san'' (2023–2024) * ''Kaiju No. 8'' (2024; kaiju designs) * ''Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX'' (2025; co-produced with Sunrise) * Untitled ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' anime series (TBA; co-produced with CloverWorks)<ref>{{cite web|title=Evangelion Franchise Announces New Series|last=Loo|first=Egan|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-02-23/evangelion-franchise-announces-new-series/.234476|website=Anime News Network|date=February 23, 2026|access-date=February 23, 2026}}</ref>
===OVA/ONAs=== * ''Japan Animator Expo'' (2014–2015) * ''Patlabor Reboot'' (2016) * ''Gravity Rush: The Animation ~ Overture ~'' (2016)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/12/20/14025772/gravity-rushs-anime-captures-the-games-signature-style/|title = Gravity Rush's anime captures the game's signature style| website=Polygon |date = 20 December 2016}}</ref> * ''VOY@GER'' (2021; co-produced with CloverWorks) * ''Sugar Sugar Rune: Les Deux Sorcières'' (2025)
===Animated films=== * ''Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone'' (2007) * ''Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance'' (2009) * ''Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo'' (2012) * ''Mary and the Witch's Flower'' (2017; co-produced with Studio Ponoc) * ''Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time'' (2021) * Untitled ''Space Battleship Yamato'' movie (TBA)
===Live-action films=== * ''Kantoku Shikkaku'' (2011) * ''Giant God Warrior Appears in Tokyo'' (2012, co-produced with Studio Ghibli) * ''Shin Godzilla'' (2016, co-produced with Toho Pictures; uncredited) * ''Shin Ultraman'' (2022, co-produced with Tsuburaya Productions and Toho Pictures) * ''Shin Kamen Rider'' (2023, co-produced with Toei Company; uncredited)
===Video games=== * ''Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia'' (2017) * ''Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown'' (2019){{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} * ''Romeo Is a Dead Man'' (2026)
== Intellectual properties owned by Studio Khara == ; Original * ''The Dragon Dentist''
; Owned from P Productions<ref name=":0" /> * ''Bouken Rockbat'' * ''Denjin Zaborger'' * ''Lion-Maru'' trilogy ** ''Fuun Lion-Maru'' ** ''Kaiketsu Lion-Maru'' ** ''Lion-Maru G'' * ''Gokemidoro'' * ''The Monster Prince'' * ''Spectreman'' * ''Tetsujin Tiger Seven''
; Other * ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' (owned from Gainax) ** ''Rebuild of Evangelion''
* ''Shin Japan Heroes Universe'' ** ''Godzilla'' (owned from Toho) ** ''Ultraman'' (owned from Tsuburaya Productions) ** ''Kamen Rider'' (owned from Toei Company)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Khara}} * {{Official website|https://www.khara.co.jp/}} {{in lang|ja}} * {{Ann|company|6685|Khara}}
{{Studio Khara}} {{Gainax}} {{Neon Genesis Evangelion}} {{Japanese animation studios}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khara}} Category:Khara Category:Japanese animation studios Category:Japanese companies established in 2006 Category:Mass media companies established in 2006 Category:Animation studios in Tokyo Category:Hideaki Anno Category:Tokusatsu Category:Suginami