Studio Arms (Ikki Tousen, Elfen Lied) Declares Bankruptcy

The anime industry looks like a glamourous world to the outsiders, but in reality, profits are less, and anime studios barely get by. Even though virtually, anime totals good earnings, studios get only a small percentage of it.

Animators have to work for long hours with less pay, and the industry as a whole faces a lot of financial problems. Production companies hold the licensing and distribution rights, which makes things harder for studios.

Common Sense, also known as Studio Arms, has recently declared bankruptcy. The Tokyo Shoko Research company reported that Studio Arms had filed for special liquidation on 22nd July.

Studio ARMS is a Japanese animation studio that was founded in 1996, with its headquarters in Tokyo. Its most famous works are Ikki Tousen, Queen’s Blade, and Elfen Lied anime.

The studio first started its works with hentai or erotic anime, but later, it ceased as its other productions grew. It was known for collaborations with Pink Pineapple and Green Bunny.

Studio ARMS’ sales in the year 2009 amounted to ¥ 390 million, but it had reached its peak as a downward trend soon followed. By the year 2011, the sales had decreased to a mere ¥ 260 million.

After that, the studio mainly received works of animation production companies. Some of the other famous works of Studio Arms are Mezzo DSA, Girls High, Samurai Girls, Valkyrie Drive Mermaid and others. The company was first named Dandelion, which was later changed to Triple X.

The studio underwent a change of name multiple times and finally settled on Common Sense in 2017, however, it maintained the Arms label.

With the subpar working conditions, the staff at animation studios are always under a heavy schedule which cannot be justified. Also, with merchandise making up for most of the sale, animation studios are being left behind in the dust.

Source: Tokyo Shoko Research website

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