Tear Studio

Tear Studio Co., Ltd. was a Japanese animation production company based in Suginami, Tokyo. Founded on March 15, 2013, by Jun Katō, the studio operated in Japan's anime production sector and developed a separate overseas-production department called Teartribe. The overseas unit was intended to build partnerships with Chinese animation studios, combining international production relationships with the studio's Japanese operations in an effort to create more stable economics and production quality. The company was part of Japan's specialist animation-studio ecosystem, where studios commonly work as production contractors or as contributors to television, film, and original-video projects. The available reference material identifies Tear Studio as having worked across television series, films, and original video animations, but does not provide a complete catalog of titles or enough information to reliably describe particular productions. As a result, the studio's public profile is better documented through its corporate formation and eventual financial failure than through a detailed consumer-facing product portfolio. Tear Studio ceased operations after filing for bankruptcy in December 2019. At the time of the filing, its reported debt was approximately 43 million yen. About 8 million yen of that amount was reportedly owed to around 50 animators, highlighting the financial pressures that can affect small and mid-sized animation production companies and their freelance or contracted creative workforce. The available sources do not identify a successor company, parent organization, acquisition, restructuring, or continuing brand activity after the bankruptcy. Tear Studio should therefore be treated as a defunct Japanese animation studio rather than an active entertainment brand.

Tear Studio Co., Ltd. was established in Suginami, Tokyo, on March 15, 2013. Its founder was Jun Katō. The company entered the Japanese animation industry as a production studio whose publicly described scope included television series, films, and original video animations. Soon after its establishment, the studio created Teartribe as an overseas production department. Teartribe's stated purpose was to develop partnerships with Chinese studios that already had experience in animation production. The initiative was designed to support more stable production economics and quality by connecting Tear Studio with international production resources. The available reference material does not provide detailed information about the department's staff, specific partner studios, or individual projects. Tear Studio's operations appear to have followed the project-based structure common to many animation companies. The supplied material confirms the existence of television, film, and original-video categories in its body of work, but does not name specific titles. Accordingly, no individual production is designated here as a flagship offering without a reliable source identifying it. The company's financial position deteriorated before the end of the decade. In December 2019, Tear Studio filed for bankruptcy with reported liabilities of approximately 43 million yen. Around 8 million yen was reportedly owed to approximately 50 animators. The debt figures indicate that the bankruptcy affected both the company's broader creditors and members of the animation workforce involved in its productions. The available sources do not document a purchase by another company, a formal successor, a relaunch, or continued use of the Tear Studio name after the bankruptcy filing. Tear Studio is therefore recorded as defunct. Its principal historical significance lies in its attempt to operate a Japanese animation studio with an international production arm and in the financial difficulties that ultimately brought the company to an end.

• 2019

  Bankruptcy filing

  [1]Tear Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Tear Studio filed for bankruptcy in December 2019 with reported debt of approximately 43 million yen, including about 8 million yen owed to approximately 50 animators.

• 2013

  Tear Studio is established

  [1]Tear Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Jun Katō founded Tear Studio Co., Ltd. in Suginami, Tokyo, on March 15, 2013.

• 2013

  Teartribe is created

  [1]Tear Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Tear Studio established Teartribe as an overseas production department intended to cooperate with experienced Chinese animation studios.

A Japanese animation studio focused on commissioned and collaborative production across television, film, and original video animation, with an overseas-production initiative aimed at working with Chinese studios.

• Animated television

  Television animation production

  Tear Studio's documented work categories included television animation. The available reference does not provide enough information to identify specific series, roles, or release dates, so this entry describes the studio's production area rather than a named title.

• Animated films

  Animated film production

  The studio was associated with animated film production as part of its broader work across Japan's animation sector. No specific film title or detailed production credit is established by the supplied reference material.

• Original video animation

  Original video animation production

  Original video animation was another documented category within Tear Studio's activities. The available source does not identify particular releases or describe the studio's precise role in them.

• International production department · 2013

  Teartribe

  Teartribe was created as Tear Studio's overseas production department. Its stated aim was to work with Chinese studios experienced in animation in order to improve production stability, economics, and quality.

• 2019

  Bankruptcy filingOther

  Background

  The studio entered bankruptcy proceedings after accumulating reported liabilities during its operation in the animation-production sector.

  Action taken

  Tear Studio filed for bankruptcy in December 2019.

  Aftermath

  The company became defunct. Reported liabilities included approximately 43 million yen in total debt and about 8 million yen owed to approximately 50 animators.

  Reported bankruptcy liabilities. Approximately 43 million yen total debt; approximately 8 million yen owed to approximately 50 animators (December 2019)

  Source

• 2013

  Creation of an overseas production departmentStrategy

  Background

  Tear Studio sought more stable production economics and quality through cooperation with Chinese animation studios experienced in international production.

  Action taken

  The company established Teartribe as a dedicated overseas production department.

  Aftermath

  The available source confirms the department's creation and objective but does not document its specific partnerships or measurable results.

  Source

1. 1Tear Studioen.wikipedia.org