According to Tokyo Shoko Research, Next Batters’ Circle, the official name of the company to which Tear Studio belongs, owes about 8 million yen (US$74,000) in unpaid workers’ fees.
However, that figure is dwarfed by the approximately 43 million yen (nearly US$400,000) in debt Tear owes to its creditors.
Tokyo Shoko Research reports that Tear has submitted its bankruptcy paperwork to its lawyer, who will be formally filing it later this month.
The employee ranks swell with contractors once the studio gets hired to produce an anime, then contract again once the project is done.