GONZO K.K. (株式会社ゴンゾ Kabushiki-gaisha Gonzo), formerly GONZO Digimation Holding K.K. (or GDH K.K.) and currently also stylized as Gonzo K.K., is a Japanese anime studio owned by ADK that was established on February 22, 2000. GONZO is a member of The Association of Japanese Animations. The company's predecessor Gonzo Inc. was established on February 11, 1992, by former Gainax staff members, but was later absorbed into its parent company GDH K.K. on April 1, 2009, and it would assume the Gonzo trade name for itself.
GONZO has not released a major animation project since 2020, with Phantasy Star Online 2: Episode Oracle being the studio's latest major work.
About[]
GONZO is a global company that delivers the next generation of visual culture through its international network. GONZO strives to "leverage its outstanding creative staff, international marketing capabilities, and the GONZO brand power to take on innovative challenges as a leading company in the next generation of digital visual content."[1]
On August 5, 2024, a collaboration project between GONZO K.K. and Studio ENTRE Inc. (a company with the goal of creating new businesses by combining the broad entertainment business with technology) announced the formation of a new A.I. singer label, "GEMVOX". GEMVOX was announced to be a next-generation label that includes A.I. singers, all named after gemstones, developed using the latest voice synthesizer technology aimed with the goal of having new works created daily by various creators and to provide a series of captivating "AI Singers"[2] that inspire creators' imagination, curate the works produced, and encourage collaboration among creators. The project was launched together with Shinichiro Ishikawa, president of GONZO, who continues to pioneer the use of technology in the anime industry, while also taking advantage of the activities of the AI research group "ARS" (AI Resonate Society). The first announced vocalist of the company was Shimon Topaz, a mysterious girl with a dark appearance who has a beautiful and clear voice and is trilingual, fluent in Japanese, English, and Korean. At the time, it was not specified which synthesizer Topaz would be developed for. Topaz was also announced to be featured as the main vocalist for the theme song for the upcoming anime PV, "Gloria".[3][4][5][6]
Key people[]
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Shinichiro Ishikawa (石川真一郎, Ishikawa Shin'ichirō), born on January 31, 1967 at the Setagaya Ward in Tokyo, Japan, is the founder, president, and CEO of GONZO K.K.. A pioneer in the anime industry, he founded Digimation in 1996 and GONZO DIGIMATION HOLDING K.K. (GDH) in 2000; both were merged in 2000 to become GONZO Anime Studios, where he has been serving as CEO ever since. He produced multiple television series including Hellsing, Gantz, and the Emmy Award-winning Afro Samurai. He also produced for movies including King of Thorn and Afro Samurai: Resurrection. Before founding Gonzo and its predecessors Digimation and GDH, Ishikawa graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1991, earning a Master of Science degree in Physics, then joined The Boston Consulting Group Inc. (BCG), serving as project manager of projects related to high technology, media, and contents. In 1995, he completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at INSEAD in 1995, where he also earned the Lister Vickery award for his entrepreneurship, ending up in the Dean's List.[7] He resigned from BCG in 1999 and joined Digimation full-time as its president.[8] |
Voice Databases[]
Released[]
Synthesizer V AI[]
Voice databases developed and distributed by GONZO K.K. in collaboration with Studio ENTRE Inc..
References[]
- ↑ https://www.gonzo.co.jp/company/profile/index.html
- ↑ Not to be confused with AISingers, a Chinese AI vocal synthesis program developed by Xiamen Youta Animation Technology Co., Ltd. released in February 2020.
- ↑ https://gemvox.ai/posts/opening
- ↑ https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000047.000062348.html
- ↑ https://japan.cnet.com/release/31011412/
- ↑ https://gemvox.ai/topaz
- ↑ https://www.san-japan.org/sj-guest/shinichiro-ishikawa/
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1908443/
External links[]
- Official website
- Official YouTube Channel (@gonzo)
- Official YouTube Channel (Alternate, @GONZODOGA)
- Official Twitter (@gonzo_anime)
- Official Twitter (International, @GonzoAnimeIntl)