Gainax President Arrested for Illicit Photos of Teen Voice Actress

Tomohiro Maki, president of animation production company Gainax, has been arrested for taking lewd images of an aspiring voice actress.

The voice actress, who is in her late teens, also alleges that Maki not only took topless photos of her, but also touched her inappropriately, massaging her legs and making suggestive remarks. She made the accusations back in February. The incidents are thought to have occurred on four separate occasions between February 6th and February 23rd at Maki’s condo in Tokyo.

Maki has been arrested for semi-forceful indecent acts and denies all allegations from the voice actress aside from taking the photos. Maki has been quoted saying he “only took the photos after being asked to”.

Prior to being promoted to president in October, Maki worked as representative director for Gainax International, a Japanese anime studio that produces Neon Genesis Evangelion, Royal Space Force, and others.

Since his arrest execs at Gainax have distanced themselves from Maki, stating that they are neither associated nor friendly with him. Khara Inc., which currently co-produces the Evangelion series of anime projects, released a statement ensuring its audience that Maki had no relationship with Neon Genisis Evangelion or Evangelion.

Yasuhiro Takeda, managing director of Gainax Kyoto and an original founder of Gainax, took to Twitter to distance his current company from the arrest.

Gainax Kyoto also made it a point to explain that they have no capital ties to Gainax, distancing themselves even more from the similarly named company.

This is not going to hold up the June 2020 release of the new Evangelion film as stated by Khara Inc.