Artist
and animator Steve Bennett has been part of the rise of anime fandom
and the increase in the number of anime conventions. The Virginia
artist hopes to continue in that role, but it may not be under the
Studio Ironcat banner. The company has been in financial trouble since
2003, when they were down to only a couple of hundred dollars in the
bank. Disagreements with former workers and the disappearance of a
major book deal hurt the company; Bennett noted at Ushicon on Friday
that the trouble had "clobbered" Ironcat. Despite all of Bennett's
efforts to keep Ironcat alive, he said on Friday that the Ironcat
business would "...cease existing as we know it. It's going to totally
shut down, and when it does, it will be a new beginning for Steve
Bennett."
Bennett
didn't use the words "bankruptcy" or "reorganization," and he didn't
note exactly what led to the "heavy restructuring" as Bennett put it. Regardless of the details,
the changes might lead to the Ironcat name disappearing. Or, the name
might surface in a new fashion with a different company. Bennett said
he's uncertain about his future, but he expects to keep going to
conventions. He said that he's gotten job offers in previous years that
he wasn't able to exploit because of his Ironcat work, but that might
change. In the meantime, he's going to clean up Ironcat's affairs,
including any past due payments and legal bills. Artists who have had
works published with Ironcat may stay with Bennett's new group or they
may choose to take other options, he said.
One week after Bennett
made these comments at Ushicon, the Studio Ironcat web site bore this
statement: "Studio Ironcat L.L.C. is no longer in business. As of
January 28, 2005, Studio Ironcat L.L.C. is closed. More information
about the closure of the company will be posted here some time soon. We
are currently working to make our existing stock available elsewhere
since we have been advised that we may no longer sell our product as
`Studio Ironcat L.L.C.' Orders that have been placed will be shipped
ASAP. If you have an order that has not shipped in over a month, please
contact us with your contact & mailing info along with what you
ordered. Thanks to everyone for your support." The announcement met with little reaction in the anime and manga fandom world.
Artist
and animator Steve Bennett has been part of the rise of anime fandom
and the increase in the number of anime conventions. The Virginia
artist hopes to continue in that role, but it may not be under the
Studio Ironcat banner. The company has been in financial trouble since
2003, when they were down to only a couple of hundred dollars in the
bank. Disagreements with former workers and the disappearance of a
major book deal hurt the company; Bennett noted at Ushicon on Friday
that the trouble had "clobbered" Ironcat. Despite all of Bennett's
efforts to keep Ironcat alive, he said on Friday that the Ironcat
business would "...cease existing as we know it. It's going to totally
shut down, and when it does, it will be a new beginning for Steve
Bennett."
Bennett
didn't use the words "bankruptcy" or "reorganization," and he didn't
note exactly what led to the "heavy restructuring" as Bennett put it. Regardless of the details,
the changes might lead to the Ironcat name disappearing. Or, the name
might surface in a new fashion with a different company. Bennett said
he's uncertain about his future, but he expects to keep going to
conventions. He said that he's gotten job offers in previous years that
he wasn't able to exploit because of his Ironcat work, but that might
change. In the meantime, he's going to clean up Ironcat's affairs,
including any past due payments and legal bills. Artists who have had
works published with Ironcat may stay with Bennett's new group or they
may choose to take other options, he said.
One week after Bennett
made these comments at Ushicon, the Studio Ironcat web site bore this
statement: "Studio Ironcat L.L.C. is no longer in business. As of
January 28, 2005, Studio Ironcat L.L.C. is closed. More information
about the closure of the company will be posted here some time soon. We
are currently working to make our existing stock available elsewhere
since we have been advised that we may no longer sell our product as
`Studio Ironcat L.L.C.' Orders that have been placed will be shipped
ASAP. If you have an order that has not shipped in over a month, please
contact us with your contact & mailing info along with what you
ordered. Thanks to everyone for your support." The announcement met with little reaction in the anime and manga fandom world.
