MAPPA Absorbs Contrail Through a Full Merger

Studio MAPPA announced that it will absorb its sister studio Contrail through a merger, assuming all of the company's rights and obligations. The Contrail brand will continue to exist under MAPPA's management.

Contrail closed its sixth fiscal period in March 2025 with a net loss of 68 million yen, approximately 435,000 dollars. Both studios had already collaborated on projects such as the short Kikasete Hoshii Kimi no Koto, released in April 2025.

The studio was founded by director Sunao Katabuchi, known for Black Lagoon and In This Corner of the World, on September 2, 2019. It is currently producing The Mourning Children: Nagiko and the Girls Wearing Tsurubami Black and animated a one-shot for Shonen Jump+'s tenth anniversary.

The integration strengthens MAPPA's production capacity following its strategic alliance with Netflix, announced in January. The agreement makes the platform the exclusive broadcaster of the studio's future original titles, with collaboration from story development to merchandising.

Originally published on Anitsu by Laura Martínez. Text reviewed and fact-checked for DonOtaku on November 5, 2026; the original date is preserved.