Exclusive BL Anime Studio Dissolves—Should Yaoi Fans Be Worried?
Ever see a headline that made you do a double take? “BL Anime Studio Grizzly Dissolves” sounds dramatic—especially if you’re knee-deep in the world of yaoi anime. But here’s the thing: while Grizzly was technically the first studio to focus exclusively on BL content, its actual legacy? Pretty minimal. Let’s break down what really happened, why fans shouldn’t be panicking, and what this means for the future of BL anime.
What Was Studio Grizzly, Anyway?
Grizzly launched back in 2017 with a bold premise: it would be the only anime studio solely dedicated to boys’ love content. Sounds exciting, right? Their first release was the OVA adaptation of Yarichin B*tch Club by Ogeretsu Tanaka. Let’s be honest—that one was more meme material than masterpiece for many fans. It was loud, wild, and unapologetically chaotic, but didn’t exactly scream “BL renaissance.”
Their second major project was Twittering Birds Never Fly – The Clouds Gather, a much more serious, moody film that adapted Kou Yoneda’s well-regarded manga. It was beautifully animated and well received, with a sequel announced afterward.
Despite its independent status, Grizzly had strong ties to animation giant MAPPA. They shared staff, space, and even a CEO (Manabu Otsuka, who led both). But after 2021, the studio just… stopped. No new projects. No updates. Their official website went offline in early 2025. And by February 2025, it was formally dissolved.
The Truth: This BL Anime Studio Was Mostly Silent for Years
Let’s call it like it is—Grizzly hadn’t been active for a long time. Their two real claims to fame were released in 2018 and 2020. Since then? Crickets. The much-anticipated continuation of Twittering Birds Never Fly is now floating in limbo, and no one’s quite sure whether it’ll be picked up elsewhere.
And while their concept (a BL-exclusive studio) was intriguing, their actual output was limited. For many fans, Grizzly was more of a footnote than a foundation.
So, Should BL Fans Be Worried About This Anime Studio Closing?
Nope.
The idea of a studio dedicated to BL anime was cool in theory, but the reality is that Grizzly just wasn’t a major player. The genre has grown far beyond what one studio could support. In fact, if you look around, you’ll see more BL anime content now than ever—and from a wide range of studios.
BL Isn’t Going Anywhere—And That’s a Good Thing
Let’s be real—Grizzly wasn’t carrying the BL anime world on its back. In fact, we’ve been seeing more BL content than ever in recent years, often with better animation, writing, and production values than Grizzly ever offered.
Twilight Out Of Focus – YouTube
Here are just a few of the studios helping to keep the genre vibrant and evolving:
- Studio Deen – Delivered Sasaki to Miyano, which became a fan favorite with its soft, slow-burn romance. More recently, they’ve put out Twilight Out of Focus and Welcome Home (Tadaima, Okaeri)—both beautifully crafted, emotionally grounded series.
- Platinum Vision – Gave us Given, a milestone in modern BL anime that even made its way to the big screen.
- Satelight – Adapted Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! in early 2024, with a compilation film following soon after.
- Lerche – Contributed to Given, showing the genre can thrive with multiple hands in the mix.
- MAPPA – While mostly focused on darker, action-heavy titles, MAPPA’s previous connection to Grizzly and wide-ranging portfolio shows they aren’t afraid of genre diversity.
- CloverWorks – Their work on Buddy Daddies wasn’t technically BL, but let’s be honest—two male roommates raising a child together? The fandom saw what it saw. Most people shipped them, and frankly, what else would you expect with that setup?
- Studio Bones – The Case Study of Vanitas isn’t labeled as BL either, but the romantic tension between Vanitas and Noé? Yeah, we felt that.
Sasaki and Miyano clip from YouTube
And it’s not just one or two shows a year. We’ve been graced with at least one new BL anime almost every season. Whether it’s fluffy high school romance, angsty adult drama, or something a little spicier, the genre is more alive than ever.
What About Twittering Birds Never Fly?
Now, if there’s one area where fans are understandably disappointed, it’s here. Twittering Birds Never Fly had more stories to tell, and the sequel films were highly anticipated. With Grizzly gone, the fate of that trilogy is uncertain.
That said, it’s not unheard of for another studio to step in and pick up where someone else left off. If there’s enough interest (and let’s face it, there is), this story may yet find its ending.
Final Thoughts: A Chapter Closes, But the Story Continues
Grizzly’s closure might look like a big deal on paper, but in practice, it’s more of a quiet ending to a studio that had already faded from the spotlight. The BL anime genre isn’t in danger—it’s thriving, diversifying, and gaining global attention like never before.
So no, yaoi fans don’t need to worry.
In fact, we should probably be more excited than ever.
What’s your take on Grizzly’s legacy (or lack thereof)? Did you love their work—or barely notice it? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
