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TOHO Acquires 6% Stake in Makoto Shinkai's Studio CoMix Wave Films
TOHO has distributed Makoto Shinkai's films since The Garden of Words in 2013
― Japanese entertainment company TOHO announced on Tuesday that it has acquired 45 shares, or 6.09%, of stock in the anime management, production, and distribution company CoMix Wave Films. The investment is intended to elevate the studio's working environment in order to raise the quality of their works and increase the st...
Bloomberg: Bandai Namco Cuts Staff After Halting Projects, Including for Naruto, One Piece, Nintendo
About 100 have reportedly resigned
― Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that Bandai Namco Holdings has halted or canceled development on a number of unannounced games, including an unannounced title which Nintendo commissioned, as well as unannounced titles for the Naruto and One Piece franchises. The company is reportedly making cuts to its 1,300-strong workforce due to the canceled projects. According t...
TOHO to Acquire N. American Animation Distributor GKIDS as Its Subsidiary
TOHO aims to grow outside of Japan, with GKIDS maintaining its management team
― North American animation distributor GKIDS announced on Tuesday that Japanese entertainment company TOHO has reached an agreement to acquire 100% of GKIDS for an undisclosed amount. GKIDS, which has offices in New York and Los Angeles, will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toho International, which is based in Los Ang...
Rica Matsumoto Denies Reportedly Leaked Pokémon Document on End of Ash/Pikachu Era
Matsumoto: 'I've been friends with Iku-chan since we were rookies'
― On Thursday, the Pokémon games' developer Game Freak announced it had suffered a data breach in August. The company said the breach leaked 2,606 names and email addresses of current and former employees. Over the past weekend, posts on social media claimed to leak gigabytes of information from upcoming projects and assets from past ...
Asahi Production Signs Business Partnership with Pierrot
Partnership aims to strengthen system for stable production of high-quality anime titles
― Asahi Production announced on Friday that it has signed a business partnership agreement with anime studio Pierrot to strengthen the system for stable production of high-quality anime works. Asahi Production stated that in the current environment of animation production, the number of television anime titles pr...
Pokémon Developer Game Freak Reports Data Breach
Employees' names, email addresses leaked, with unconfirmed claims of unannounced titles also leaked
― Japanese game developer Game Freak announced last Thursday that it has suffered a data breach via unauthorized third-party access to its servers in August. The breach led to the names and company email addresses of 2,606 current and former Game Freak employees and contract workers being leaked. Game ...
Tiger & Bunny Producer Establishes New Company
Masayuki Ozaki's Creadom8 began operations on October 8
― Tiger & Bunny anime producer Masayuki Ozaki announced in a new video on Wednesday a new company Creadom8. The company will focus on anime production and character creation and began operations on Tuesday. The company will begin with focusing on short animation films, inspired by global trends toward short live-action films. Ozaki announced hop...
Tokyopop Announces New Editor in Chief Lena Atanassova
Atanassova previously held position as LoveLove imprint Brand Editor
― Tokyopop announced at the end of September that its LoveLove imprint Brand Editor Lena Atanassova will be the new Editor in Chief. Atanassova will lead the editorial team, manage production of all titles, and expand Tokyopop's catalog to horror, manhwa, and webtoon-originated titles. She will also manage and expand production of ...
Aoni Production Agency, CoeFont Collaborate on AI-Replicated Voice Service Trained on Voice Actors
Collaboration uses Masako Nozawa, Banjō Ginga, other actors' data for strictly non-acting purposes
― Talent management agency Aoni Production and AI voice platform CoeFont announced a new partnership on Monday. The first project under the partnership uses vocal data from 10 voice actors, including Masako Nozawa and Banjō Ginga, to create AI-replicated voices for use in virtual assistants (such as Ale...
CODA Works With Brazil to Shut Down 16 Anime Piracy Sites; ACE Works with Vietnam to Shut Down Film, Anime Piracy Sites
Also: PCR Distributing sues nHentai for copyright infringement
― In recent months, due to collaborative efforts between anti-piracy organizations from various countries and government organizations, several anime piracy websites based in Brazil and Vietnam were shut down. In addition, a website based in the U.S. that allegedly hosts pirated Japanese adult content is also being sued for copyright infr...
Studio BONES Spins Off Production Department as New Company BONES FILM
BONES founder, president Masahiko Minami, Yoshihiro Oyabu are representative directors
― Studio BONES announced on Tuesday that it has spun off its production department and has established a new company, BONES FILM Co., Ltd. The new company's representative directors are Yoshihiro Oyabu and BONES founder and president Masahiko Minami. Naoki Amano is the director. Minami founded BONES alongside forme...
Teikoku Databank: Anime Production Industry Grew 22% in 2023
Anime production industry valued at 339 billion yen in 2023, expected to hold at 340 billion yen in 2024
― The financial research firm Teikoku Databank published a report on the anime production industry for 2023 on August 27, noting that the value of the anime production industry (based on 317 companies) is at 339,020,000,000 yen (about US$2.36 billion) in 2023, a 22.9% growth from 2022's 275,783,00...
Report: NTV Halts Production on April 2024 Live-Action TV Project
NTV vice president Hiroyuki Fukuda made announcement during press conference
― Nippon Television vice president Hiroyuki Fukuda announced during the president's press conference in Tokyo on Monday that production on an April television project will be halted according to a report by Sponichi Annex. Fukuda didn't give a specific reason for the change in production, but stated that the network was com...
Shout! Studios Appoints Max Einhorn as SVP of Acquisitions & Innovations
Former FilmRise executive to be part of acquisitions team
― Media company Shout! Studios announced on September 19 that it has appointed Max Einhorn as Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Innovations. Einhorn will be part of the company's acquisitions team, and will focus on content acquisition strategy and expansion. Einhorn previously worked for film, television, and streaming studio FilmRise...
Palworld Developer Responds to Nintendo, The Pokémon Company's Lawsuit
Pocketpair states it is still unaware of specific patents it allegedly infringed
― Pocketpair, the game developer behind the Palworld game, released a statement on its website on September 19, regarding the patent infringement lawsuit filed against the company by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The company also posted the full statement on Palworld's X (formerly Twitter) account: Regarding the Laws...
Companies Seek Alleged Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen Anime Leakers' IDs in U.S. Court
Unauthorized footage, anime stills released on X/Twitter
― A number of entertainment companies, including Aniplex and Toho, successfully filed for an information disclosure order in U.S. courts for the identities of the owners of alleged leak accounts on August 20. Courts formally served the order on August 30. The companies filed for the order following unauthorized leaks of videos and stills from ...
Circana Executive: Manga, Other 'East Asian Style Comics' Made Up Largest Share of Graphic Novel Sales from July 2023-June 2024
Print manga sales were down 21% in 1st half of 2024
― Media industry news website ICv2 reported on Friday on a presentation that Kristen McLean, Senior Executive Director The Circana Entertainment Knowledge Group, made at the ComicsPRO Open House event on Thursday, which included information about the state of the manga industry in the U.S. in the first half of 2024. According to McLean, manga "and o...
Toyo Keizai: Dragon Ball Rights Are Unresolved After Akira Toriyama's Death
Dragon Ball creator died on March 1, leading to impasse
― Toyo Keizai Online, the website tied to the finance magazine Weekly Toyo Keizai, reported on July 8 about the rights to Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball franchise following his death. According to Toyo Keizai, the rights are currently up in the air since Toriyama's death, and publisher Shueisha, former editor Akio Iyoku, and Bandai Namco were all...
Bloomberg Report: NetEase Plans to Close Visions of Mana Developer Ouka Studios
NetEase has laid off most staff at Ouka Studios in Tokyo according to report
―
Bloomberg reported on Friday that Chinese game development company NetEase has laid off most of the staff at Ouka Studios (Visions of Mana) in Tokyo and intends to shut down the studio's offices in Shibuya. NetEase had hired former staff from companies such as Capcom, Bandai Namco, and Square Enix when establishing consol...
MAGES. Splits Off Music Unit to Super State Holdings' AniTone
Absorption-type split to take place on November 1
― Multimedia company MAGES. announced on Friday that it is splitting off its content-related businesses - such as MUSIC, LOVE&ART, music publishing, and Daikanyama Studio - in an absorption-type split on November 1. AniTone Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of SUPER STATE HOLDINGS Co., Ltd., will become the successor. MAGES. stated that this will n...
Japanese Government, Anime Studios Team Up to Develop Next Generation of Animators
Global Anime Challenge allows 6 young talents from Japan to intern at studios overseas
― On July 31, the Global Anime Challenge (GAC) project took its first steps to develop the next generation of Japanese animators. The GAC is now taking applications for six talented young animators, producers, and directors to “experience internships at world-class studios outside of Japan for three months.” A pres...
Studio Mayflower Appoints Chainsaw Man Director Ryū Nakayama as Chief Creative Officer
Studio, established in December 2023, aims to create IP using latest technology
― Studio Mayflower and its CEO Taisei Tateno announced on Tuesday that the studio has appointed Chainsaw Man director Ryū Nakayama as Chief Creative Officer (CCO). Studio Mayflower aims to create IP that "utilizes the latest technology." The company appointed Nakayama as his creative abilities are aligned with their direc...
Pokémon Franchise Gets In-Flight Safety, Disembarkation Videos for All Nippon Airways
Flights play on special Pikachu/Eevee planes
― Gotta fly 'em all! All Nippon Airways (ANA) began streaming Pokémon themed in-flight safety and disembarkation videos for its airlines on Thursday. The safety video has voiced instructions in Japanese and English for passengers. Different CG-animated Pokémon appear to help illustrate the instructions, including a Buizel wearing a life vest, a Jigglypuff ...
Titmouse, Polygon Pictures Collaborate to Produce Multiple CG Series
Companies plan to announce series this year
― Titmouse and Polygon Pictures announced on Thursday that they are working together to develop and produce multiple CG series that they will announce this year. Titmouse is known for such animated series as Metalocalypse, The Venture Bros., Star Trek: Lower Decks, The Legend of Vox Machina, and Ballmastrz: 9009. The company also worked on the Pokémon Toget...
Cartoon Network's Website Shuts Down, Redirects to Max Streaming Service
Boomerang channel to shut down on September 30
― The official website for Cartoon Network has shut down, and it now redirects to Warner Bros. Discovery's Max streaming service. The website also lost its video content, which included episodes of Cartoon Network series. A message on the redirected page informs viewers that they can sign up to the service for Cartoon Network shows. The page also states ...
Game Informer Magazine Ends Publication After 33 Years
Magazine published its 367th and final issue in June 2024
― GameStop announced on Friday that it has shut down its Game Informer magazine. The magazine's June 2024 issue about the Dragon Age: The Veilguard game was its 367th and final issue. Video game retailer FuncoLand launched Game Informer in 1991. GameStop acquired FuncoLand in 2000. According to entertainment news website Variety, Game Informer...
Toei, Shochiku, Flag Collaborate on New Digital Advertising Platform
'Cinema DX Project' to promote DX technology in movie marketing
― Toei, Shochiku, and Flag announced on Wednesday that the three companies will collaborate on a new digital advertising platform project titled "Cinema DX Project." The project will focus on using consumer data to improve advertising methods and also promote DX technology in movie marketing. Shochiku and Toei will receive shares of Flag...
Marubeni, Mizuho Securities Invest in Anime, Manga
Marubeni sets up joint venture with Shogakukan; Mizuho Securities to launch animation film fund
― Entertainment news website Variety reported last Thursday that Japanese financial conglomerates Marubeni and Mizuho Securities are investing in the anime and manga industries. According to the news outlet, Marubeni is targeting the manga and anime markets through a new venture with Shogakukan. The compan...
Kadokawa Gradually Resumes Shipping of Books in August
Publisher to scale up promotional activities, compensate for pending shipments after cyber attack
― Kadokawa Corporation announced on Monday that the company's book publishing business will gradually resume shipping in August, with daily shipping volumes expected to return to normal levels in the middle of the month, following the cyber attack on the company on June 8. The company also noted that it ...
Niconico Services to Resume Operation Beginning on August 5 Following Kadokawa Cyber Attack
Dwango also addressed compensation for premium users
― Dwango announced in a new statement on Friday that a number of Niconico services will resume operation beginning August 5 with a new version of the website, following the cyber attack on June 8. Livestreaming on the website and channels will gradually return to service throughout August. The list of services resuming operation beginning August 5...
Light Novel Publisher Tentai Books to Shut Down
Company to negotiate license transfers to another company
― The light novel localizing and publishing company Tentai Books announced on Monday that it is closing down "over the next months." The company's owner Alejandro De Vicente, or Alex, stated that he is currently negotiating license transfers to another company. The website will remain up, particularly so customers who have purchased digital pr...
NTV Reveals New Guidelines for Live-Action Productions After Death of Manga Creator Hinako Ashihara
New guidelines include measures to retain faithfulness to original works, with focus on pre-production
― Warning: this article contains statements about a suicide. If you or anyone you know is suicidal or having suicidal thoughts, please reach out to a suicide prevention organization in your country. In the United States, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available by calling 988. In Japan,...
This Week in Anime - Crunchyroll Silences Their Viewers
No more commenting on episode pages or news articles! Crunchyroll has axed their comments section completely. Was this change due to homophobic content or simple corporate laziness? Lucas and Steve try to shed some light on what happened.
― No more commenting on episode pages or news articles! Crunchyroll has axed their comments section completely. Was this change due to homophobic content or simple...
ICv2 Report: N. American Comics Market Decreased by 7% in 2023
Comics, graphic novel sales totaled roughly US$1.87 billion in 2023, down from US$2.01 billion in 2022
― Media news website ICv2 announced on July 15 that according to its estimations, comics and graphic novel sales went down approximately 7% in the United States and Canada in 2023. Comics and graphic novel sales to consumers in North America totaled roughly US$1.87 billion in 2023, down from US$2.01...
'Stop! Manga Piracy' Campaign Prints Thank You Ads in Newspapers in 4 Countries
However, the fight to eliminate manga piracy still goes on
― Since the widespread adoption of high-speed Internet, Japanese publishers have been working to prevent their manga from being distributed on piracy websites. The efforts have yielded mixed results, including when those publishers banded together for the “Stop! Manga Piracy” campaign in 2019. Still, the publishers do acknowledge readers who ...
MAHO FILM's President Junji Murata on Creating a Better Anime Studio
“We've been trying to improve things by providing good wages to all the staff, providing a stable working environment, and holding various [internal company] events.”
― Founded in 2018, MAHO FILM is one of the younger anime studios around. That said, they've already produced 10 anime, including I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss and Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp. Recently, ...
Crunchyroll Removes Comments From News Articles, Anime Episodes
― Crunchyroll disabled the user comments section on its service, including in both its news articles and anime video pages, on July 8, saying that it "prioritize[s] creating a safe and respectful community environment," encouraging users to instead use its star rating system to express opinions. ANN can confirm the comments have been removed from newly posted news articles and anime episodes, as wel...
Crunchyroll Updates Branding With Modernized Logo, Font, Glyphs After Passing 14 Million Subscribers
New brand identity rolls out at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25
― Crunchyroll unveiled on Thursday its updated logo, branding, font, and glyphs. The streaming service also revealed that it has surpassed 14 million subscribers. The new brand identity will begin rolling out at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25. Crunchyroll streamed a video that shows its updated branding: The modernized logo features a bal...
Kadokawa Acquires Anime Studio Doga Kobo
Oshi no Ko, New Game! studio was founded in 1973
― Kadokawa announced on Thursday that it has acquired anime studio Doga Kobo and will make it a subsidiary of the conglomerate. Doga Kobo was founded in July 1973, and the company has 62 employees as of June. The company produced the Jellyfish Can't Swim in the Night anime to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The anime debuted on April 6. Doga Kobo has a...
Reincarnated as a Slime, Wistoria, 7th Prince Editors, Producers Take Fans to Another World
Editors Riichiro Umetsu and Shiro Yamano and producers Shinichirō Narita, Makoto Oda, and Katsuki Aoyama treat fans to details about isekai anime production.
― Crunchyroll hosted their isekai panel, "That Time There Was A Lot Of Isekai Anime on Crunchyroll," within the spacious halls of JW Marriot's Platinum Ballroom on Day 1 of Anime Expo. Moderated by Curt Richy with Mike McNamara assisting with t...
Manga is Global: Japanese Manga Editors Share How Medium is Expanding
Publishers share how a non-native Japanese comic artist can get their big break.
― For those who like the business side of manga as much as the art and storytelling, the Japanese Manga Editors Industry Roundtable really is a fascinating learning experience. This year's panel mostly focused on two areas of discussion—new artist development, and a look into publishing trends. Moderated by Deb Aoki, jo...
SMEJ, Aniplex, Palworld Game Developer Establish Palworld Entertainment
New joint venture to develop Palworld IP outside of game
― Sony Music Entertainment Japan Inc. announced on Wednesday that it and its subsidiary Aniplex, along with Palworld game developer Pocketpair, have established a new joint venture named Palworld Entertainment. The venture aims to expand and develop "new business" for the Palworld game, as well as develop the intellectual property's reach, lice...
Chocolate Inc., Kassen, WACHAJACK Establish STUDIO DOTOU, Which Enters Business Partnership with Pony Canyon
STUDIO DOTOU, Pony Canyon partnership to start with KILLTUBE anime film project
― Japanese company CHOCOLATE Inc. (live-action film Mondays: See You "This" Week!, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba's Total Concentration exhibition, production and publicity for Dark Gathering anime), VFX studio Kassen Inc. (live-action Yu Yu Hakusho VFX), and concept artist group WACHAJACK (Resident Evil: Infinite Darknes...
Pierrot Rebrands 2nd Studio as Pierrot Films
Both studios plan to work together to "[bring] the best out of each other"
― Anime studio Pierrot announced on Saturday that it rebranded its second studio to "Pierrot Films" in February 2024. The new branded studio has a motto of "make anime that wows." Pierrot stated it will continue to work closely with Pierrot films to "[bring] the best out of each other and ever evolving in tandem to deliver hig...
Niconico Remains Offline After Kadokawa Cyber Attack, No Customer Information Leaks, Publishing at 'One-Third' of Normal Rate
Kadokawa resumed several business operations in publishing; other B2C operations operate on temporary solutions
― Kadokawa Corporation issued a statement on its temporary website on Thursday regarding its investigation into the cyber attack on June 8. The company has resumed several business operations, while other B2C operations such as its Niconico video streaming services and online shops are oper...
11 Startup Founders I've Met Who Are Shaking Up the Anime Industry
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These are exciting times of growth for anime. With the market increasing in size by 6.8% in 2022, I'm both professionally and personally looking forward to seeing just how big anime will become globally over the next ten years. Concurrent with this growth are massive societal evolutions in how media is consumed, distributed, and monetized, powered by new technologies big and small (and sometimes ...
Hiroyuki Nakano Steps Down as Weekly Shonen Jump Editor-in-Chief
Associate editor Yu Saito takes over as new editor-in-chief
― Shueisha's Shonen Jump Magazine revealed in a press video on Tuesday that the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine will change its editor-in-chief from Hiroyuki Nakano to associate editor Yu Saito. Nakano became the editor-in-chief for the magazine in July 2017, assuming the role from Yoshihisa Heishi. Heishi became editor-in-chief of Weekly Shonen...
CyberAgent to Acquire Creative Company Nitroplus for 16.7 Billion Yen
CyberAgent to hold 72.5% controlling stake in Nitroplus, which becomes its subsidiary
― CyberAgent announced on Wednesday that it has decided to acquire the creative company Nitroplus for 16.704 billion yen (about US$104 million). As of July 1, CyberAgent will hold a 72.5% controlling stake in Nitroplus, which will become part of the CyberAgent group of companies as a subsidiary. Nitroplus founder an...
Paramount+ Increases Subscriber Prices on August 20
Price changes affect existing customers from September 20
― Paramount Global revealed on Monday the company will raise the prices of all tiers of its Paramount+ streaming service beginning on August 20. The new price changes will affect new customers from that date, while existing customers will have until September 20 or the first billing cycle after that date. The Paramount+ with Showtime plan wil...
Web3 Anime Brand Azuki Hires Steve Chung as COO
Los Angeles-based Web3 anime-styled brand Azuki announced on Thursday that it has hired former Fox and CJ ENM executive Steve Chung as its inaugural chief operating officer. Chung will also separately be a contributor involved with the launch of AnimeChain, a blockchain network for anime fans. With Chung, Azuki plans to "expand its presence in both the anime and entertainment industries." Chung wa...
New Projects Bring New Opportunities for Kinema Citrus Anime Studio
The Made in Abyss anime studio is celebrating its 16th anniversary with two new anime projects, so we sat down with founder Muneki Ogasawara to discuss the studio's next moves.
― Founded in March 2008, Kinema Citrus is known as a pillar in the anime industry for producing high-quality, compelling series. The studio has carved a niche in the competitive anime industry with popular works like Made in A...
Studio 3Hz Transfers Animation Planning, Production Business to A-1 Pictures (Updated)
Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II anime to continue as planned with same staff
― Studio 3Hz announced on Monday that it has transferred its animation planning and production business to A-1 Pictures. The company added that its business will continue at A-1 Pictures. Studio 3Hz and the official X/Twitter account for the Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II anime confirmed th...
Cyber Attack Delays Kadokawa's Releases, Accounting With Niconico Expected to Stay Offline for 1 Month or More
Company reveals wide-scale cyber attack included use of ransomware
― Kadokawa Corporation issued a statement on its temporary website on Friday to announce the continued suspension of its Dwango subsidiary's Niconico video services, following the cyber attack on June 8. The company is temporarily suspending Niconico's services in order to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, ...
Sony Pictures Buys Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Chain With Plans for Crunchyroll
Theater chain's acquisition includes Fantastic Fest film festival
― Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) announced on Wednesday that it has acquired the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema chain, as well as the chain's Fantastic Fest film festival, putting them under a new division under Sony Pictures Entertainment named Sony Pictures Experience. In its announcement, SPE noted that Sony's Crunchyroll anime streamin...
Kadokawa Posts Statement After Suspected Cyber Attack (Updated)
Niconico, Kadokawa Game Linkage's ebten online shopping website also affected
― Kadokawa Corporation released a statement on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday after several of the group's websites have become unavailable, in response to what the company suspects is a cyber attack. 6月8日未明より発生しているKADOKAWAグループの複数のウェブサイトが利用できない事象について、多大なるご心配とご迷惑をおかけし、深くお詫び申し上げます。これまでの経緯、現在の状況、今後の対応について、...
HBO Max Increases Monthly Subscriber Price from US$15.99 to US$16.99
New ad-free plan pricing starts on June 11
― The HBO Max streaming service revealed on Tuesday that it is increasing the monthly price for the ad-free plan from US$15.99 to US$16.99, starting on June 11. The company will also raise the price of the Ultimate Ad-Free tier from US$19.99 to US$20.99 per month. This marks the service's second price increase since launch, having raised the price in Februar...
Anime Studio Gainax Files for Bankruptcy
Co-founder Hideaki Anno's current studio Khara acquires Gainax's trademark
― Anime studio Gainax announced on its website on Friday that it filed for bankruptcy in the Tokyo District Court on May 29. The bankruptcy proceedings are happening just short of the studio's 40th anniversary in December. Gainax's Statement In its statement on Friday, Gainax explained that its financial situation worsened sta...
Comix Wave Films Announces New President
Managing director Tomohiro Tokunaga promoted to president
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CoMix Wave Films announced on Friday that Noritaka Kawaguchi, the company's current president, has been transferred to representative director and chairman, and managing director Tomohiro Tokunaga has been promoted to representative director and president. The change of officers is effective as of May 28. Aside from Kawaguchi and Tokunaga, ...
NTV Reveals Results of Investigation Into Sexy Tanaka-san Live-Action Series After Hinako Ashihara's Death
Investigation concludes Ashihara's conditions about adaptation were not properly conveyed to production staff
― Warning: this article contains statements about a suicide. If you or anyone you know is suicidal or having suicidal thoughts, please reach out to a suicide prevention organization in your country. In the United States, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available by calling 988. I...
Shonen Jump Launches Jump Sports Manga Award with LA Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani as Judge
Slam Dunk creator Takehiko Inoue, Eyeshield 21 writer Riichirō Inagaki, Kuroko's Basketball creator Tadatoshi Fujimaki join judging panel
― Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine announced the Jump Sports Manga Award on Monday with Slam Dunk creator Takehiko Inoue, Eyeshield 21 writer Riichirō Inagaki, Kuroko's Basketball creator Tadatoshi Fujimaki, and LA Dodgers' baseball player Shohei Ohtani as ju...
Seiyū Animedia Magazine Ends Publication After 20 Years
Voice acting magazine launched in 2004 as sister magazine of Animedia
― The official X (formerly Twitter) account for IID's Seiyū Animedia magazine announced on Monday that the magazine is ceasing publication. The upcoming summer issue will be the magazine's final issue when it ships on June 10. The magazine will announce the fates of its current serializations at a later date. Coverage of anime and ...
Nintendo Opens Official Store in San Francisco in 2025
2nd Nintendo store in U.S. to be located in San Francisco's Union Square
― Nintendo announced on Friday that it is opening its second official Nintendo store in the United States in 2025. The store will be located in San Francisco's Union Square. Nintendo's only official U.S. store, Nintendo NY, is located in Rockefeller Center in New York City. The first official Nintendo store in Japan opened in No...
6 Interesting Things I Learned About Anime From the Legendary Producer Maruyama Masao Documentary
The documentary was full of cool tidbits about the 82-year-old producer and the anime he's worked on—including Ninja Scroll, Pluto, and In This Corner of the World.
― Late last month, Japanese television network NHK put out a documentary on anime producer Masao Maruyama as part of their Anime Manga Explosion series. In it, the show delves into the now 82-year-old producer's life, philosophies, and so...
Kodansha Acquires Wani Books
Book publisher best known for distributing photo collections, instructional books
― Kodansha announced on Friday it has entered into an agreement with book publisher Wani Books to acquire 100% of the shares, making Wani Books a wholly owned subsidiary of the company. Kodansha stated it hopes this collaboration will revitalize the market and address various issues in publishing and distribution. Wani...
TOHO to Acquire Anime Studio Science SARU as Its Subsidiary
Company acquires studio behind Lu over the wall, Inu-Oh, Scott Pilgrim anime, Tatami Time Machine Blues
― The entertainment company Toho announced on Thursday that its board of directors has decided to acquire all shares of the anime studio Science Saru, effective on June 19. Toho will then make Science Saru its consolidated subsidiary from the second quarter (June-August) of the fiscal year ending i...
Sony to Launch Academy to 'Nurture Anime Creators in Global Markets'
― Sony Group Corporation announced on Thursday during its annual corporate strategy presentation that it will launch an academy to develop talent to create anime. The academy will aim to "[nurture] anime creators in global markets, mainly by Aniplex and Crunchyroll with collaboration from across the industry." Aniplex is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan (SMEJ). Animation studios A-1 Pi...
Toho to Acquire Anime Studio Science SARU as Its Subsidiary
Company acquires studio behind Lu over the wall, Inu-Oh, Scott Pilgrim anime, Tatami Time Machine Blues
― The entertainment company Toho announced on Thursday that its board of directors has decided to acquire all shares of the anime studio Science Saru, effective on June 19. Toho will then make Science Saru its consolidated subsidiary from the second quarter (June-August) of the fiscal year ending i...
Key/Visual Arts Donates 14 Million Yen to Quake-Hit Noto Peninsula
Legendary game maker brings another tear to our eyes
― Key is arguably one of the greatest Japanese visual novel game makers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. With games like Kanon, Air, Clannad, and a plethora of others, the studio is known for blending the erotic with sad stories. In a new teary-eyed story, Key, with the help of its parent company, Visual Arts, is donating a massive sum of money f...
Ascendent Animation Wins Two Bronze Telly Awards
Company previously earned award in 2022
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Ascendent Animation won two bronze awards at the 45th Annual Telly Awards in New York City on Tuesday for its English dubbed anime Game World Reincarnation and I Want to Be His Prey. The company previously won a silver Telly Award in 2022 for the English dub of The Titan's Bride. The company released an English dub of Caressing My Hibernating Bear in partner...
Hollywood Reporter: Adam Wingard Will Not Return for Sequel to Godzilla x Kong Film
Writer-director parts amicably due to 'timing issues'
― The Hollywood Reporter reported on Tuesday that director Adam Wingard will not return for the sequel to Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment's Godzilla x Kong film series due to "timing issues." The report describes Wingard's departure as amicable, with the companies leaving the door open for a future return. Wingard is reportedly planning t...
Nintendo Enters Agreement with Embracer Group to Acquire Shiver Entertainment
Nintendo plans to secure resources for porting/developing software with Miami-based company
― Nintendo announced on Tuesday that it has entered into an agreement with Embracer Group AB to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Miami-based game developer Shiver Entertainment, Inc. and make it a wholly owned subsidiary. With Shiver, Nintendo plans to secure resources for porting and developing games...
Disney Japan Outsources Home Video Production Business to Happinet
Agreement affects Ghibli BDs, DVDs in Japan starting on October 1
― Happinet announced on May 13 that its subsidiary Happinet Media Marketing has signed a home entertainment license agreement with Walt Disney's Japanese arm to manufacture and sell Disney-branded Blu-ray Discs and DVDs in Japan, starting on October 1. In Japan, Disney has handled the home video releases for Studio Ghibli titles since ...
Bringing Anime to Southeast Asia: Interview with Medialink, Ani-One Co-Founder Lovinia Chiu
Chiu shares how she brought the SEA simulcast service to the forefront after founding it at 17 years old.
― Over the past six years, many streaming and simulcast services have catered to otaku in Asia, offering simulcasts of seasonal anime and theatrical anime screenings. One such service is Ani-One Asia, a Hong Kong-based Medialink Group brand that offers a competitive lineup of simulcasts every se...
Yen Press to Hire Marketing & Publicity Manager
― Yen Press has announced that it is looking to hire a Marketing & Publicity Manager. The full-time position is hybrid-remote, and will pay US$65,000 to US$75,000 per year. Skills required include four to five years of marketing and publicity experience in the publishing industry, experience pitching to media and press, and experience in managing social media accounts in a professional setting, amon...
Through the Lens Ent. Establishes Manga Development, Publishing Company Hoshi Studios With Offices in Singapore, Japan
Company enters distribution deal with Shogakukan Asia, plans to create manga with goal of turning them into TV anime, films
― Variety reported on Saturday that film studio Through the Lens Entertainment has established a manga development and publishing startup named Hoshi Studios situated in Singapore and Japan. The company has entered a distribution deal with Shogakukan Asia, the Southeast Asian su...
Penguin Random House Publisher Services, Tokyopop Enter Multi-Year Sales/Distribution Agreement
PRHPS to sell, distribute Tokyopop frontlist/backlist worldwide starting on January 1, 2025
― Penguin Random House Publisher Services (PRHPS), a division of Penguin Random House, announced on Wednesday that it has entered a a multi-year sales and distribution agreement with Tokyopop. PRHPS will sell and distribute the entire Tokyopop frontlist and backlist across all sales channels worldwide, startin...
Sony Interactive Entertainment Appoints 2 New CEOs Hideaki Nishino, Hermen Hulst
Nishino to lead Platform Business Group, Hulst to lead Studio Business Group
― Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced on Monday the appointment of Hideaki Nishino as CEO of SIE's Platform Business Group, and Hermen Hulst as CEO of SIE's Studio Business Group, effective on June 1. SIE's interim CEO Hiroki Totoki will continue his role as chairman of SIE, in addition to his role as president, c...
Mobile Suit Gundam Franchise Reaches Sales Record of 145.7 Billion Yen in 2024 Fiscal Year
Franchise hit 100-billion yen mark in 2022
― Bandai Namco Holdings released on Thursday its financial report for the fiscal year of 2024 (which ended on March 31), and reported that the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise earned a total of 145.7 billion yen (about US$934.78 million) during the year, setting an all-time highest sales record for the franchise. Bandai Namco Holdings forecasts that the frachise...
New Documentary Series Follows Manga Editors at Shogakukan
Go behind the scenes of manga editors' jobs
― Manga editing is not usually thought about all that much, as the profession is elusive to outsiders. The job isn't just about going through a draft and marking mistakes, but rather helping authors formulate and shape their stories. While there are snippets into manga editing with interviews from time to time, there haven't been many documentary about the ...
Nintendo Now Plans to Open Museum in Kyoto This Fall
Project first announced in 2021
― Nintendo reported on May 7 during its financial results briefing that the company will open its museum in Uji City, Kyoto in fall 2024. The company first announced its Nintendo Museum project in June 2021 under the tentative "Nintendo Gallery" name, and it originally scheduled the museum for completion on the former Nintendo Uji Ogura Plant site in March 2024. The pl...
K2 Pictures Video Production Company Establishes Film Fund With Creators Including MAPPA (Updated)
K2 Pictures aims to promote entry of investors into Japanese film industry with "K2P Film Fund I"
― The K2 Pictures movie and video works company announced on Friday that it is setting up the "K2P Film Fund I." The company plans to help promote the entry of new investors in Japan and overseas into the Japanese film industry and return the profits to creators. Film production is underway with creators...
Orange Inc. to Release e-Bookstore Service emaqi Featuring Manga This Summer
Service to use Orange Inc's AI-translation technology
― The AI localization company Orange Inc. announced on Monday that it will release an e-bookstore service titled "emaqi," which will launch in the United States this summer. The service will feature works translated using Orange Inc's technology, and will also include "recommendations, curations by manga influencers, and manga trailers." emaqi wil...
Kadokawa Establishes New Anime Studio Bellnox Films
New studio starts operations on July 1
― Kadokawa announced on Tuesday that it is establishing a new animation production studio called Bellnox Films this month, and the studio will formally start its operations on July 1. Koji Kajita, a former head of Gonzo and a founder and former president of David Production, is serving as the representative director and president of Bellnox Films. The new produc...
X/Twitter's Grok AI Incorrectly Says Chris Beveridge Directs Laid-Back Camp Anime's Dub
A generative AI chatbot getting information wrong? Never would have guessed...
― Generative AI is all the rage right now, from Chat GPT and Copilot's for written material and Stable Diffusion and DALL-E for artwork. While these tools can create a template to work off, they are by no means reliable, especially when it comes to written material. X's (formerly Twitter) generative AI program, Grok, shows...
Crunchyroll Increases Subscription Prices for Mega Fan/Ultimate Fan Tiers
Price increases to US$11.99 for Mega Fan, US$15.99 for Ultimate Fan
― Crunchyroll announced on Wednesday that it has increased the prices for its Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan tiers in the U.S., Argentina, Colombia, France, Portugal, and select additional countries. In the U.S., the company is increasing the Mega Fan price from US$9.99 to US$11.99 per month and the Ultimate Fan tier from US$14.99 to US$1...
Dahlia in Bloom Staff, Ekachi Epilka Studio Respond to Report Claiming N. Korean Animators Worked on Anime
Dahlia in Bloom staff state they are investigating the situation
― The official X/Twitter account for the Dahlia in Bloom: Crafting a Fresh Start With Magical Tools anime and the official website for the Hokkaido-based anime studio Ekachi Epilka have both released statements, after the 38 North website posted a report on Monday claiming that North Korean animators worked on Dahlia in Bloom and an unn...
FCC Reinstates Net Neutrality in 3-2 Vote
Ruling reinstates net neutrality regulations, overturning 2017 decision
― The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted on April 25 to reinstate net neutrality regulations, which block service providers such as Comcast, AT&T, Verizon from stratifying the internet with preferred traffic. The commission voted 3-2 along party lines. During former U.S. President Donald Trump's government in 201...
pixiv Japanese Art Platform Blocks Adult Content in U.S., U.K.
New change to terms of use came into effect on April 25
― Japanese art platform Pixiv announced on April 22 that users in the United States and United Kingdom will no longer be able to post adult content per its new Terms of Use in compliance with regional laws from April 25. The new terms explicitly ban the posting of "obscene" and "lewd" material, as well as art depicting the exploitation of minor...
Shueisha Runs AI-Translated Global Manga Community Site for 1 Month Only
Service allows Shonen Jump fans from around the world to connect via machine translation
― There is no doubt manga's popularity has grown over the past several decades. With that growth have come fandoms around the world. While online forums exist for these fans to interact, fans may have to create their little islands due to the language barrier. However, Japanese manga publisher Shueisha is trying ...
Japan's Animation Home Video Sales Decrease Again by 8% in 2023
Japanese home video sales down 0.4% from 2022
― The Japan Video Software Association (JVA) released this month its report on home video sales from January to December 2023. The home video sales for animation, including anime and overseas animated titles, amounted to 26.8 billion yen (about US$173 million), down 8% from last year's 29.2 billion yen (about US$189 million). This is the second year in a ...
Former MAPPA Executive Establishes New Anime Planning Company
Makoto Kimura's Blue Rights to produce TV anime, films, manga, novels, more
― Executive director, rights management director, and producer of studio MAPPA Makoto Kimura announced earlier this month that he has retired from his position at MAPPA at the end of March to establish the new anime planning company Blue Rights. Blue Rights will produce televised and theatrical anime, as well a range of enter...
Embracer Group Reveals Plans to Split into 3 Companies
New "Middle-earth Enterprises & Friends" company to own Dark Horse, PLAION Pictures
― Gaming conglomerate Embracer Group announced on Monday it is planning to split into three companies: Asmodee Group, Coffee Stain & Friends, and Middle-earth Enterprises & Friends. The companies will be separate, publicly listed companies. Embracer Group stated the change will "[enable] each entity to better focus on...
Beckett Collectibles Now Grades Manga
Grading process takes 10-30 business days
― Beckett Collectibles announced on January 10 that the grading and authentication company will now expand its services into the world of manga. The official page for the company describes manga grading: Manga grading is the process of judging the condition and authenticity of manga publications, from Dragon Ball Z and One Piece to Demon Slayer and beyond. Th...
Netflix Adds 9.3 Million Subscribers in 1st Quarter 2024, Co-CEO States Password-Sharing Policy Has Not Harmed Viewership
Company to stop reporting on subscriber totals in 2025
― Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters stated on Thursday that the company's viewership data from both before and after Netflix implemented its password-sharing regulations showed the policy has not turned viewers away. Netflix also announced on Thursday it added 9.3 million subscribers in the quarter ending on March 31, reaching 269.6 million subscribers ...
CyberAgent Reveals Guidelines for In-House Creators Using Generative AI for Art
Guidelines aim to avoid copyright violations
― CyberAgent revealed on April 3 that it has created in-house guidelines for its creators for using generative AI/large language models for images, aimed at avoiding violations of copyright law and highlighting that current generative AI cannot produce a usable end product as-is. The guidelines stress that creators should not enter personal or confidential...
Disney CEO Bob Iger States Company Will Roll Out Password-Sharing Restrictions on Disney+ in June
― Disney CEO Bob Iger stated on Friday in an interview with CNBC that the company plans to roll out its password-sharing enforcement program for its streaming service Disney+ in June. Iger stated the rollout will initially start in "just a few countries in a few markets," and will "grow significantly with a full rollout in September." Iger had announced last August that Disney had planned to restric...
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