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Egg Firm Anime Planning Company Becomes Subsidiary of Aniplex
Company founded in 2015
― Animation production and planning company Egg Firm announced on Monday that Aniplex has acquired the company, making Egg Firm a wholly owned subsidiary of Aniplex. The announcement noted that Egg Firm's primary business will not change.Former Genco producer Nobuhiro Osawa (Sword Art Online, Prison School, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? chief producer) foun...
Major Manga, Manhwa Pirate Site Bato.to Shuts Down; Chinese Man Suspected as Operator Detained
Chinese, Japanese agencies worked together to file complaints that led to man's detention; man allegedly admits to operating 60 related sites
― Japan's Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), an organization that aims to reduce worldwide piracy and actively promote the international distribution of Japanese content, revealed on Thursday its involvement in the detention of a man who was the ...
Korean Court Upholds Prison Sentence for Operator Behind Major Webtoon Piracy Site OKTOON
4.5-year prison sentence handed down by appellate court has been upheld
― South Korea's Supreme Court has finalized a prison sentence for the operator behind some of the country's largest illegal content distribution sites, including the notorious webtoon piracy platform OKTOON, marking a significant legal milestone in the fight against webtoon copyright infringement. According to Korean news agency...
Keiji Inafune's comcept Game Company Announces Dissolution
Level5 comcept was already dissolved in May 2025 following founder Keiji Inafune's departure
― The January 29 issue of the Japanese government's Kanpo gazette revealed the comcept video game development company has been dissolved, after a January 13 general shareholder's meeting made the decision.Level-5 already dissolved the company's successor, LEVEL5 comcept, in May 2025, following founder Keiji I...
BookWalker Global Service Launches New Global English Store, LCP DRM System in February
New website acts as dedicated English content hub
―
Kadokawa's BookWalker Global store announced on Tuesday that its new rebuilt website, app, and reader will launch in February. The company also announced it will introduce a new Lightweight Content Protection (LCP) DRM system, which will allow users to access purchases through LCP-compatible reading apps outside of BookWalker. All English-language ...
Netflix to Use Toho's New Studio for Up to 15 Productions a Year
Netflix to begin using studio in 2028
― Netflix announced during its "Next on Netflix" event in Tokyo on Tuesday that it will begin using Toho's newly established studio starting in 2028, with up to 15 productions planned every year. The agreement is part of Netflix's ongoing collaboration with Toho. Netflix also unveiled its slate of upcoming Japanese titles, including Human Vapor, a remake of the 1...
WEBTOON Entertainment Denies IPO Misrepresentation Claims in U.S. Court Filing
Case now enters substantive phase focused on factual disputes, liability
― WEBTOON Entertainment has formally denied allegations that it misrepresented its business conditions during its Nasdaq initial public offering, according to a court filing submitted in the United States. According to Korean business news outlet Seoul Economy, the response, filed on January 9 with the U.S. District Court for t...
Manga Creator Go Nagai to be Inducted into Eisner 2026 Hall of Fame
Mazinger Z, Cutie Honey, Devilman creator among 19 Judges Choice honorees
― The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards announced on Thursday the 19 Judges Choice honorees who be inducted into the 2026 Hall of Fame, including manga creator Go Nagai. The committee who chose the inductees includes: Michael T. Gilbert, Karen Green, Alonso Nuñez, Diana Schutz, Jim Thompson, and Maggie Thompson. The other 18 in...
South Korea's New AI Law Raises Questions for Webtoon Creators, Platforms
Under new law, companies that develop, provide AI models, services must clearly disclose AI-generated content
― South Korea on Thursday introduced what it claims is the world's first comprehensive set of laws regulating AI with the "AI Basic Act." The landmark law is aimed at promoting the development of artificial intelligence while introducing safeguards for transparency and safety. While the gove...
Netflix, MAPPA Strengthen Partnership to Co-Develop, Exclusively Stream Original Titles
Future MAPPA titles to stream exclusively, simultaneously on Netflix globally
― Netflix announced on Wednesday that it has formed a new strategic partnership with anime studio MAPPA. The new partnership makes Netflix the exclusive streamer for a number of future original anime titles from MAPPA, and allows the two companies to work together on these new projects in a more comprehensive way "from stor...
Japan Fair Trade Commission Releases Report Highlighting Transactional, Contractual Issues in Anime Industry
Issues found with power imbalances in contract negotiations, low compensation, order cancellations
― The Japan Fair Trade Commission published on December 24 its results of a survey it conducted into the business environments for the anime and film industries. For anime, the Japan FTC studied the transactions between production companies and primary contractors, between primary contractors and subcon...
KOCCA Unveils 2026 Talent Roadmap to Train Webtoon Creators With AI as Major Focus
KOCCA will run dedicated tracks for webtoon producers, emerging creators to train around 140 webtoon professionals
― Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) announced on January 12 a 2026 talent development roadmap aimed at strengthening the global competitiveness of Korean content, with webtoons and AI-driven creation as key priorities. Under th...
Netflix Announces Deal to Stream Sony Pictures' Films Following Theatrical Screenings
Live-action The Legend of Zelda film to stream on Netflix under new deal
― Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment announced on Thursday that they have reached a multiyear Pay-1 agreement for Netflix to exclusively stream Sony Pictures' films worldwide after their theatrical screenings and home video releases for the first 18 months. The change will take place gradually starting later this year, and ...
TBS, Legendary Entertainment Enter Into Business Alliance to Co-Produce Japanese IP
TBS acquires minority stake in Legendary for US$150 million
― Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) Holdings, the parent company of the Japanese television network TBS, announced on Friday that it has entered into a capital and business alliance agreement with Legendary Entertainment, with TBS investing US$150 million into Legendary by acquiring a minority stake in Legendary.The agreement aims to allow joi...
A Tour of World Masterpiece Theater's Historic Nippon Animation Studio
Now 50 years on, the studio that fostered talents like Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and brought to life Anne of Green Gables, Future Boy Conan, and CHIBI MARUKO-CHAN opened its doors to offer Anime News Network a tour through where the magic is made.
― About an hour's train ride outside of Tokyo, nestled in a quiet neighborhood in Tama City lays one of the anime industry's most storied studios: ...
Publisher TO Books to List on Tokyo Stock Exchange
Light novel/manga publisher to list on stock exchange on February 13
― Japanese light novels and manga publisher TO Books announced last Friday that it has receive approval to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, starting on February 13. The company is offering 486,700 shares of common stock both inside and outside of Japan. The company's Board of Directors will determine the shares' prices on February ...
Manga Research Company Comici Launches English Manga Platform
comici Manga offers titles from Bushiroad Works, Nihon Sha, Ohzora, Publishing, Fusosha
― Manga data science researcher Comici announced the launch of its global manga platform comici Manga on Thursday. The platform is an extension of its pre-existing Japanese ComiMaga platform, which offers titles from various publishers and titles from its Comic+ web magazine. comici Manga is available through web ...
GungHo Online Appoints New CEO Kazuya Sakai, Current CEO Kazuki Morishita Steps Down
Kazumasa Takayama will replace Sakai as CFO on February 1
― GungHo Online Entertainment announced on Friday that its CEO, President, and Representative Director Kazuki Morishita is stepping down from his position on February 1. Current CFO, Director, and Executive General Manager of Finance Accounting Division Kazuya Sakai will become the new CEO, President, and Representative Director on the same da...
Disney, WEBTOON Move Forward With New Digital Comics Platform
With agreements finalized, WEBTOON will proceed with building, operating platform
― The Walt Disney Company and WEBTOON Entertainment announced on Thursday they completed their previously announced strategic agreements, which includes Disney's approximately 2% equity investment in WEBTOON Entertainment and the plans to launch a new digital comics platform. With the agreements finalized, WEBTOON will...
TMS Entertainment Forms Partnership with Taiwan's R. Animation
Studios to collaborate on production, share production knowledge, techniques
― Japanese anime production company TMS Entertainment announced on Thursday that it has established a business partnership with Taiwanese animation studio R. Animation. The partnership is aimed at having both studios collaborate on anime production, as well as to share production knowledge and techniques.TMS Entertainment sa...
Game Developer Granzella, 2 Affiliates Referred to Prosecutors for Allegedly Unpaid Employee Wages
Company allegedly failed to pay approximate total of 18.41 million yen worth of wages
― MRO Hokuriku Broadcasting reported on Tuesday that the Kanazawa Labor Standards Inspection Office has referred the Kanazawa-based game development company Granzella and its affiliates Gakuten Games and R Studio to prosecutors, after they had allegedly failed to pay employees nine months' worth of wages, for an app...
Toho, Good Smile Company Establish Joint Company for Goods, Promotional Work
Name of new venture is To-Smile
― Otaku merchandise and figure company Good Smile Company and media and entertainment company Toho established the joint company To-Smile on December 9. The new company will plan, develop, produce, sell, and promote toys, goods, and merchandise for the two companies. To-Smile plans to sell goods in Toho Cinemas in Japan, as well as overseas, focused on North America an...
WEBTOON Expands Creator Programs
Company also launches residency initiative in 2026
― WEBTOON announced plans on December 11 to significantly expand its Creator Programs in 2026, introducing new monetization options, educational initiatives, and in-person support designed to help creators build long-term careers on the platform. The expanded programs will roll out throughout 2026 and include improved monetization tools for CANVAS c...
Korea's Internet Self-Regulatory Body Introduces New Guidelines for Webtoons, Web Novels
Guidelines outline standards, review procedures for identifying hate speech, inappropriate expressions within narrative content
― The Korea Internet Self-Governance Organization (KISO) announced on December 12 that it has established new self-regulatory guidelines for story-based digital content, including webtoons and web novels. KISO is a non-governmental, industry-led self-regulatory body compris...
Toho Acquires UK's Anime Limited, Establishes European HQ in London
Toho will retain "full Anime Limited staff" including founder, managing director Andrew Partridge
― UK-based anime distribution company Anime Limited announced on Friday that Toho has acquired a 100% equity share of the company from PLAION PICTURES. Anime Limited will become a subsidiary of Toho Global, which is Toho's subsidiary overseeing overseas business. Toho also plans to establish a European r...
Creek & River's C&R Creative Studios Company Establishes Anime Team, Collaborates with AI Animation Company
New creative team to begin producing anime
― Creative company Creek & River announced on Wednesday that its C&R Creative Studios subsidiary has established a specialized anime team, and will begin collaborating with Tokyo-based AI animation company Puri Prince to begin producing anime by offering their services to other companies and organizations.C&R Creative Studios has previously done work for vi...
Warner Bros. Discovery Rejects Paramount's Hostile Takeover Bid
Warner Bros. Discovery decides Paramount's "offer's value is inadequate, with significant risks and costs"
― Entertainment news source The Hollywood Reporter reported on Wednesday that the Board of Directors of Warner Bros. Discovery has rejected Paramount's hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Warner Bros. Discovery's Board decided that Paramount's "offer's value is inadequate, with sign...
Diamond Comics Files for 'Liquidation' Bankruptcy
Company changes previously filed chapter 11 to chapter 7 bankruptcy
― Media news website ICv2 reported on Sunday that Diamond Comic Distributors filed a new motion on Friday to change from the previously filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy to Chapter 7. This change requires the company to liquidate assets to repay debtors, as opposed to reorganizing its debts, which may allow businesses to return to operatio...
BookWalker Global Service Announces Update With Rebuilt Website, App, Reader
Users' previous purchases transfer to new library
― Kadokawa's BookWalker Global store announced on Tuesday that it is getting a big update with a new rebuilt website, app, and reader. Users' previous purchases will transfer to the new library, but they may need to set set up a new login. Additional performance improvements and features will roll out in the future. BookWalker CEO Samuel Pinansky will...
Anime Studio Gainax Formally Dissolved After Bankruptcy Concludes
Co-Founder Hideaki Anno: Rights to studio's works have been transferred to "rightful owners"
― Anime director Hideaki Anno announced on the website of his studio Khara on Thursday that the anime studio Gainax's bankruptcy proceedings have concluded, and that Gainax has officially and legally been dissolved as of Thursday, December 10. Anno noted that all of the rights to Gainax's works, deliverables,...
Crunchyroll Halts Ad-Supported Streaming on December 31
Certain anime streaming for free included Cowboy Bebop, Spy×Family, Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia
― Crunchyroll revealed in an advertisement during its own free streams that it is halting free ad-supported streaming on its service on December 31. The company's subscription tiers and other ad-supported streaming channels are unaffected. Only certain titles were available for ad-supported streaming wi...
Ablaze Publishing Enters Worldwide Distribution Agreement With Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster to handle sales, global distribution of Ablaze's books, effective February 1
― Ablaze Publishing announced on Tuesday that it has entered into a worldwide distribution agreement with publishing business Simon & Schuster, effective February 1, 2026. Simon & Schuster will handle sales, fulfillment, logistics and global distribution of Ablaze's physical books. Ablaze was founded in 2019...
UAE Investment Firm UCI Invests in Developer KLab
Company plans to leverage capital mostly on acquiring Bitcoin, other crypto assets
― Japanese game developer KLab Inc. announced last Friday that the company has entered into a capital and business alliance with Ultimate Classic Investment (UCI), a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based investment firm whose investors include members of the UAE royal family. UCI has acquired shares of KLab through third pa...
Paramount Makes Hostile Takeover Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
Netflix had entered agreement to acquire Warner Bros. on Friday
― CNN reported on Monday that Paramount has made a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, three days after Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery entered into a definitive agreement for Netflix to acquire Warner Bros., its film studios, its television studios, HBO, and HBO Max. Paramount is offering US$30 per Warner Bros. Discovery...
Netflix Enters Agreement to Acquire Warner Bros., HBO, HBO Max
Deal to close in around 12-18 months following Warner Bros. Discovery's split
― Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery announced on Friday that they have entered into a definitive agreement for Netflix to acquire Warner Bros., its film studios, its television studios, HBO, and HBO Max. The deal will close after Warner Bros. Discovery's previously announced split into two separate publicly traded companie...
Amazon Streamed AI English Dubs on Banana Fish, 'No Game, No Life Zero,' Pet Anime (Updated)
Voice actors speak out against AI dubs, Kadokawa & HIDIVE respond
― Amazon Prime Video's streams of the Banana Fish anime and No Game, No Life Zero anime previously listed "AI beta" dubs for its English and Latin American Spanish dubs. The company's streams of the Pet anime and Journal of the Mysterious Creatures anime were also listing the English and Latin American Spanish dubs as "AI beta" dubs. T...
Crunchyroll Launches on Whale Smart TVs
Streamer available through Whale TV app store
― Crunchyroll announced on Tuesday that its streaming service is now available on Whale TV-enabled smart televisions. Whale TV owners can add Crunchyroll to the OS through the TV's app store.Crunchyroll launched its app on Samsung smart televisions in 2024.
The company launched a 24/7 free ad-supported Crunchyroll Channel on the Samsung TV Plus service in...
WEBTOON Ent. Reports Revenue Increase But Net Loss in 3rd Quarter
Monthly active users rise in Japan but decline in Korea, rest of world
― WEBTOON Entertainment posted higher revenue but swung to a loss in the third quarter of 2025, as slowing user numbers in Korea and other global markets weighed on the company despite strong performance in Japan and continued growth in its IP adaptation business. According to the company's most recent filing and shareholder lett...
KOCCA Expands Support for Webtoon-Based Games
Google Play supports overseas marketing, platform promotion; Naver Webtoon provides IP
― The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) outlined the achievements of the second phase of the Global Webtoon Games program and discussed plans for a third phase during G-STAR 2025 at BEXCO in Busan on November 14. The initiative, run in partnership with Google Pla...
Korean Appeals Court Sentences Operator Behind NunuTV, OKToon Piracy Sites to 4.5 Years in Prison
Appeals court serves harsher sentence than initial 3-year term issued by lower court
― The Daejeon High Court's Criminal Appeals Division on November 13 sentenced the operator behind the illegal streaming site NunuTV and the webtoon piracy site OKToon to four years and six months in prison for copyright infringement. The sentence was harsher than the initial three-year term issued by a lower court i...
Shueisha, Kodansha, Shogakukan, Kadokawa Win Copyright Suit Against Cloudflare
Cloudflare ordered to pay about 500 million yen/US$3 million in damages
― The Tokyo District Court has ruled on Wednesday that American internet infrastructure company Cloudflare is liable for damages in a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Japanese publishers Shueisha, Kodansha, Shogakukan, and Kadokawa in 2022.The ruling recognized about 3.6 billion yen (about US$24 million) in damages to the ...
Pursuing a Unified Vision at FLAT STUDIO: Director loundraw and Producer Ryu Ishii
Founding a new studio is never easy - loundraw , an illustrator and the founder of FLAT STUDIO , and FLAT STUDIO producer Ryū Ishii sat down with ANN to share how they managed during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
― Founding a new studio is never easy—even without all of the logistics involved, there's pressure to prove that a new venture is worthwhile, that it can produce quality work, and that...
Young King Ours GH Magazine Ends, With Manga Moving to New Site
New website COMIC Y-OURs launches in January 2026
― The January 2026 issue of Shonengahosha's Young King Ours GH magazine announced on Monday that the magazine will cease publication, with the January 2026 issue being the magazine's last issue. The manga in the magazine will gradually move to a planned new website titled COMIC Y-OURs that will launch on January 13. The first manga to move to the site...
CyberAgent to Appoint Takahiro Yamauchi as New President After Founder Susumu Fujita Steps Down
CyberAgent also records extraordinary loss of 727 million yen from Konami settlement over Uma Musume
― Advertising and media company CyberAgent announced last Friday that its current representative director, president, and co-founder Susumu Fujita will step down as president, and that it will appoint senior managing executive officer Takahiro Yamauchi as president. The appointment is set to be formal...
Korean Government to Conduct Industry-Wide Survey on Webtoons
Survey covers 7 areas, 61 indicators including company revenues, workforce data, overseas expansion, more
― According to the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and industry sources on November 9, the Webtoon Industry Status Survey recently received approval from the Ministry of Data and Statistics, marking the first time that data on the webtoon industry will be managed as part of the government'...
AlphaPolis to Release English Manga in Print Beginning in June 2026
1st 3 volumes of May I Ask for One Final Thing?, Possibly the Greatest Alchemist of All Time, A Gatherer's Adventure in Isekai get print releases
― Japanese publisher AlphaPolis confirmed with ANN that it will begin publishing some English-language manga titles from its Alpha Manga service in print, beginning June next year with three volumes from three manga titles. AlphaPolis told ANN it hopes the...
Digital Manga Publisher Azuki Changes Name to Omoi
Company states no changes in service's catalog, payment model, price
― Digital manga publisher Azuki announced on Thursday that it will change its name to Omoi. The company explains that the word omoi means "thought" or "feeling" in Japanese. Omoi represents the thoughtfulness and care that the company has put into its manga releases and app experience over the past four years. The company stated tha...
PlayStation 5 Gets Japan-Language-Only Digital Edition
New model will release on November 21, will be cheaper than multi-language Digital Edition at 55,000 yen
― Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced on Wednesday that it will release a new model for the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition in Japan that will only have Japanese language support. The new model will launch in Japan on November 21, and will be cheaper than the multi-language Digital Editio...
Teikoku Databank: 8 Anime Studios Closed From January to September
2 companies closed due to bankruptcy, 6 companies either suspended operations, had been dissolved
― The financial research firm Teikoku Databank published a report on November 5 noting that eight anime production companies have exited the market due to either bankruptcy or closure between January and September this year. Two anime production companies had gone bankrupt with debts of over 10 million y...
Answerman - Conventions and Nostalgia
How much of a role does nostalgia play in conventions? Answerman sorts it out.
― A Reader asks: Q: "I have been a long-time fan of attending anime conventions in the USA and enjoy going to panels, both professional as well as fan-driven. As I have gotten older, I have noticed an unusual trend with fan panels, which make up a good portion of the content, especially at small and mid-sized events. That...
Comic Valkyrie Digital Magazine Ends Publication
Magazine's publication ends in December; manga titles to move to KimiComi website
― The 149th issue of Kill Time Communication's Comic Valkyrie digital manga magazine announced on Monday that the magazine will end its regular publication with its 150th issue, which Kill Time Communication will release in December. Ongoing manga series in the magazine will move and continue on Kill Time Communication'...
Square Enix Confirms Layoffs, Restructuring in N. American, European Publishing Operations
Reports state more than 100 workers in U.S., UK could be impacted
― In a presentation on Thursday on its earnings for the six-month period ending on September 30, 2025, Square Enix disclosed to investors that the company will be laying off employees in its North American and European publishing operations as part of restructuring of its overseas organizations. The restructuring will involve closing o...
Does the Light Novel Translation Process Need AI?
As machine translation tools under the banner of AI become increasingly accessible and easy to use, the light novel landscape is at a crossroads. Do light novel publishers compromise their product for more speed, and if so, by how much?
― Tristan “Arkada” Gallant was hooked on Ascendance of a Bookworm, an isekai light novel series that is currently being translated by J-Novel Club. But when Part 5 Vo...
Cygames, Konami Settle Lawsuit Over Uma Musume Pretty Derby Game
Terms of settlement not disclosed due to confidentiality agreement
― Cygames announced on Friday that it has settled a lawsuit with Konami Digital Entertainment regarding Cygames' Uma Musume Pretty Derby game. Cygames stated it will not disclose the terms of the settlement due to a confidentiality agreement. Konami filed a lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court against Cygames in March 2023. According t...
Otaku USA Magazine Goes on Hiatus Before Switching to 2 Issues a Year
Magazine had not updated website, social media for about 2 months
― ANN reached out to Otaku USA Magazine to check on its status since its website has not had any new articles since September 2, and it has suddenly been absent on social media for about two months. The company's customer service gave the following reply, revealing that Otaku USA Magazine is on a temporary hiatus as it is changing its ...
Webtoon Platform KTOON to End Service on December 31
Platform's 12-year run ends as competition in Korean webtoon industry continues to intensify
― KTOON, a Korean webtoon platform that launched in 2013 under the name Olleh Market Webtoon, will officially end its service on December 31, 2025. The company announced that the decision was made due to changes in the business environment. Starting November 1, new user registration and Berry (in-app currenc...
Capcom Publishes Guidelines for Derivative Works
Capcom clarifies stance toward which types of works are allowed
― Capcom announced new guidelines for fan-created derivative works based on the company's intellectual properties on Tuesday. The new policy clarifies the company's stance towards specific types of derivative works. Creators of derivative works do not need to ask Capcom for permission, so long as the derivative works follows the guidelin...
Kodansha Establishes Studio in Hollywood With Award-Winning Director Chloe Zhao
Kodansha Studios to produce live-action film, TV adaptations of Japanese manga, novels for global audience
― Publishing company Kodansha announced on Tuesday that it has established Kodansha Studios in Hollywood with award-winning Chinese director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) and film producer Nicolas Gonda. Zhao is serving as the new company's chief creative officer, and Gonda as president and chief opera...
Hackers Claim Breach of Senior Employee Account at Viz Media
Alleged hack claims to have stolen 250GB of data including e-mails, NDAs, employee credentials & personal info
― The CyberNews cybersecurity news website reported on October 30 that hackers claimed to have stolen more than 250GB of corporate data from a vice-president at U.S. manga publisher Viz Media. CyberNews stated the hackers announced the alleged hack on an "underground data leak forum that's o...
Russia Bans Access to MyAnimeList Website
Ban related to LGBTQ+ content deemed "unlawful" for Russia
― The Russia-based news website The Moscow Times reported last Tuesday that Russia has banned anime database website MyAnimeList due to "extremist" LGBTQ+ content. Roskomnadzor, the Russian federal agency that oversees mass media in Russia, put MyAnimeList on the national blacklist of sites citing "systematic placement of materials containing...
18 Anime, Manga Companies Publish Joint Statement Criticizing Use of Generative AI With Sora2 Program (Updated)
Kodansha, Kadokawa, Shogakukan, Square Enix, more assert case for copyright infringement
― Eighteen Japanese companies published a joint statement on Friday criticizing the use of OpenAI's Sora2 AI video-audio generation system. Along with the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) and its member companies including Studio Ghibli, they have determined that Sora2 is producing content resembl...
Crunchyroll Launches Free Ad-Supported 24/7 Anime Channel on Samsung TV Plus
Anime airs dubbed/subbed 24/7 on 2017-2025 Samsung smart TVs
― Crunchyroll announced on Wednesday that it has launched a 24/7 Crunchyroll Channel on the Samsung TV Plus service. The free ad-supported channel is available on 2017–2025 Samsung smart televisions The channel airs anime all day from the company's catalog; such as Yu Yu Hakusho, Assassination Classroom, Black Clover, To Your Eternity, The ...
WEBTOON to Shut Down its Fan Translation Service in November
Company cites growing difficulty of maintaining, evolving service for shutdown
― WEBTOON Entertainment announced on September 25 that it will officially discontinue its Fan Translation Service on November 26 PDT, ending support for the community-based platform that allowed fans to translate webtoons into multiple languages. According to WEBTOON, the decision was made after “careful consideration,” c...
Crunchyroll Launches In-Flight Entertainment Anime on Delta in Early November
Delta SkyMiles Members can access 24-hour free trial to Crunchyroll
― Crunchyroll announced on Thursday that it will begin offering "specially curated" anime on Delta flights as in-flight entertainment on seatback screens in early November. The company stated that more than 50,000 episodes will be available from over 2,000 titles, including Black Clover, My Roommate is a Cat, Horimiya, Fruits Basket,...
P.A. Works Marks 25th Anniversary with Animated Music Video
"Run Run Lantern" short commemorates past projects
― P.A. Works released a special animated video celebrating the studio's past projects on Wednesday to commemorate the studio's 25th anniversary.The short features the song "Run Run Lantern" by Eiko Shimamiya. The staff for the music video includes:Planning: Kenji HorikawaCharacter concept design: Tomomi TakadaStory composition, storyboard direction, ...
Warner Bros. Discovery Evaluates Possible Sale of Company
Company also evaluates separate sales of Warner Bros., Discovery Global businesses
― Entertainment conglomerate Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed on Tuesday that it is evaluating the possible acquisition of the whole company, or separate acquisitions for its Warner Bros. and Discovery Global businesses, as part of "a review of strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value" initiated by the comp...
Adores Sunshine Game Center in Ikebukuro Closes After 4 Decades
Game center closes on January 18, 2026
― The official website of Wide Leisure's Adores Sunshine game center in Ikebukuro announced on October 14 that it will close "due to various circumstances" after 40 years. The center's last business day will be on January 18, 2026. The nearby Adores Wako store and Adores Shibuya game center will continue to operate.The game center is a three-minute walk from the...
HBO Max Increases Monthly Subscriber Price Again
Ad-free plan rises from US$16.99 to US$18.49 on Tuesday
― The HBO Max streaming service revealed on Tuesday that it has increased the monthly price for the basic plan with ads from US$9.99 to US$10.99 per month, the ad-free plan from US$16.99 to US$18.49, and the premium plan from US$20.99 to US$22.99, effective immediately. The yearly plans have risen from US$109.99, US$184.99, and US$229.99, respec...
Bushiroad Acquires More of Sanzigen Studio
Bushiroad now owns 14.4% of studio
― Bushiroad announced last Friday that it has acquired more shares of SANZIGEN Animation Studio through a third-party allocation, with Bushiroad now owning 14.4% of the studio's shares. The companies did not disclose the shares' underwritten value. The company's ownership is split between studio president Hiroaki Matsuura, the Ultra Super Pictures holding company, a...
Nintendo: 'No Personal, Development, Business Info' Retrieved in Reported Data Hack
Hacking group Crimson Collective claimed it had breached Nintendo, stole assets last week
― Nintendo, in a reply to the Sankei Shimbun newspaper regarding an alleged data breach performed by a hacking group last week, confirmed the hack. However, the company noted that it has not confirmed that the hack retrieved any personal information, or any game development or business information. The Hackmanac...
Bandai Namco Filmworks, Sotsu Reorganize to Combine Gundam Units
Reorganization aims to streamline overlapping Gundam-related businesses between 2 companies
― Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. announced on October 7 that it has begun preparations for an organizational restructure of its anime-related businesses, specifically with Bandai Namco Filmworks and Sotsu Co., Ltd., to streamline overlapping Gundam-related and other businesses (anime planning, production, copyrigh...
Sponsors Remain for Fuji TV's Autumn Anime Season
Fuji TV sees gains in corporate sponsors after nearly 8 months
― ANN's Japan-based staff confirmed the return of sponsors to Fuji TV with the full-fledged start of the autumn season for anime, as of Tuesday. Fuji TV is airing eight regular animated series: Let's Play, the second season of Assassination Classroom (rerun), Shabake, Digimon Beatbreak, SI-VIS: The Sound of Heroes, Chibi Maruko-chan, Saz...
Japan's Denny's Restaurants, Other Businesses Pull Hisashi Eguchi Art After Tracing Accusations
Perfect Blue/Sonny Boy designer said he received model's consent after ads debuted
― The Denny's restaurant chain in Japan, the Ogikubo location of the shopping complex chain Lumine, and the Saison Card credit card service announced earlier this week that they have stopped using advertising illustrations by manga creator Hisashi Eguchi (Eiji, Stop!! Hibari-kun!, character designs on Roujin Z, Perfect...
Crunchyroll Cites Internal System Problems Regarding Subtitles for Fall 2025 Anime
Crunchyroll: "[Issues were] not [caused] by any change in how we create subtitles, use of new vendors or AI."
― Some of Crunchyroll's subtitles for new anime from the fall 2025 season have changed in terms of typesetting, font, and size. Continuing anime do not appear to be affected. ANN reached out to Crunchyroll regarding its subtitles, and a spokeperson responded with the following statement:
Over...
Konami Signs Publishing Deals With Random House, Panini Group for Yu-Gi-Oh! Books
Random House to release titles in U.S., Canada; Panini to publish books in Europe, Central/South America
― Konami Cross Media NY, Inc. announced on Tuesday that it has signed publishing deals with Random House Children's Books and Panini Group for the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise. The former will release titles in the U.S. and Canada, including various territories and military bases. The latter will publish t...
Korean Gov't Official: Webtoon Piracy Cases Surge Eightfold in 4 Years, but 91% of Takedown Requests Fail
Webtoon category now accounts for 77% of all content-related takedown requests
― Takedown requests of unauthorized overseas distribution of Korean webtoons has risen nearly eightfold from 48,452 cases in 2020 to 393,038 in 2024, according to data released on October 1 by Rep. Sol Son of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee. Despite the surge in enforcement efforts by the Ko...
Crunchyroll, AnimeJapan Partner to Offer New Award to Develop Young Anime Creators
Short film competition for animation students in Japan is aimed at discovery of new talent
― Streaming service Crunchyroll and the AnimeJapan event announced on Wednesday they are partnering to launch the New Creator Awards in Japan. The competition is aimed at nurturing and supporting the discovery of new anime creative talent. The competition is open to students in the field of animation, and short...
Kakao Entertainment Rolls Out Free AI Short-Form Video Tool for Webtoon Creators
Technology automatically selects key webtoon scenes, transforms them into short clips of around 40 seconds
― Kakao Entertainment has launched a new artificial intelligence tool that allows webtoon creators to convert their comics into short-form videos. The company announced on October 1 that, since September 29, it has been offering the “Helix Shorts AI Agent” to creators free of charge. The techno...
Naver Webtoon Launches US$70,000 Monthly Reward Program for Short-Form Video Feature 'Cuts'
Naver Webtoon to roll out "Cuts Fund Share" program starting in November
― Naver Webtoon announced on October 2 that it will offer creators a total of approximately US$70,000 (100 million won) in monthly rewards to boost its new short-form animation service, Cuts. The initiative was unveiled at the “Cuts Creators Day” event held at Naver's Green Factory headquarters in Seongnam on October 1. Around ...
New English Publisher Crossed Hearts Reveals 3 Manhwa Licenses, License of Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion Novels
New Japanese manga, Korean webcomics, Asian novels publisher plans to debut 30+ series in 2026
― Crossed Hearts, a new California-based global English publisher, has announced the worldwide English-language print launches of three Korean manhwa titles: Baroness Goes on Strike, From a Knight to a Lady, and The Archduke's Adopted Saint. Each series will debut in premium full-color print editions with b...
Manga Planet Shuts Down Digital Platform on March 31
Manga Planet to shift focus to print releases
― Manga Planet announced on Wednesday that it is closing its digital service on March 31, 2026 due to "various circumstances like recent restrictions from payment processors and the changing online landscape." Manga Planet will shift focus to its print releases through its label and futekiya imprints. Starting on October 31, Manga Planet will no longer of...
CyberAgent Establishes Anime Studio With Mob Psycho 100 Designer Yoshimichi Kameda
Kameda joins Studio Kurm as representative creator in January 2026
― CyberAgent announced on Wednesday that it has established Studio Kurm, a new anime production studio, on the same day with anime producer Maiko Okada (Yaiba: Samurai Legend, Great Pretender, Great Pretender razbliuto, The Empire of Corpses) as its president and CEO. Mob Psycho 100 anime character designer and DAN DA DAN anime alien ...
Cygames' Executive Director Yuito Kimura Steps Down
Kimura co-founded company in 2011
― Cygames announced that its Executive Director Yuito Kimura is stepping down as of Tuesday. Kimura explained that he is no longer able to fulfill his responsibilities under current circumstances, but he assured that his condition is not life-threatening. He added that he plans to return to game development someday. Kimura co-founded Cygames with President Koichi Wat...
Trump Renews Call for '100% Tariff' Tax on All Movies Made Outside U.S.
Trump made similar remark in May that has not yet resulted in action
― U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, his majority-owned social media service, on Monday that he is "imposing a 100% Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States." The post is similar to one Trump made this past May, when he deemed movies produced in other countries a "National Security thr...
CESA Report: Half of Japanese Game Studios Use AI in Development
AI used for videos, images, stories, text, programming
― According to a Video Game Industry Report preview by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) last Thursday, 51% of Japanese game studios use AI in development. Common uses of AI were for videos, images, stories, text, and programming. In addition, 32% of companies use AI to develop game engines. The CESA conducted a survey for ...
Japan Aims to Boost Annual Entertainment Sales Overseas to 20 Trillion Yen
Ken Akamatsu pitches government's 5-year action plan at Tokyo Game Show
― Manga creator-turned-legislator Ken Akamatsu reported he had attended the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) on its first business day, Thursday, and he discussed how he presented the Japanese government's plans to support the entertainment industry, particularly video games. The current Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Education, Culture, Sp...
WEBTOON Partners with Comics Publisher BOOM! Studios for Vertical-Scroll Editions
Lineup includes Something Is Killing the Children, Wynd, Fence, Lumberjanes
― WEBTOON has announced a partnership with BOOM! Studios to adapt several of the publisher's leading titles into vertical-scroll webcomic editions for its English-language platform. The agreement makes WEBTOON the exclusive home for digital scroll adaptations of Something Is Killing the Children, Wynd, Fence, and Lumberjanes...
Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser Retires on December 31
Devon Pritchard succeeds Bowser as NOA president
― Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser announced on Thursday that he is retiring from the company on December 31. Nintendo Co., Ltd. (NCL) also announced his retirement on the same day. Devon Pritchard will succeed Bowser as president of Nintendo of America, and will also become an NCL Executive Officer in the company's board of directors.Today, I...
Disney+/Hulu to Raise Monthly Pricing on Streaming Plans in U.S.
Subscription prices to increase on October 21
― Entertainment news website The Hollywood Reporter reported on Tuesday that Disney+ is planning to raise the price for monthly subscriptions to its streaming platform beginning on October 21. The price for the subscription tier with ads will increase from US$9.99 to US$11.99, and the price for the ad-free tier will increase from US$15.99 to US$18.99. Th...
Kenshi Yonezu's 'Kick Back' Becomes 1st Japanese Song Certified Platinum in U.S.
Japanese singer-songwriter's Chainsaw Man opening makes music history once again
― The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced on Thursday that it has certified Japanese singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu's 2022 single “Kick Back” as Platinum. According to RIAA, Yonezu's single is the first Japanese-language song to receive Platinum certification in the United States. The RIAA certifi...
Korean Lawmakers Launch Bipartisan Webtoon Caucus
Inaugural ceremony for "National Assembly Members Who Love Comics and Webtoons" caucus will be held on September 25
― A new bipartisan caucus dedicated to supporting Korea's comics and webtoon industry will officially launch in the National Assembly this month. The Manhwa Webtoon Association General Federation announced that the inaugural ceremony for the “National Assembly Members Who Love Comics a...
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