Ellation Announces New Division Devoted to Original Content
Studios in Burbank and Tokyo to Bring Fans Slate of Anime-Inspired Shows in 2019, Starting with Crunchyroll Original Series “High Guardian Spice”
San Francisco, Calif. - August 22, 2018 - Ellation, the transformative media company home to industry-leading brands Crunchyroll and VRV, announced today the launch of Ellation Studios and the first Crunchyroll Originals series “High Guardian Spice.” Ellation's original content efforts will include production facilities in Burbank and Tokyo devoted to creating and developing new original shows for the Crunchyroll and VRV communities. Margaret Dean, former GM of Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and current president of Women in Animation, has been named head of studio for the new division.
As head of studio, Dean is charged with developing originals for both brands, including overseeing production for “High Guardian Spice,” the first-ever Crunchyroll Original Series, slated to premiere in 2019. Raye Rodriguez, a lifelong anime fan, is the creator of “High Guardian Spice” and his production team features an all-female writing room, along with a diverse and passionate group of artists and creatives. Audu Paden, director of the “Animaniacs” and other beloved animated series, joins Rodriguez as mentor.
In “High Guardian Spice,” the lives of four fierce girls, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme and Parsley, converge at High Guardian Academy, the one place where they can stumble towards adulthood while becoming the heroes they've always admired. As they master the ways of battle and sorcery, our foursome form allegiances and comical kinships, uncover legacies and betrayals, and discover their true identities while preparing to protect the world from an ominous unknown threat.
“Crunchyroll Originals aims to elevate animation as a medium for storytelling, as most animated series in western culture is geared towards kids or comedy. Our fans grew up watching anime, and today anime inspires creators from around the world and influences so much of broader pop culture. We look to tell distinct, impactful stories best executed in the medium of animation from a global creative community who is inspired by anime.” said Kun Gao, founder and General Manager of Crunchyroll. “With this in mind, we are excited to introduce more shows and announce the rest of our slate in the coming weeks.”
“With Crunchyroll Originals, we're looking to showcase animation as an art form, delivering meaningful original content that draws from our strengths as a truly international service dedicated to super-serving anime fans,” said Margaret Dean, head of studio, Ellation. “The art style of ‘High Guardian Spice’ combines anime influence with an untold story and unique perspective. Raye's team has been inspiring to work with, and we're can't wait for fans to see what we have in store for them.”
The “High Guardian Spice” creative team will appear at this year's Crunchyroll Expo, a Crunchyroll convention celebrating the best of Japanese animation and pop culture. The panel, taking place on Saturday in San Jose, will feature Margaret Dean, series creator Raye Rodriguez, Supervising Director Audu Paden, and Story Editor Amalia Levari as they discuss new series.
Ellation's original programming efforts build upon the existing content strategy of licensing and co-producing premium content for both Crunchyroll and VRV. Currently, Crunchyroll has co-produced over 50 series, including “Kiznaiver,” “Classroom of the Elite,” “Space Patrol Luluco” and “Laid-Back Camp.”
About Ellation
Ellation, Inc. is a transformative entertainment company and home of industry-leading brands Crunchyroll and VRV. As part of Otter Media, a unit of WarnerMedia, Ellation operates at the intersection of technology and media to redefine the next wave of media interaction and consumption -- breaking down barriers to content experiences for passionate fans around the world. Ellation's offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Chișinău develop the product, design, engineering, marketing and content that brings our communities of passionate fans together.
About Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is the world's largest destination for anime and manga, boasting a global community of more than 40 million registered users and over 1 million subscribers. Fans connect through the most complete anime library including "Naruto Shippūden," "Attack on Titan," and “Dragon Ball Super,” events such as Crunchyroll Expo, Anime Awards, Crunchyroll News, and can purchase related merchandise through its online store. Through its app on game consoles, set-top boxes, mobile devices and more, Crunchyroll delivers content from leading media producers directly to viewers translated professionally in multiple languages. The service is available for free or through a premium offering that allows users to watch ad-free with access to simulcasts—top series available immediately after Japanese broadcast.
Fans can also view Crunchyroll on VRV, an audience-focused aggregation platform featuring premium SVOD channels and a curated house channel, VRV Select.
About VRV
VRV is a leading fandom-focused aggregation platform featuring premium SVOD channels including Crunchyroll, Funimation, DramaFever, Rooster Teeth, and Shudder, alongside a curated house channel, VRV Select. Created to provide fans with a next-gen entertainment experience, VRV offers immersive content experiences in a digitally-driven environment via bundled subscription, a la carte subscription, or ad-supported options. As a platform, VRV helps partners extend their reach and distribute their premium content through a high-quality, branded experience on mobile, web, and popular living room devices.
San Francisco, Calif. - August 22, 2018 - Ellation, the transformative media company home to industry-leading brands Crunchyroll and VRV, announced today the launch of Ellation Studios and the first Crunchyroll Originals series “High Guardian Spice.” Ellation's original content efforts will include production facilities in Burbank and Tokyo devoted to creating and developing new original shows for the Crunchyroll and VRV communities. Margaret Dean, former GM of Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and current president of Women in Animation, has been named head of studio for the new division.
As head of studio, Dean is charged with developing originals for both brands, including overseeing production for “High Guardian Spice,” the first-ever Crunchyroll Original Series, slated to premiere in 2019. Raye Rodriguez, a lifelong anime fan, is the creator of “High Guardian Spice” and his production team features an all-female writing room, along with a diverse and passionate group of artists and creatives. Audu Paden, director of the “Animaniacs” and other beloved animated series, joins Rodriguez as mentor.
In “High Guardian Spice,” the lives of four fierce girls, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme and Parsley, converge at High Guardian Academy, the one place where they can stumble towards adulthood while becoming the heroes they've always admired. As they master the ways of battle and sorcery, our foursome form allegiances and comical kinships, uncover legacies and betrayals, and discover their true identities while preparing to protect the world from an ominous unknown threat.
“Crunchyroll Originals aims to elevate animation as a medium for storytelling, as most animated series in western culture is geared towards kids or comedy. Our fans grew up watching anime, and today anime inspires creators from around the world and influences so much of broader pop culture. We look to tell distinct, impactful stories best executed in the medium of animation from a global creative community who is inspired by anime.” said Kun Gao, founder and General Manager of Crunchyroll. “With this in mind, we are excited to introduce more shows and announce the rest of our slate in the coming weeks.”
“With Crunchyroll Originals, we're looking to showcase animation as an art form, delivering meaningful original content that draws from our strengths as a truly international service dedicated to super-serving anime fans,” said Margaret Dean, head of studio, Ellation. “The art style of ‘High Guardian Spice’ combines anime influence with an untold story and unique perspective. Raye's team has been inspiring to work with, and we're can't wait for fans to see what we have in store for them.”
The “High Guardian Spice” creative team will appear at this year's Crunchyroll Expo, a Crunchyroll convention celebrating the best of Japanese animation and pop culture. The panel, taking place on Saturday in San Jose, will feature Margaret Dean, series creator Raye Rodriguez, Supervising Director Audu Paden, and Story Editor Amalia Levari as they discuss new series.
Ellation's original programming efforts build upon the existing content strategy of licensing and co-producing premium content for both Crunchyroll and VRV. Currently, Crunchyroll has co-produced over 50 series, including “Kiznaiver,” “Classroom of the Elite,” “Space Patrol Luluco” and “Laid-Back Camp.”
About Ellation
Ellation, Inc. is a transformative entertainment company and home of industry-leading brands Crunchyroll and VRV. As part of Otter Media, a unit of WarnerMedia, Ellation operates at the intersection of technology and media to redefine the next wave of media interaction and consumption -- breaking down barriers to content experiences for passionate fans around the world. Ellation's offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Chișinău develop the product, design, engineering, marketing and content that brings our communities of passionate fans together.
About Crunchyroll
Crunchyroll is the world's largest destination for anime and manga, boasting a global community of more than 40 million registered users and over 1 million subscribers. Fans connect through the most complete anime library including "Naruto Shippūden," "Attack on Titan," and “Dragon Ball Super,” events such as Crunchyroll Expo, Anime Awards, Crunchyroll News, and can purchase related merchandise through its online store. Through its app on game consoles, set-top boxes, mobile devices and more, Crunchyroll delivers content from leading media producers directly to viewers translated professionally in multiple languages. The service is available for free or through a premium offering that allows users to watch ad-free with access to simulcasts—top series available immediately after Japanese broadcast.
Fans can also view Crunchyroll on VRV, an audience-focused aggregation platform featuring premium SVOD channels and a curated house channel, VRV Select.
About VRV
VRV is a leading fandom-focused aggregation platform featuring premium SVOD channels including Crunchyroll, Funimation, DramaFever, Rooster Teeth, and Shudder, alongside a curated house channel, VRV Select. Created to provide fans with a next-gen entertainment experience, VRV offers immersive content experiences in a digitally-driven environment via bundled subscription, a la carte subscription, or ad-supported options. As a platform, VRV helps partners extend their reach and distribute their premium content through a high-quality, branded experience on mobile, web, and popular living room devices.
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