Anime companies form strategic relationship to further bolster business across the globe.
Anime specialists Crunchyroll and VIZ Media Europe have today confirmed they are to join forces.
The new strategic relationship will see Crunchyroll become the majority investor in VIZ Media Europe Group, with The Hitotsubashi Group retaining a minority stake in the company.
“Crunchyroll and VIZ Media Europe Group will bring together significant expertise, capabilities, and dedication to grow and promote our respective licensed and original content,” said Joanne Waage, general manager of Crunchyroll. “We look forward to learning from and collaborating with our new colleagues in Paris, Lausanne and Berlin, so we can continuously create the most engaging experiences for anime and manga communities around the world.”
Nobuhiro Oga, senior managing director of Shogakukan, commented: “Japanese manga and anime are now established as a unique culture throughout the world. Through VIZ Media Europe group, Shogakukan, Shueisha and ShoPro strive to apply our collective expertise and experience to share and promote Japanese manga and anime throughout Europe.”
VIZ Media Europe Group has built a significant network in EMEA and beyond, expanding its manga and licensing expertise through various lines (including merchandise).
Kazuyoshi Takeuchi, ceo of VIZ Media Europe Group, added: “Over the last decade, our team has shown a deep understanding of Japanese pop culture and adaptation within local markets, and I believe this relationship will strengthen our position and future growth, adapting to changes in the dynamic Japanese animation industry and global business climate.”
Founded in 2006, Crunchyroll is an anime-sharing platform with a community of 50 million registered users. As well as SVOD, it also has a wide range of consumer products and is also a game publisher.
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