Medialink Group Launches Japan Subsidiary in IP Expansion
The launch positions Medialink to directly invest in and acquire Japanese IP, moving beyond its previous role as a regional distributor and licensor.
Variety Anime
Industry
CloverWorks and A-1 Pictures Open New Animation Studio FLINT BASE in April 2026
The creation of a shared animation studio by two major Aniplex subsidiaries, with Sony Group backing, signals a structural investment in training new animators rather than relying solely on outsourcing or freelance talent.
A-1 Pictures, CloverWorks
Amazon MGM Studios Hires Warner Bros. Discovery Veteran Buddy Marini to Lead Japan
Marini's background founding a manga platform and running Hulu Japan gives Amazon MGM Studios an executive with direct experience in both anime production and Japanese streaming, at a time when Prime Video has publicly stated it wants to become the top global platform for anime.
Variety Japan, Deadline Anime
Cannes Market and TIFFCOM Launch Japan IP Market
The market formalizes a direct pipeline between Japan's IP holders and the global film and TV adaptation industry, leveraging Cannes' position as a major distribution hub.
The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline
Terraise Partners With DeNA America to Bring AI HR Tools to Japan
The partnership addresses a gap in Japan's HR tech market, where advanced AI solutions from overseas often have English-only interfaces and lack local implementation support.
ASCII.jp
Shueisha Acquires Arch PR, Renames It Shueisha MANGA-pr
The move gives Shueisha a dedicated in-house PR arm focused on social-media-driven manga promotion, formalizing a capability it previously accessed through an external subsidiary.
GameBusiness.jp
Mappa Recruiting New Graduates for 2027 Fiscal Year, Deadline May 31
The recruitment push signals MAPPA's continued expansion and production pipeline, with multiple major sequels scheduled through 2027.
Anime Anime
Dark Horse Comics Workers Form Union, Seek Voluntary Recognition
If recognized or elected, Dark Horse Workers United would become the third U.S. comic publisher with a CWA-affiliated union, following Image Comics and Seven Seas Entertainment.
Anime News Network
Takumi Giken CEO Maeda and CTO Isaka Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026
The selection places a vertical AI startup focused on preserving artisan skills and digitizing factory operations among the most promising young enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region.
ASCII.jp
Ringble Raises 300 Million Yen in Funding Led by DG Daiwa Ventures
This is Ringble's first external capital raise since restructuring its holding company structure in October 2025, and it marks a push to commoditize global e-commerce for mid-sized brands through AI-driven operations.
ASCII.jp
Animenomics: Iran War Drives Manga Printing Costs Up, U-NEXT Buys GoHands
The war's effect on petroleum-derived printing materials is adding to already rising manga prices, while U-NEXT's studio acquisition signals a push toward in-house production to control licensing costs.
Animenomics
Disney+ and Hulu Launch Cross-Streaming Initiative Including Park Sung-Hoo's BULLET/BULLET
The partnership gives Park Sung-hoo's debut original anime a wider audience through cross-platform availability, while signaling deeper content sharing between Disney+ and Hulu in Japan.
Anime Anime
Metamars Inc. Raises Funds From Takara Group and Uniontech
The funding signals that metamoon's live commerce business model, built on TikTok Shop in Japan, has reached a scale that attracts investment from established groups, with the company aiming to solidify its position in a rapidly expanding market.
ASCII.jp
Kadokawa's Da Vinci Magazine to End Publication After 32 Years
The closure of a 32-year-old print magazine that bridged literary fiction, manga, and anime reflects the accelerating shift of Japanese media consumption away from physical periodicals toward web-based platforms.
Anime News Network, Anime! Anime!
Anycolor Faces Profit Pressure as Inventory Losses Mount
Anycolor's shift in inventory valuation standards signals that its commerce-heavy revenue model, which makes up 70% of sales, now carries the same risk profile as a character goods retailer rather than a pure VTuber management firm.
GameBusiness.jp
U-NEXT HOLDINGS Acquires GoHands as Wholly Owned Subsidiary
The deal marks a rare vertical integration of a streaming platform and an anime production studio in Japan, giving U-NEXT HOLDINGS direct control over content creation and distribution while cutting external production costs.
Comic Natalie, Denfaminicogamer
Kadokawa Reports 51.3% Profit Drop, Blames Isekai Oversaturation
Kadokawa's admission that its reliance on isekai and web novel-style titles caused consumer fatigue marks a rare self-critical turn for a publisher that built its recent growth on those genres.
Animehunch
Studio Ghibli Names Kenichi Yoda as New President
The change puts a Nippon Television event specialist with direct Ghibli liaison experience in the top operational role, signaling a closer day-to-day partnership between the broadcaster and the studio.
Studio Ghibli
Crunchyroll Japan Net Profit Falls 63% in Fiscal 2025
The steep profit decline at the Japanese branch, despite continued subscriber growth, signals that Crunchyroll's expansion is not translating into proportional earnings in its home market.
Anime News Network
Crunchyroll Net Profit Fell 63.4% in 2025 Despite Subscriber Growth
The profit plunge shows that Crunchyroll's rapid subscriber growth and recent price hikes have not yet translated into bottom-line gains, as operational costs outpace revenue increases.
Animehunch
The Anime Piracy Hydra Appears To Be Tiring
If the pattern holds and users do not quickly find a new top replacement, a meaningful percentage may finally migrate to legal services.
Anime By The Numbers
WEBTOON Entertainment Narrows Losses in First Quarter 2026
The narrowing loss suggests WEBTOON Entertainment's cost-cutting and content diversification strategies are gaining traction, even as overall revenue continues to decline.
Anime News Network
Arc System Works Reaffirms Anti-Harassment Policy Across Social Media
The reaffirmation signals that Arc System Works is actively enforcing its year-old anti-harassment stance, aligning with a broader industry trend as other major publishers like Square Enix and Capcom have recently formalized similar policies.
Inside
Kadokawa Admits Isekai Overreliance Led to Profit Collapse
Kadokawa, the publishing giant that rode the isekai wave to market dominance, now openly blames that same formula for a severe profit decline and is restructuring to break its own creative inertia.
Niche Gamer (Anime)