As an observer with a keen eye for trends and a heart full of nostalgia for the golden age of anime, I must say that the recent expansion of TOHO Animation is nothing short of breathtaking. It seems like every other day, we’re hearing about another significant acquisition or partnership they’ve made, and it’s hard not to be impressed by their ambitious stride.
To many anime enthusiasts, the name “TOHO” may evoke several memories, given its involvement in numerous well-loved anime series from studios such as TMS Entertainment, OLM, and Studio Ghibli. Lately, TOHO expanded its reach by acquiring Science SARU, a studio established by Masaaki Yuasa and Eunyoung Choi, whose works include the hit series Dandadan, Devilman Crybaby, and Ping Pong. As 2024 winds down, it appears that Science SARU is making even bigger strides in the anime industry.
On Tuesday, December 17th, it became known that TOHO is set to purchase a significant portion (19.7%) of animation studio Orange’s stocks. This studio has garnered widespread acclaim for its distinctive adaptations of works like “Land of the Lustrous”, “Beastars“, and the latest reboot of “Trigun”, namely “Trigun Stampede”. The exact cost of this acquisition remains undisclosed, but both companies have confirmed they will collaborate to enhance their productions, expand studio Orange, and bolster human resources not only in Japan but globally.
TOHO and Studio Orange have a long history of working together, with numerous collaborations on various animation projects. Among these are the previously mentioned works such as Trigun Stampede, Land of the Lustrous, Beastars, and Godzilla Singular Point.
TOHO Animation’s Rapid Expansion Could Indicate the Anime Industry’s Future
TOHO Animation continues to expand its presence in the anime industry by making strategic acquisitions. For instance, they purchased a significant portion of Studio Orange’s shares, fully acquired Science SARU in July, and also obtained 6.09% of CoMix Wave Film’s stock. The goal is to have more control over the management, production, and distribution of anime projects by this studio, with an aim to enhance the quality of their work and diversify the types of projects they handle. Moreover, TOHO’s influence isn’t limited to Japanese companies; it recently acquired GKIDS, a prominent U.S.-based distributor of anime, responsible for distributing several Makoto Shinkai films and works by Masaaki Yuasa.
Although TOHO asserts that these purchases won’t impact the employees on these projects, fans express apprehension about potential implications for the anime industry down the line. It’s worth mentioning that over time, TOHO has earned a less-than-favorable standing among fans due to their stringent copyright policies regarding certain properties, particularly the Godzilla series, and their restrictive licensing terms. Moreover, with TOHO now acquiring GKIDS, there are now just four independent anime licensors operating in North America: AnimEigo, Discotek, Media Blasters, and Ascendant Animation.
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2024-12-21 03:39