Crunchyroll and Japan’s Aniplex launch anime-focused joint venture, Hayate

Dr Stone Science Future and The Apothecary Diaries

Sony’s anime-focused OTT platform Crunchyroll has partnered with Japan-based Sony Music Entertainment’s subsidiary Aniplex to launch anime production joint venture (JV), Hayate.

To be based in Tokyo, the JV will be led by chair and CEO Masanori Miyake and president and COO Leo Watanabe, both from Aniplex.

The new company will focus on planning, developing and producing anime content for the Crunchyroll streamer worldwide. Hayate will be staffed by employees of both Aniplex and Crunchyroll.

It will leverage Aniplex’s experience in production alongside Crunchyroll’s development, marketing and distribution capabilities to tell “diverse stories” and exploit anime’s growing popularity as a global entertainment genre.

Based in Coppell, Texas, Crunchyroll was founded in 1994 and was acquired by Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2017. According to Crunchyroll, 15 million users subscribe to the service on a monthly basis. The platform is home to nearly 2,000 anime series and films, as well as more than 3,500 music videos and concerts. New series debuting on Crunchyroll recently include Solo Leveling season two – Arise from the Shadow, Dr Stone Science Future and The Apothecary Diaries season two.

Aniplex co-owns Crunchyroll with Sony and also operates subsidiary prodcos A-1 Pictures Inc. and CloverWorks Inc., as well as the game production company Lasengle Inc.