Anime streamer joins with Manga publisher

AT&T’s Crunchyroll acquired a majority stake in VIZ Media Europe Group, which licences and distributes Japanese animation.

The Hitotsubashi Group retains a minority stake in Viz Media Europe as part of the transition.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

“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.”

Crunchyroll, part of AT&T’s Otter Media unit, was founded in 2006 as an anime sharing platform and now offers streaming video, events, consumer products and games.

VIZ Media Europe distributes content in 100 countries, publishes Manga content, and has DVD and streaming video businesses.

“We have built a large network in EMEA and beyond, expanding our manga and licensing expertise through multiple skills in various business lines: TV, DVD, Digital & Merchandising,” said Kazuyoshi Takeuchi, CEO of VIZ Media Europe Group. “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.”