Kaguya-sama anime rights and licensing
The Kaguya-sama Production Committee holds the anime adaptation rights, while Aniplex of America handled the first season's North American streaming rollout.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: The Kaguya-sama: Love Is War anime is copyright to the Kaguya-sama Production Committee, with original creator Aka Akasaka and publisher Shueisha credited in the copyright line. A-1 Pictures animates the series. For the first season, Aniplex of America licensed streaming in North America to Hulu, Crunchyroll, and FunimationNow, with episodes premiering on January 12, 2019.
Who owns the anime rights to Kaguya-sama?
The anime copyright line for Kaguya-sama: Love Is War reads '© Aka Akasaka / Shueisha, Kaguya-sama Production Committee.' A-1 Pictures lists this on its official works page and identifies itself as the animation production company. The committee name, sometimes rendered as PROJECT KAGUYA in early English materials, is the collective rights holder for the adaptation.
Aka Akasaka created the original manga, which ran in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump. Shueisha therefore retains the underlying manga publishing rights. The anime adaptation rights, including decisions on sequels, films, streaming, and merchandise, sit with the production committee rather than with A-1 Pictures or Akasaka personally.
Kaguya-sama: Love Is War rights holders as credited in public sources.| Rights category | Publicly credited holder | Source |
|---|
| Anime adaptation copyright | Kaguya-sama Production Committee | A-1 Pictures official works page |
| Original manga | Aka Akasaka / Shueisha | Serialized in Weekly Young Jump |
| Animation production | A-1 Pictures | A-1 Pictures official works page |
| North American streaming (Season 1) | Aniplex of America | Aniplex of America press release |
Who licenses Kaguya-sama for streaming?
Aniplex of America, a Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) subsidiary, handled the North American licensing for the first season. Its December 20, 2018 press release announced that Kaguya-sama: Love Is War would stream on Hulu, Crunchyroll, and FunimationNow beginning January 12, 2019. The release also confirmed A-1 Pictures as the studio and listed the main cast and staff.
Since Funimation and Crunchyroll later merged under Sony ownership, the current U.S. streaming home is effectively Crunchyroll, though Aniplex of America remains the licensor. The press release did not disclose the licensing term, fee, or whether the agreement covered later seasons or the finale film.
How the Kaguya-sama production committee works
The Kaguya-sama Production Committee follows the standard Japanese model: a temporary partnership of companies that finance and manage the anime. Public credits show the committee name but not its members. Typical participants in a Shueisha-based romantic comedy can include the publisher, the record label, the home-video distributor, and the advertising firm, but the exact roster is private.
A-1 Pictures' role is to produce the animation under contract. Licensing decisions, including which streaming services carry the show in each territory, are normally made by the committee or by Aniplex acting on its behalf. This is why Aniplex of America, not A-1 Pictures, announced the U.S. streaming partners.
Where public evidence stops
No public filing names every company in the Kaguya-sama Production Committee, their capital contributions, or how revenue from streaming, Blu-ray, and merchandise is split. The copyright line and press releases confirm who can publicly license the title, but not the internal economics.
Later seasons and the finale film may involve adjusted contracts or additional committee members. Without updated public announcements, it is safest to describe the rights structure for the first season and note that subsequent entries share the same collective framework unless a new rights holder is announced.
Ownership uncertainty note: The Kaguya-sama Production Committee is the credited rights holder, but its member list, investment splits, and territorial authority are not public. Streaming availability for later seasons should be checked against current platform listings.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns the anime rights to Kaguya-sama?
The anime adaptation rights are held by the Kaguya-sama Production Committee, with copyright credited to Aka Akasaka, Shueisha, and the committee. A-1 Pictures produces the animation.
Who licensed Kaguya-sama in North America?
Aniplex of America licensed the first season for streaming on Hulu, Crunchyroll, and FunimationNow, beginning January 12, 2019.
Is Kaguya-sama a Shueisha property?
The original manga is published by Shueisha in Weekly Young Jump. Shueisha is part of the anime rights chain, but the adaptation is managed by the production committee.
Does A-1 Pictures own Kaguya-sama?
No. A-1 Pictures is the animation studio. The rights are held by the Kaguya-sama Production Committee.