The Seven Deadly Sins anime rights and licensing: who owns what
The Seven Deadly Sins franchise is controlled by Kodansha and the production committee, with Netflix holding the global streaming rights.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: The Seven Deadly Sins anime is credited to Nakaba Suzuki, Kodansha, the production committee, and MBS or TV Tokyo depending on the season. A-1 Pictures animated the first two seasons and Studio Deen took over for later arcs. Kodansha announced at New York Comic Con 2015 that the 24-episode anime series would start streaming on Netflix in English on November 1, 2015.
Who owns The Seven Deadly Sins anime?
The Seven Deadly Sins manga is written and illustrated by Nakaba Suzuki and serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine. A-1 Pictures' official works page lists the first anime season with the copyright line ©鈴木央・講談社／「七つの大罪」製作委員会・MBS, naming Suzuki, Kodansha, the Seven Deadly Sins production committee, and broadcaster MBS.
Kodansha Licensing's page for the franchise lists English copyright lines such as © Nakaba Suzuki, KODANSHA/The Seven Deadly Sins Project, MBS for the first season and ©Nakaba Suzuki, KODANSHA/The Seven Deadly Sins: Dragon's Judgement Production Committee, TX for the final season.
How The Seven Deadly Sins is licensed for streaming
Kodansha announced at its New York Comic Con 2015 panel that the 24-episode anime series based on Nakaba Suzuki's manga would start streaming in English on Netflix on November 1, 2015. Kodansha described it as the second Netflix Original anime series after Knights of Sidonia.
Netflix has remained the global streaming home for the franchise, including the Four Knights of the Apocalypse sequel series. The streaming rights are separate from manga publishing, merchandise, and game rights.
Publicly disclosed Seven Deadly Sins rights structure.| Party | Role | Rights layer |
|---|
| Nakaba Suzuki / Kodansha | Original manga creator and publisher | Underlying literary and character rights |
| MBS / TV Tokyo | Japanese broadcast networks | Broadcast and production-committee stake |
| The Seven Deadly Sins Project / Committee | Production committee | Investment and rights coordination |
| A-1 Pictures / Studio Deen | Animation studios | Animation production by season |
| Netflix | Global streaming licensee | English-language and global streaming rights |
What the production committee controls
The Seven Deadly Sins is organized through a production committee that includes Kodansha and the broadcasting partner. The committee funds the anime, distributes risk, and decides how rights are licensed.
Public announcements confirm Netflix as the global streaming partner and A-1 Pictures and Studio Deen as animation studios, but they do not reveal the committee's full membership or each member's share. Kodansha, as the manga publisher, typically retains veto power over adaptations.
Ownership uncertainty note: The exact membership and revenue shares of The Seven Deadly Sins production committee are not public. Kodansha and A-1 Pictures confirm the key names and Netflix's streaming role, but the full rights map remains private.
Why The Seven Deadly Sins rights changed studios mid-series
A-1 Pictures animated the first two seasons and the Signs of Holy War special, while Studio Deen took over for Imperial Wrath of the Gods and Dragon's Judgment. Studio changes usually reflect scheduling, capacity, or rights negotiations within the production committee.
The change does not change ownership. Kodansha and the production committee still control the property; the animation studios are production contractors that own their animation work but not the franchise.
How The Seven Deadly Sins compares to other Kodansha anime
Like Fairy Tail and Attack on Titan, The Seven Deadly Sins is a Kodansha property with anime adaptations handled by outside studios. The publisher remains the central rights holder, while studios and distributors come and go by project.
The practical implication is that Kodansha is the starting point for manga and franchise rights, while Netflix is the key partner for global streaming distribution of the anime.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns the anime rights to The Seven Deadly Sins?
The anime copyright lines list Nakaba Suzuki, Kodansha, the production committee, and MBS or TV Tokyo depending on the season. A-1 Pictures and Studio Deen handled animation production.
Who licenses The Seven Deadly Sins for streaming?
Kodansha announced in 2015 that The Seven Deadly Sins would stream on Netflix, and Netflix has remained the global streaming home for the franchise.
Does Studio Deen own The Seven Deadly Sins?
No. Studio Deen is one of the animation studios for later seasons. Kodansha and the production committee control the franchise.
Which studio animated the first Seven Deadly Sins season?
A-1 Pictures animated the first season, the Signs of Holy War special, and the second season. Studio Deen took over for later arcs.