Toho plants its flag in Europe.

Published: 2026-06-16 18:21:38

A UK headquarters and the Anime Limited buyout signal Toho going vertical in the West, plus VIZ moves into production, Fuji TV builds a webtoon pipeline, and Amazon MGM staffs up in Tokyo.

Toho buys Anime Limited, sets up UK hub. Toho's planting a flag in Europe, setting up a UK base for its global division and buying Scotland's Anime Limited from Germany's Plaion. The Godzilla studio gets a built-in distribution network (Anim Source: https://deadline.com/2025/12/toho-global-euro-office-uk-acquires-anime-limited-1236653476/
VIZ Media co-produces Hirayasumi anime. The slice-of-life manga about a slacker and his kid cousin has Shueisha backing, but no studio is named yet. This isn't a budget play; VIZ is putting skin in the game. Source: https://www.viz.com/press-releases/v/1006748
Fuji TV bets big on webtoons. Fuji TV just launched TOON8, a webtoon label partnering with LINE Manga. This isn't just another studio side project, it's a direct play for the mobile-first audience devouring bite-sized vertical scr Source: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-06-08/fuji-tv-launches-webtoon-label-toon8-enters-industry-with-line-manga-partnership/.238221
Amazon MGM steals Warner Japan chief for anime war. Amazon MGM Studios snatched Warner Bros. Discovery Japan chief Buddy Marini to head its Tokyo ops. Marini oversaw WBD's entire Japan slate, streaming, originals, everything. Now he's jumping ship to A Source: https://deadline.com/2026/03/amazon-mgm-studios-japan-buddy-marini-hire-1236745734/
GKIDS books 'The Last Blossom' for two nights only. GKIDS locked down North American theatrical rights for 'The Last Blossom', but only for two nights (August 30-31). The move doubles down on their niche: turning mid-tier anime into must-attend events Source: https://gkids.com/2026/06/09/gkids-acquires-north-american-theatrical-rights-to-the-last-blossom-releasing-in-theatres-for-two-nights-only-august-30-31/

From AnimeSignal, the anime business intelligence brief.