KADOKAWA and Aniplex Announce Formation of Joint Venture “Animec” 

KADOKAWA CORPORATION (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Chief Executive Officer: Takeshi Natsuno; hereinafter “KADOKAWA”) and Aniplex Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Atsuhiro Iwakami; hereinafter “Aniplex”) hereby announce the establishment of a joint venture, Animec Inc. (hereinafter “Animec”).

The company name “Animec” is a combination of “Anime” and “Cinema.” It embodies our philosophy of delivering the charm of anime films to fans and contributing to the further development of the industry.

Animec will specialize in the distribution and promotion of anime films, aiming to co-create value with fans, content holders, theater operators, and all other stakeholders involved in the creative process. From nationwide theatrical releases to special screenings of TV anime series, Animec will maximize the value and appeal of each work through optimal release strategies. Working alongside the KADOKAWA Group and the Sony Group, Animec is committed to delivering even more captivating anime film experiences to an even broader audience of fans.

“Animec” was also the title of a popular anime magazine published until the 1980s. After informing Mr. Shinichiro Inoue (Former Representative Director, Executive Officer and Chief Anime Officer of KADOKAWA CORPORATION), who served as Vice Editor-in-Chief of the magazine, the name has been adopted for the new company.

Source: PRESS RELEASE