Aniplex Inc. and Crunchyroll, LLC have announced the creation of Hayate Inc., a new venture aimed at planning, developing, and producing anime content for Crunchyroll’s global streaming service.
Based in Tokyo, Hayate will be staffed by employees from both parent companies and will be led by Aniplex executives Masanori Miyake, who will serve as chair and CEO, and Leo Watanabe, who will take on the role of president and COO.
The company plans to produce high-quality anime content for fans worldwide, combining Aniplex’s expertise in production, honed through collaborations with creators and studios, with Crunchyroll’s strengths in development, marketing, and distribution, backed by its deep ties to the anime community.
The two companies have previously worked together on successful projects such as Solo Leveling, Demon Slayer, and Bocchi the Rock!. Notably, global music star J Balvin will make his anime voice acting debut in a key role in Solo Leveling Season 2: Arise from the Shadow, which was confirmed by Variety.
In their joint announcement, Aniplex and Crunchyroll emphasized anime’s growing popularity as both entertainment and a cultural lifestyle, with its diverse stories and characters capturing audiences worldwide.
Aniplex is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. and owns several animation studios, including A-1 Pictures and CloverWorks, as well as game company Lasengle Inc., known for Fate/Grand Order. Crunchyroll, a premium anime streaming service, offers a vast library of content along with events, theatrical releases, games, and merchandise. It operates as a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment in the U.S. and Aniplex in Japan, both under the Sony Group umbrella.
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