Search form

Netflix Inks Anime Production Deals with 4 Big Asian Studios

Agreements with NAZ, Science SARU, Studio Mir and MAPPA expands the streamers already formidable lineup of production line partnerships to nine.

In a move that bolsters its already formidable push into all things anime, Netflix has entered into production line partnerships with four Asian anime studios to explore new stories and formats: ANIMA & COMPANY, owner of NAZ, Science SARU and MAPPA from Japan, and Studio Mir in Korea. The four studios together have produced some of the world’s most popular anime films and series and will provide Netflix with an even deeper shelf of creators, artistic talent, and production horsepower as they continue to expand their anime content plans.

The streaming giant has already inked non-exclusive production line partnerships with five other Japanese production houses: Production I.G and bones in 2018, and Anima, Sublimation and David Production in 2019. Today’s announcement brings to nine the number of partnerships, including the first in Asia outside Japan.

According to Taiki Sakurai, Anime Chief Producer, Netflix, “In just four years, we’ve built a dedicated team based in Tokyo that serves to entertain the global anime community through new and aspirational storytelling. With these additional partnerships with industry trailblazers who do amazing work, often marrying the latest technologies and traditional hand-drawn animation, we’re excited to bring fans a greater variety of even more amazing stories.” 

Netflix properties created or in production through these production line partnerships are as follows:

Launching 2020         

Altered Carbon: Resleeved (Anima) 
Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045 (Production I.G)
Dragon’s Dogma (Sublimation)

Coming 2021 and beyond     

Spriggan (David Production)
Vampire in the Garden (WIT STUDIO - a group company under Production I.G)
Super Crooks (Bones)

Yasuo Suda, CEO, ANIMA&COMPANY Co., Ltd., said, “In 2020, we’re reimagining the way the world is perceived. Our lives have been transformed. Expectations and values of visual arts and entertainment are also changing. Visual arts is a culture that is a beacon of hope, transcending distance and space, and welcoming its viewers to multiple places all at the same time. At NAZ, we look forward to working closely with Netflix, a leader in this field, and ensuring that future generations see the 21st century as a time of noteworthy works in the history of visual arts. This is a wakeup call to a new era of storytelling.”

Since its founding in 2013, NAZ – ANIMA & COMPANY's anime production studio – has been creating video productions for animation, live-action, promotional videos, commercials, music videos, movies and series. Its most notable works are animation sequences from Koizumi Norihiro’s Chihayafuru: Kami No Ku, Angolmois: Genko Kassenki, the promotional clip of the live-action The Way of the Househusband, and Aokiei’s film ID:INVADED

“Our collaboration with Netflix regarding shows such as DEVILMAN Crybaby and Japan Sinks: 2020 reflects our shared understanding of storytelling and the desire to take on fresh challenges,” said Eunyoung Choi, CEO, Science SARU Inc. “Together with Netflix, Science SARU aims to deliver highly relevant content to fans more directly, by staying true to the world changing around us, and listening closely to our fans.”

Science SARU’s debut feature film, Lu Over the Wall, won the Crystal for Best Feature Film at Annecy in 2017. Other work includes the animated feature films The Night is Short, Walk on Girl (2017) and Ride Your Wave (2019), as well as the animated series DEVILMAN Crybaby (2018), Super Shiro (2019), and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! (2020). Their most recent release is the Netflix Original anime series, Japan Sinks: 2020; they are currently in production on the animated feature film Inu-Oh, due for release in 2021.

“In celebration of Netflix Anime Festival 2020 (hosted on Oct 27), we are thrilled to establish a solid partnership with Netflix,” noted Jae Myung Yoo, CEO, Studio Mir Co., Ltd. “Through the production line deal, we look forward to showcasing the vibrant creativity of Korean animation to a worldwide audience.” The South Korean animation studio, founded in 2010, is best known for The Legend of Korra, Voltron: Legendary Defender, and the recently announced The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, expanding its traditional platform into the global OTT market.

Manabu Otsuka, CEO, MAPPA Co., Ltd., added, “This partnership enables us to deliver on our mission to bring best-in-class content at an accelerated pace to anime fans on Netflix. Together with Netflix, we look forward to discovering what excites animation fans – both in Japan and beyond – with the best experiences and making every effort to produce great shows in response to that fandom.” The Japanese animation production studio, founded in 2011, develops content for a number of markets.  

Source: Netflix

Dan Sarto's picture

Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.