Sony Pictures Entertainment has formed a joint venture with Japanese trading company Mitsui & Co. – AK Holdings Corporation.
Sony holds the majority stake in AK Holdings, which will operate the owners’ existing Japanese animation channels – Animax and Kids Station.
In addition AK will produce and distribute animation content, and there are also plans to move into LBE with live animation events and to manage animation-themed restaurants.
Variety reports that Masao Takiyama, managing director of SPEJ Television Network, said in a statement, “Anime has grown to become a major cultural export with massive commercial appeal around the world. Combining the strengths of Sony’s Animax with Mitsui’s Kids Station will allow us to increase our production capacity and reach fans of all ages in Japan and around the world.”
Image: Animax TV
