Click here to read the full article.
Disney+ is adding celebrated Japanese anime films including “Your Name.” and “Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence” to its U.K. and France libraries through a licensing deal with Anime Limited, the companies revealed, as
Disney+ and Hulu’s fourth annual Animayhem campaign kicks off with new anime titles this summer.
The collection includes films from directors such as Shinkai Makoto (“Your Name,” “Weathering with You”), Hosoda Mamoru (“Mirai,” “Belle,” “Wolf Children,” “Summer Wars,” “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”), Oshii Mamoru (“Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence”) and Kon Satoshi (“Perfect Blue”). Yamada Naoko’s “A Silent Voice” and Otomo Katsuhiro’s “Akira” will stream exclusively in the U.K. and Ireland, while the rest of the slate will be available in both the U.K. and France. Several titles, including “Belle,” “Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence,” “Mirai” and “Weathering with You,” will mark their streaming debut in both territories. Premiere dates for individual films will be revealed at a later time.
Lauren Tempest, head of content planning and partnerships, DTC at the Walt Disney Company, said: “Anime is a powerful global storytelling force – resonating deeply with audiences around the world, including in key markets like the U.K. and France where fan communities continue to expand. We’re committed to meeting the audience where they are and making Disney+ the home of beloved anime storytelling – bringing culture, community and must-watch stories to one destination.”
Karl Holmes, general manager of Disney+ EMEA, added: “Anime fans have a handful of films they always come back to and love sharing, and this collection brings many of those favorites together. It’s easy to see why they’re so loved. Created by some of anime’s greatest storytellers, these films have inspired fans for years with unforgettable characters and extraordinary worlds. We can’t wait for our customers in the U.K. and France to discover them on Disney+.”
Kerry Kasim, co-managing director of Anime Limited, said: “Fresh off the back of Annecy Film Festival, anime remains one of the most compelling storytelling mediums for audiences today. We’re overjoyed to make Disney+ the home of such strong story-led features from some of anime’s brightest lights. French, British and Irish fans are in for a treat.”
The deal arrives as Disney+ and Hulu roll out the fourth year of their Animayhem campaign, spotlighting adult animation and anime across both platforms this summer. New additions include English-dubbed episodes of the Hulu Originals series “Undead Unluck: Winter Arc” (July 2) and “Mission: Yozakura Family” season two (July 15), along with the premieres of “Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation” season three (July 5), “Though I Am an Inept Villainess” (July 12) and “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity” (July 25). Subscribers can also stream franchises including “Attack on Titan,” “Naruto Shippuden” and “My Hero Academia” through the platforms’ Anime Animayhem Hub.
At Anime Expo, Disney+ and Hulu will stage the Animayhem Yokocho, an immersive walkthrough inspired by Tokyo’s alley culture spotlighting titles including “Naruto Classic,” “Tokyo Revengers,” “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War,” “Rooster Fighter,” “Mission: Yozakura Family,” “Though I Am an Inept Villainess” and “Undead Unluck: Winter Arc.” The convention will also host preview screenings of the first episodes of “Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi” and “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity.”
Globally, Disney+ and Hulu carry more than 500 anime titles spanning over 16,000 episodes and films, with “Naruto Shippuden,” “My Hero Academia” and “Bleach” ranking as the platforms’ most-streamed anime titles to date.
