Animation studio MAPPA, the company behind a growing slate of hit anime, announced on November 11 that it has signed a business alliance agreement with CyberAgent. CyberAgent has also acquired a stake in MAPPA’s parent company, MHD Co., Ltd., establishing a long-term partnership that paved the way for the new alliance.
This marks another major industry partnership for MAPPA in recent years, following its strategic partnership with streaming platform Netflix.
The two companies have previously collaborated on anime planning, broadcasting and streaming through ABEMA, and game adaptations.
The new agreement is intended to deepen that relationship and establish a long-term partnership. Going forward, the companies will combine MAPPA’s animation production capabilities with the CyberAgent Group’s expertise in media, games, and advertising. They will explore collaboration across a wide range of areas, including anime planning and production, broadcasting and streaming, games, merchandise, and events, with the goal of bringing their works to audiences around the world.
MAPPA President and CEO Manabu Otsuka said that working with companies that bring different strengths has reinforced the importance of looking beyond the interests of any single business and considering how partners can create better experiences for audiences together. He added that MAPPA will continue to prioritize quality while moving forward with production and promotion at an appropriate pace.
CyberAgent Representative Director and President Takahiro Yamauchi said the companies will adopt “Creative First” as a shared value, combining their respective expertise in anime, games, and media to pursue a broader range of collaborative projects and business opportunities. He also emphasized that the partnership will take a medium- to long-term approach to creating greater global value for original anime from Japan.
CyberAgent’s anime production arm, CyberAgent ANIME, already operates in the same field, opening the door to closer collaboration on future animation projects. The companies plan to work together across a broad spectrum of areas, from anime planning and production to broadcasting and streaming, games, merchandise, and events.
via： MAPPA CyberAgent