‘Solo Leveling,”Demon Slayer’ Outfits Aniplex and Crunchyroll Launch New Anime Production Venture Hayate

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Aniplex Inc. and Crunchyroll, LLC have revealed the establishment of Hayate Inc., a new company focused on planning, developing, and producing anime content for the Crunchyroll streaming service available worldwide.

The Tokyo-based Hayate will draw staff from both parent companies and will be led by chair and CEO Masanori Miyake and president and COO Leo Watanabe, both executives from Aniplex.

Hayate will produce premium content for anime fans worldwide by combining Aniplex’s production expertise developed through partnerships with creators and studios with Crunchyroll’s development, marketing, and distribution capabilities built on its connections to the anime community.

Aniplex and Crunchyroll previously collaborated on “Solo Leveling,” “Demon Slayer” and “Bocchi the Rock!” As revealed by EbMaster, global music superstar J Balvin is making his first foray into anime voice acting, joining the cast of Crunchyroll and Aniplex’s “Solo Leveling Season 2 — Arise From the Shadow” in a key role.

In their statement, the companies noted that anime’s wide range of narratives, personalities, and artistic styles are fueling its growing global appeal as both entertaining media and a cultural phenomenon.

Aniplex, a diversified entertainment company primarily focused on Japanese anime, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. The company owns animation studios A-1 Pictures and CloverWorks, as well as game production company Lasengle Inc., known for titles like “Fate/Grand Order.”

Crunchyroll delivers a premium streaming service that features an extensive anime collection, in addition to events, movies, games, merchandise, and updates. This company functions as a joint venture with U.S.-based Sony Pictures Entertainment and Japan’s Aniplex, both subsidiaries of the Tokyo-based Sony Group, independently managed.

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2025-03-17 11:17