U-Next Holdings, a Tokyo-based conglomerate, is acquiring animation studio GoHands to integrate production and streaming. The deal, closing June 1, aims to strengthen U-Next's IP business and create a more cohesive entertainment ecosystem, potentially impacting how anime is produced and distributed on their platform.
U-Next Holdings announced it will acquire all shares of GoHands, making the studio a wholly owned subsidiary. The acquisition is expected to close on June 1. U-Next intends to leverage GoHands' production capabilities to enhance its streaming platform's content pipeline and build a more integrated entertainment ecosystem around its IP.
For anime fans, this vertical integration could mean more exclusive or timely series on U-Next, as the company now controls both production and distribution. It reflects a growing trend of streaming platforms acquiring studios to secure content, which may influence where and how new anime are released, including potential adaptations of web novels and light novels.
U-Next is a major Japanese streaming service offering anime, dramas, and movies. GoHands is known for anime like 'K' and 'Hand Shakers'. The acquisition aligns with industry moves toward vertical consolidation.
Original source: https://myanimelist.net/news/74276461?_location=rss
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