‘Your Name’, ‘Ghost in the Shell 2’ Land on Disney+ in Anime Deal
Disney+ adds celebrated Japanese anime films, including ‘Your Name’. and “Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence” to British and French libraries through a licensing deal with Anime Limited, the companies revealed, as Disney+ and Hulu’s fourth annual Animayhem campaign kicks off this summer with new anime titles.
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 Britain and Ireland, while the rest of the series will be available in both Britain and France. Several titles, including “Belle,” “Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence,” “Mirai,” and “Weathering with You,” will mark their streaming debuts in both territories. Premiere dates for individual films will be announced at a later date.
Lauren Tempest, head of content planning and partnerships, DTC at the Walt Disney Company, said: “Anime is a powerful global storytelling force that resonates deeply with audiences around the world, including in key markets like Britain and France, where fan communities continue to expand. We want to meet audiences wherever they are and make Disney+ the home of beloved anime stories – bringing culture, community and must-watch stories into one destination.”
Karl Holmes, Managing Director of Disney+ EMEA, added: “Anime fans have a handful of films they always come back to and love to share, and this collection brings together many of those favorites. It’s easy to see why they’re so loved. Created by some of anime’s greatest storytellers, these films have been inspiring fans for years with unforgettable characters and extraordinary worlds. We can’t wait for our customers in the UK and France to discover them on Disney+.”
Kerry Kasim, co-managing director of Anime Limited, said: “Fresh from the Annecy Film Festival, anime remains one of the most compelling storytelling mediums for audiences today. We’re thrilled to make Disney+ the home of such strong story films from some of anime’s brightest figures. French, British and Irish fans are in for a treat.”
The deal comes as Disney+ and Hulu roll out the fourth year of their Animayhem campaign, spotlighting adult animation and anime on both platforms this summer. New additions include English-language 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’ via the platform’s Anime Animayhem Hub.
At Anime Expo, Disney+ and Hulu will host Animayhem Yokocho, an immersive walkthrough inspired by Tokyo’s alley culture, spotlighting titles such as “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 offer more than 500 anime titles spanning more than 16,000 episodes and films, with “Naruto Shippuden,” “My Hero Academia” and “Bleach” being the platform’s most streamed anime titles to date.
