Toho Co., Japan’s leading film distributor, has acquired a 6.09% stake in CoMix Wave Films, the animation studio renowned for producing Makoto Shinkai’s blockbuster hits. The deal, announced alongside Toho’s second-quarter results, marks a deepening of ties between the two companies.
CoMix Wave Films, established in 2007 by Noriyoshi Kawaguchi, has gained international acclaim for its original works, particularly Shinkai’s films like “Your Name” and “Suzume.” The share transfer was initiated by Kawaguchi, though the financial terms remain undisclosed.
This move follows recent leadership changes at CoMix Wave Films, with Kawaguchi stepping into the chairman role and Tomohiro Tokunaga taking over as president in June. The partial share transfer appears to be part of a broader succession strategy as the studio enters its 18th year of operation.
While Toho’s investment is relatively small, it solidifies a long-standing partnership. The distributor has handled Shinkai’s last four films, collaborating on production committees for recent projects. This equity stake positions Toho to benefit from future collaborations with the critically acclaimed studio.
