Japanese entertainment giant Toho Co. is adding another piece to its animation portfolio by acquiring a 19.7% stake in Orange Co., a specialized CGI animation studio known for its distinctive cell-shaded style productions.
The deal, scheduled to close on January 17, 2025, marks Toho’s latest move to consolidate its position in Japan’s competitive animation market. Orange, founded in 2004 by Eiji Inomoto, has gained industry recognition for titles like “Land of the Lustrous” and “BEASTARS.”
This investment follows Toho’s recent acquisition spree, including the purchase of U.S. film distributor GKIDS in October 2024 and taking control of Science SARU animation studio. The company also holds a 6% stake in Makoto Shinkai’s production house, CoMix Wave Films.
The partnership builds on existing collaborations between the companies, including work on “Godzilla Singular Point” and other successful projects. Industry observers note that Toho’s strategy focuses on premium content creation rather than mass production, as it faces industry-wide challenges of talent and studio shortages.
The transaction value wasn’t disclosed.
