ITOCHU Announces Entry into Animation Business! In addition to investing in a new company, SKY Perfect Pictures, four animated films are being produced!

ITOCHU Corporation, a major general trading company, has announced that it will enter the animation business.

ITOCHU will invest in SKY Perfect Pictures Corporation, which will be established on April 1, 2024 by SKY Perfect JSAT to plan, invest in production, sell, and conduct peripheral businesses related to visual content centering on animation, and will enter the animation business.

While the Japanese animation market has recently seen an increase in overseas sales due to its global popularity, the development of related products such as character goods is still in its infancy, and is expected to expand further in the future.

Therefore, SKY Perfect Pictures was established at that time as an organization dedicated to the production of animation products. Currently, the company has begun production of four animated films. ITOCHU aims to produce more than 10 animated films within the next few years, starting from the planning stage and expanding both domestically and internationally.

In 2021, ITOCHU will establish Rights & Brands Asia Ltd. in Hong Kong to conduct animation and character licensing business, and is promoting video distribution and merchandising for the Asian region. By entering the animation business through its participation in SKY Perfect Pictures, ITOCHU will build a system that will enable it to promote the overseas development of animation works produced by the company and the licensing of related products in an integrated manner, thereby expanding the fan base for Japanese animation works and supporting the company's growth.

In addition,ITOCHU has set "Business Reform through 'Market-In'" as a basic policy of its medium-term management plan.
In recent years, manga and anime have grown from subculture to main culture and have become a catalyst for stimulating consumption. Through this business, ITOCHU intends to accumulate knowledge and expertise in the animation business and provide new products and services that meet the diversifying needs of customers in the lifestyle consumption field, which is one of its strengths, while at the same time aiming for further global expansion of Japan's proud animation works.