Anime Streaming Channel "Animeka" Launched in Japan
Led by the largest manga publisher, Shueisha Co. Ltd., and the largest digital content distributor in Japan, my theater D.D. Co., Ltd., along with TV Tokyo Co., Ltd., and Toei Animation Co., Ltd., the new service aims to spread animation directly from Japan while further developing the animation industry. All four companies created the "Animeka Limited Liability Partnership" to be in charge of operations.
Within the Apple TV app, the service is available not only on Apple devices, iPhone, iPad, Apple TVs, iPod Touch and Mac, but also in most Sony and LG smart TVs. Additionally, users can join via the Apple TV app on most Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation, and Xbox.
Animeka is the first all-you-can-watch Japanese anime channel in the Apple TV app and it's currently only available in Japan but an international roll-out is expected.
Its content includes hundreds of animations in a wide range of genres, from overlooked past titles to top licenses currently on air like “My Hero Academia - 5th Season”. Original content is also to be released exclusively on Animeka as the service expands. Some of which will include spin-offs and documentaries based on popular anime.
A 14-day free trial is available, the monthly subscription is 450 Japanese yen (tax included), it allows online and offline video-on-demand anime watching and can be shared with up to six family members by enabling family sharing.
The main purpose of the Animeka Limited Liability Partnership is to “make Japanese animation more energetic" and plans to expand Animeka to the rest of the world as soon as possible. Through this venture, the intention is to provide customers in Japan and around the world with more means to enjoy anime, and with their support make the animation industry stronger on its own. All this in order to ultimately enable an industry environment where animations can be produced in a more abundant and healthier manner than today.
