Dade Hayes
Japanese media giant Toho is acquiring Gkids, the North American distributor of animated films like the Oscar-winning The Boy and the Heron as well as live-action hits like Godzilla Minus One.
Gkids will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Los Angeles-based Toho International. Gkids Founder Eric Beckman will remain as CEO, and Dave Jesteadt will remain as President.
The two execs have run GKIDS together since the company first released the Academy Award-nominated film The Secret of Kells as a two-person company in 2009. The company has gone on to rack up 13 Best Animated Feature nominations at the Academy Awards, winning last year for Hayao Miyazaki‘s The Boy and the Heron.
The deal advances Toho’s goal to grow outside of Japan, and aims to connect its Japanese and international productions, creators, and studios more directly and widely with creators and fans overseas. Toho acquired Japanese animation studio Science SARU (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, DAN DA DAN) and also made an equity investment in Los Angeles-based production and distribution company Fifth Season (Severance, Tokyo Vice), formerly known as Endeavor Content.
GKIDS adds to Toho an established and highly regarded North American theatrical and home entertainment distribution, marketing, and sales operation. Those assets are intended to complement the licensing, merchandising, and e-commerce operations of its Toho International banner.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
MORE to come …