Japanese Entertainment Giant Toho Acquires Oscar-Winning Animation Distributor GKids

Japanese entertainment giant Toho has acquired Oscar-winning American animation distributor and producer GKids as part of its global expansion strategy.

New York and Los Angeles-based GKids will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Los Angeles-based Toho International, with GKids founder Eric Beckman and Dave Jesteadt remaining as CEO and president, respectively.

Furthers Toho’s Global Expansion Strategy

The acquisition accelerates Toho’s Toho Vision 2032 Toho Group Management Corporate Strategy to expand operations beyond Japan and connect creators and productions with the international fan base.

Builds on Existing Relationship

Toho is the Japanese domestic distributor for many of the same properties handled by GKids in North America, including the films of Studio Ghibli, Belle, and Mirai director Mamoru Hosoda, and Weathering With You director Makoto Shinkai. They have also collaborated on Studio Trigger’s Promare, and Spirited Away: Live On Stage.

About GKids

Beckman and Jesteadt have run GKids together since the company released the Oscar-nominated The Secret Of Kells as a two-person company back in 2009. Since then, the company has garnered 13 best animated feature nominations, including this year’s Academy Award winner, Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy And The Heron, which became Studio Ghibli’s highest earner at the North American box office with $46.8m.

Future Plans

Screen was unable to confirm that the acquisition by Toho will enable GKids to spend more on acquisitions and productions. However, speaking to Screen back in March, Jesteadt said the company planned to work on bigger releases, adding: “For the right film, there’s a very high ceiling as to where these types of stories can go.”

Conclusion

GKids’ acquisition by Toho marks a significant milestone in the expansion of Japanese entertainment in the global market. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toho International, GKids will continue to produce and distribute high-quality animated content, bringing Japanese and international audiences closer together.

FAQs

• What is the acquisition of GKids by Toho?
  • Toho, a Japanese entertainment giant, has acquired GKids, an American animation distributor and producer, as part of its global expansion strategy.
• What are the terms of the acquisition?
  • The financial terms of the 100% equity acquisition have not been disclosed.
• What are the benefits of the acquisition?
  • The acquisition accelerates Toho’s global expansion strategy and enables GKids to produce and distribute more content to a wider audience.
• Who will lead GKids after the acquisition?
  • GKids founder Eric Beckman and Dave Jesteadt will remain as CEO and president, respectively.