Crunchyroll founder launches AniBiz anime licensing hub
Crunchyroll founder and former CEO Kun Gao's Nakama launched AniBiz.com Thursday, a global B2B anime licensing marketplace backed by Aniplex of America, Toei Animation, and other major IP holders. The platform aims to centralize fragmented licensing so buyers worldwide can license anime IP through one verified channel.
Key Takeaways
- Nakama unveiled AniBiz.com as the first dedicated B2B marketplace built for the global anime industry.
- Launch partners include Aniplex of America, Toei Animation, Pony Canyon, TV Tokyo, and more than a dozen other licensors.
- The platform opens licensing to global buyers as the anime market is estimated to exceed $35 billion in 2026.
- Co-founders Kun Gao, Brady McCollum, and Sae Whan Song lead the effort to streamline rights deals in a centralized environment.
What Is AniBiz.com?
AniBiz.com is a new business-to-business marketplace from Nakama, the anime-focused media company co-founded by Crunchyroll founder Kun Gao. Nakama describes it as the first dedicated B2B platform built specifically for the global anime industry.
Led by co-founder and president Gao, co-founder and CEO Brady McCollum, and co-founder Sae Whan Song, AniBiz is designed to streamline the anime licensing process in a centralized, secure environment. The site went live Thursday and is now open to all global buyers and licensees.
Which Companies Are on AniBiz at Launch?
At launch, AniBiz.com has struck deals to support a wide roster of anime licensors. Partners include Aniplex of America, Toei Animation, Pony Canyon, TV Tokyo Corporation, TV Asahi Corporation, Tokyo Broadcasting System, TOHO Global, Avex Pictures, CyberAgent, Dentsu Anime Solutions, and TAKARATOMY, among others.
Additional launch licensors span ADK Emotions, Dai Nippon Printing, Fuji Creative Corporation, FURYU Pictures, Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures, Imagica Infos, Mainichi Broadcasting System, and Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation. The breadth of partners signals that major Japanese rights holders are backing a single official channel for global deals.
Why Does the Anime Industry Need AniBiz?
The launch comes as the global anime market is estimated to exceed $35 billion this year and as interest in anime IP rises beyond what the traditional, largely fragmented global licensing system can support. AniBiz says it addresses these challenges with a digital-first solution that respects the unique structure of Japanese anime licensing.
For decades, access to anime IP has largely depended on who you know, Gao said. By serving as the official marketplace for anime IP, AniBiz.com opens the door to emerging brands, manufacturers, creators, events, and startups looking to participate in the anime economy.
What Features Does AniBiz Offer Buyers and Sellers?
AniBiz promises data-driven insights into market trends and territory-specific demand, allowing buyers and sellers to make informed decisions about their global IP strategy. McCollum noted that anime licensing is uniquely complex, with rights fragmented across territories, formats, products, and time windows.
AniBiz was built for those realities, McCollum said, creating a trusted system that gives licensors greater visibility and control while helping buyers move faster with confidence. Song added that the platform enables the entire industry to engage directly with global partners interested in working with anime IP.
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