Toho Co., Ltd. has announced the acquisition of a 6.09% stake, purchasing 45 shares of CoMix Wave Films, a company famous for producing works by famous director Makoto Shinkai.
The move is part of Toho's broader strategy to enhance its animation capabilities, a key component of the company's long-term “TOHO VISION 2032” strategy. This strategy outlines the company's vision for sustainable growth through international expansion and increased intellectual property development.
CoMix Wave Films will continue to operate under the leadership of President Noritaka Kawaguchi and President Tomohiro Tokunaga following the acquisition.
Through this partnership, Toho and CoMix Wave Films plan to optimize the production environment. This will also give CoMix Wave Films access to Toho's vast distribution network and resources.
Toho and CoMix Wave Films have partnered with the Japanese entertainment giant to distribute films produced by the studio since Garden of Words .
This development comes on the heels of Toho's acquisition of GKIDS, the North American distributor responsible for Japanese animated films such as The Boy and the Heron of Studio Ghibli to a global audience.
CoMix Wave Films, originally founded in 2007 after splitting from CoMix Wave Inc., has become one of the most influential animation studios in Japan, mainly through its collaboration with Makoto Shinkai.
The studio behind global hit films such as Your Name. (2016), Weathering With You (2019) et Suzumeanh> (2022).
These films not only achieved commercial success but also brought Japanese animation into global mainstream cinema, with Your Name. received many Japanese Academy Awards and income Suzume a nomination at the Golden Globes.