AnotherBall (CEO: Shunsuke Oyu), an entertainment company that "transcends boundaries and creates experiences that communicate with others," announced today the acquisition of Studio Mayflower (CEO: Daisheng Tateno), an animation production company.
In recent years, the animation industry has been facing various problems such as soaring production costs and a shortage of animators, while demand for high-quality content is expected to increase. Specifically, it has been reported that 40% of animation studios in Japan were in the red in 2022 (※1), and it has become clear that many businesses are facing business challenges.
Mayflower is an animation production studio that has set out to confront these issues, focusing on streamlining the production process with new technologies and high quality standards. The company is aggressively integrating animation production with technology, including the use of 3D technology and digital software workflows.
The company is already involved in production cooperation for animated TV series and video production for large-scale IPs, and plans to announce more specific initiatives in the future.
AnotherBall, the parent company of Mayflower, will use this opportunity to deepen its commitment to the animation industry, and will continue to strive to create new examples of its work in the future.
■ Comment from Dai Chen Tatsuno, CEO of Studio Mayflower
Looking at the current state of the animation industry, the burden on producers continues to increase, and there is an urgent need to improve production efficiency through technology in order to maximize human creativity. We are very pleased to be working with Mr. Oyu, who shares the same aspirations in the field of global entertainment.
■ Comment from Shunsuke Oyu, CEO of AnotherBall
While traveling around the world after selling my first company, I had daily opportunities to realize how much Japanese content is respected and sought after around the world. Anime, in particular, is one of the biggest themes in my life, and has been a focal point for me for decades. I feel that Mayflower's management team is capable of solving problems in a way that has never been done before, and I am excited to work with them to give something back to the industry.
【About Studio Mayflower】
Studio Mayflower is a tech animation studio founded by Daisheng Tateno, who produced the character "Shuwachii," and Mutsumi Kai, a former Toei Animation employee. The company's mission is to improve the efficiency of animation production through the use of technology.
Website: https://mayflower.studio/
【About AnotherBall】
AnotherBall is a venture company whose core strategy is to "bring Japan's proud cultural assets such as anime and VTuber to the global stage through the power of technology". The company was founded in May 2022 by CEO Shunsuke Oyu and CTO Tatsuro Shimada. The management team are serial entrepreneurs who have previously launched and sold the family information site "Mamari" and the global VTuber office "PRISM Project".
Website: https://anotherball.com/
※1: Teikoku Databank. "Animation Production Continues to Suffer, 'Deficit' Ratio at Record High 40%, Market Declines for First Two Consecutive Years, Clear Disparity Between Large and Small Animation Production Companies". PR Times. 2022-8-12. https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000517.000043465.html, (see 2024-05-16)
