Bandai Namco Takes Control of Anime Consortium Japan, Daisuki

Mark Schilling

Japanese games giant, Bandai Namco is to buy out its partners in Anime Consortium Japan. ACN’s main business is licensing and streaming Japanese animation abroad via its Daisuki website

Bandai Namco currently owns 36% of ACN and announced that will spend $18.5 million (JPY2.1 billion) to make it a wholly-owned subsidiary. The other partners in ACN are publishers Kodansha, Shueisha, Shogakukan and Kadokawa, merchandise firm Good Smile Company, anime studio Toei Animation and the government’s Cool Japan Fund.

Launched in November 2014, ACJ is facing stiffening competition from other streaming services run by major industry players. Namco hopes to make it a more nimble operator.

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