Nippon TV launches the first anime department, directed by Kako Kuwahara

Having recently announced two promotions within its International Business Division (IBD), Nippon TV, Japan's leading cross-platform entertainment center, has announced the creation of a new department within its Business Development division, where it is including IBD.

Effective immediately is the launch of the Anime Department which will be led by Kako Kuwahara, who was promoted to Executive Vice President of Business Development, previously as CEO of IBD. The first international project announced as part of this new department is the anime based on the award-winning novel TSUKIMICHI -Moonlight fantasy- (12 x 30 ′) produced by C2C Studios (Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina), with Nippon TV acting as a distributor with all international rights.

The announcement was made Tuesday by Keiichi Sawa, operations officer and president of business development for Nippon TV, to whom Kuwahara will report.

“For many years, anime has been a mainstay of Nippon TV and we have produced successful anime series such as Lupine the 3rd, Death Note, HUNTER X HUNTER and many others. But now is the perfect time for us to create a department focused solely on anime as this genre is loved by so many around the world, "Sawa said." We will produce and distribute the coveted anime series nationally and internationally, and Kako Kuwahara is the ideal manager to lead this department "

"I am honored to be the first EVP of the first Anime Department in Nippon TV history. I am also proud to present TSUKIMICHI -Moonlight fantasy- as our first international anime distribution, "Kuwahara commented." In addition to securing the international distribution rights to this award-winning series, we were also able to select the best Japanese voice actors with credits including Demon Slayer: Kimetsu from Yaiba e My Hero Academia. We see young international generations looking to anime heroes and voice actors, with anime being an important part of their lives. It is my desire, along with Nippon TV's commitment, to further strengthen our anime production, create new global hits, improve our global distribution of these series, and ultimately reach as many anime fans as possible for generations. "

TSUKIMICH -Moonlit Fantasy- is an animated series based on the award winning novel and manga of the same title, written by Kei Azumi. The story follows Makoto Misumi - just an ordinary high school student living a normal life, who is suddenly summoned to the other world to become a "hero".

The otherworldly goddess, however, insults him for being different and strips him of the title of "hero", before throwing him into the desert at the edge of the world. As he wanders through the wilderness, Makoto encounters dragons, spiders, orcs, dwarves and all manner of non-human tribes. Since Makoto comes from a different world, he is capable of unleashing unimaginable magical powers and fighting abilities. But how will she manage her encounters with various species and survive in her new environment? In this fantasy tale, Makoto tries to turn the other world into a better place despite the humans and gods turning their backs on him.

Nippon TV is Japan's leading cross-platform entertainment producer and audience champion, and owner of streaming giant Hulu Japan. The nation's top producer of all genres of content has been producing animation programs since the 50s and luring anime fanatics with legendary series such as Lupine The 3rd, Anpanman, Monster, Death Note, Ouran High School Host Club, Claymore, HUNTER × HUNTER, Chihayafuru Series, Parasyte-the maxim-, Death Parade and more recently The Sorcerer Dagger Orphen, which are instantly distributed in nearly 200 countries at the same time as its release in Japan.

Nippon TV strategically owns two major animation production companies, MADHOUSE Inc. and Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd., and has a long-term relationship with Oscar-winning animation studio Studio Ghibli and Studio Chizu, nominated for an award. Oscar, continues to lead the Japanese content industry with fascinating animations distributed globally.