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Toho Invests in Sumitomo, Fullscreen Media's AlphaBoat for Content Creation
posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
Sumitomo Corporation's SC Digital Media subsidiary announced last Wednesday that film studio and distributor TOHO invested in SC Digital Media's AlphaBoat content creation company. TOHO hopes to use the capital partnership to cultivate film and anime directors, artists, musicians, and other talent. The partnership will also involve AlphaBoat featuring the original work of directors and actors on its YouTube channel
SC Digital Media, Sumitomo's digital media content company, founded the AlphaBoat subsidiary in April, with American entertainment company Fullscreen Media also investing in AlphaBoat when it was founded.
Fullscreen Media is a subsidiary of Otter Media, the digital holding company that operates Crunchyroll's parent company Ellation, among other video services. Otter Media is co-owned by AT&T and the Chernin Group. Technology news website Recode reported last week that AT&T plans to buy all of Otter Media in a deal expected to close this summer.
Nelvana also entered into a partnership with Sumitomo Corporation earlier this year to co-produce "anime properties with international appeal," and will involve the creation of an original anime project targeted toward the North American market, alongside content creation company Zeroichi and former Cartoon Network president and COO Stuart Snyder.
The Chernin Group acquired a majority stake in Crunchyroll in December 2013. The Chernin Group and AT&T formed the joint venture Otter Media in 2014, and Otter Media invested another US$22 million in Crunchyroll's parent company Ellation in November 2015.
Source: SC Digital Media's official website, Animation Business Journal (Tadashi Sudo)
