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{{short description|US anime distributor}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{for|the UK company formerly known as Manga Entertainment and also currently known as Crunchyroll Ltd.|Crunchyroll UK and Ireland}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2009}}
{{lead rewrite|date=September 2009}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{update|date=June 2017}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
}}

{{Infobox company
| name = Manga Entertainment Ltd.
| logo = Manga Entertainment UK Logo.png
| logo_size = 200px
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| key_people = Jerome Mazandarani (General manager), [[Andy Frain]] (Former CEO, Founder)
| industry = Entertainment ([[anime]])
| products = Anime theatrical and direct marketing and production; see [[List of titles released by Manga Entertainment|list of titles]]
| revenue =
| num_employees =
| owner = [[Sony]] (95%, {{small|[[Aniplex]] and [[Sony Pictures Television]] joint ownership}})<br>[[Gen Fukunaga]] (5%)
| parent = [[Funimation]]
| company_slogan =
| foundation = 1987<!-- To the IP users: if I or another registered user catch you changing the year back to 1991, knowing that the company was launched in 1987, I will report you to ANI. Thank you. - King Shadeed -->
| location = [[London]], [[England]], United Kingdom
| homepage = {{URL|www.mangauk.com/homepage|www.mangauk.com}}
}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Manga Entertainment, LLC
| name = Manga Entertainment, LLC
| logo = MangoEntertainmentLogo.png
| logo = Manga Entertainment.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_caption = The Manga Entertainment U.S. logo
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| fate = Absorbed into [[Starz Inc.]] (later [[Lionsgate#Home entertainment|Lionsgate Home Entertainment]]) (U.S. branch)<br />Acquired by Funimation (now known as [[Crunchyroll LLC|Crunchyroll, LLC]]) (UK branch)
| key_people =
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| industry = Entertainment ([[anime]])
| key_people =
| former_name = L.A. Hero (1991-1993)
| industry = Entertainment ([[anime]])
| products = Anime theatrical and direct marketing and production; see [[List of titles released by Manga Entertainment|list of titles]]
| revenue =
| former_name =
| successors = [[Starz Inc.]]/[[Lionsgate#Home entertainment|Lionsgate Home Entertainment]] (2011–present, U.S. branch)<br />[[Crunchyroll UK and Ireland]] (2021–present, UK branch)
| owner =
| num_employees =
| products = Anime
| revenue =
| parent = [[Lionsgate Home Entertainment]]
| owner = [[Lionsgate]]
| num_employees =
| parent = [[Lionsgate#Home entertainment|Lionsgate Home Entertainment]]
| company_slogan =
| company_slogan =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1991|1|17}} (UK branch)<br /> {{Start date and age|1993}} (U.S. branch)
| foundation = 1991
| defunct = {{End date and age|2017}} (U.S. branch)<br /> {{End date and age|2021|4|19}} (UK branch)
| location = [[Los Angeles]], California, United States
| location = [[Los Angeles]], California, United States
| homepage = {{URL|www.manga.com}}
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.manga.com/}}
| predecessor =
}}
}}


'''Manga Entertainment''' is a producer, licensee, and distributor of [[anime|Japanese animation]] in the United Kingdom. It also co-produces several anime series, including ''[[Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|Ghost in the Shell]]'', ''[[Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation]]'', ''[[Highlander: The Search for Vengeance]]'' and ''[[Eon Kid]]'',<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2005-09-08/manga-entertainment-announces-international-partnership-for-iron-kid | title=Manga Entertainment Announces International Partnership for Iron Kid | publisher=Anime News Network | date=September 8, 2005 | accessdate=November 5, 2007}}</ref> usually through financial contributions toward production costs.
'''Manga Entertainment''' was a producer, licensee, and distributor of [[anime]] in the United States and the United Kingdom. Originally founded in the UK in 1987, the UK branch became Funimation UK and Ireland in 2021, also currently known as [[Crunchyroll UK and Ireland|Crunchyroll Ltd.]] since 2022, while its U.S. branch was absorbed into [[Starz Inc.]] (now owned by [[Lionsgate]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mangauk.com/about-us/|title=About Us|access-date=September 19, 2020|archive-date=October 19, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201019201429/https://www.mangauk.com/about-us/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Despite its name, the company's principal business was the distribution of [[anime]] rather than [[manga]], although they have published some manga (such as ''[[Crying Freeman]]'') under the Manga Books imprint.<ref>{{cite book | last=Shirow | first=Masamune | author-link=Masamune Shirow|others=trans. Studio Proteus | title=Appleseed Volume One: The Promethean Challenge | edition=UK | publisher=Manga Publishing | location=London | isbn=1-900097-01-X | orig-year=1985 | year=1995}}</ref>


== History ==
Manga has also played a part in [[dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbing]] anime, when it is not sub-licensing a production that has already been licensed by another company (e.g., ''[[Akira (1988 film)|Akira]]'', licensed and redubbed by [[Geneon]] in 2001, ''[[Bounty Dog]]'', and ''[[Lupin III: Bye Bye Liberty Crisis]]''). It is also the designated home video distributor for the ''[[Pokémon (anime)|Pokémon]]'' franchise in the UK, including some of the movies apart from the ones distributed by [[Miramax]] (among them ''[[Pokémon: The First Movie]]'').<ref>{{cite web|title=Manga Entertainment Brings Pokémon to the UK on Blu-ray|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=19538|website=Blu-ray.com|accessdate=July 29, 2016}}</ref>

Despite its name, the company's principal business is the distribution of [[anime]] rather than [[manga]], although they have published some manga, such as ''[[Crying Freeman]]'',<ref>{{cite book | last=Shirow | first=Masamune | authorlink=Masamune Shirow|others=trans. Studio Proteus | title=Appleseed Volume One: The Promethean Challenge | edition=UK | publisher=Manga Publishing | location=London | isbn=1-900097-01-X | origyear=1985 | year=1995}}</ref> in the United Kingdom under the Manga Books imprint.

== Company history ==
=== Major history ===
[[File:Manga Entertainment's Manga Video imprint, circa 1991.jpg|thumb|left|Manga Entertainment's original logo and initial imprint]]
[[File:Manga Entertainment's Manga Video imprint, circa 1991.jpg|thumb|left|Manga Entertainment's original logo and initial imprint]]


Manga Entertainment (formerly Island World Communications) was founded in 1991 as a subsidiary of [[Chris Blackwell]]'s and [[John Heyman]]'s Island World Group. IWC took over the company number for Golden Square Music, also founded by John Heyman, but has had no relationship to IWC or Manga.<ref>https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02202664</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/answerman/2015-09-14/.92910|title=Answerman - What Ever Happened to Manga Entertainment? (PART ONE: UK Edition)|work=Anime News Network|access-date=2019-06-28|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/story-behind-film-akira/|title=Akira: The story behind the film|work=Empire Online|access-date=2019-06-28|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.amazon.com/Animation-Asia-Pacific-John-Lent/dp/0253340357|title=Chapter 4: The Development of the Japanese Animation Audience in the UK and France by Helen McCarthy|work=Amazon Books Online|access-date=2019-06-29|language=en}}</ref>
Manga Entertainment (formerly Island World Communications) was founded in London in 1991 by [[Chris Blackwell]] and Laurence Guinness <ref>{{cite web | url=https://animehistory.co.uk/Company/Manga_Entertainment | title=Anime History - Manga Entertainment }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> as a subsidiary of [[Island Records]]' Island World Group. IWC took over the company number for Golden Square Music, but had no relationship to IWC or Manga.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02202664|title=MANGA ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|access-date=July 4, 2019|archive-date=July 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704223504/https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02202664|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ann">{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/answerman/2015-09-14/.92910|title=Answerman - What Ever Happened to Manga Entertainment?|work=Anime News Network|access-date=June 28, 2019|language=en|archive-date=July 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722132743/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/answerman/2015-09-14/.92910|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/story-behind-film-akira/|title=Akira: The story behind the film|work=Empire Online|access-date=June 28, 2019|language=en|archive-date=September 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909041713/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/story-behind-film-akira/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Chapter 4: The Development of the Japanese Animation Audience in the UK and France by Helen McCarthy|work=Amazon Books Online|isbn=0253340357|language=en|last1=Lent|first1=John A.|year=2001}}</ref> Manga Entertainment expanded into North America in 1993 with the purchase of L.A. Hero, forming Manga U.S. while Manga UK entered the Australian market in late 1993 and began releasing titles in January 1994 in conjunction with the Australian division of Island's parent company, [[PolyGram]] and local independent distributor Siren Entertainment.


On May 13, 2004, [[Starz Distribution|IDT Entertainment]] announced they would purchase Manga U.S., becoming a subsidiary of IDT Entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040513005288/en/IDT-Entertainment-Acquires-Manga-Entertainment-Company-Gains-Extensive-Library-of-Japanese-Animation-Programming|title=IDT Entertainment Acquires Manga Entertainment; Company Gains Extensive Library of Japanese Animation Programming|date=May 13, 2004|website=www.businesswire.com|access-date=September 19, 2020|archive-date=February 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228130307/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040513005288/en/IDT-Entertainment-Acquires-Manga-Entertainment-Company-Gains-Extensive-Library-of-Japanese-Animation-Programming|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2005, Manga UK and Manga U.S. began to operate independently from each other, but still remain under the same ownership.<ref name="ann" /> [[Liberty Media]] would then purchase IDT Entertainment in 2006<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20060516005627/en/Liberty-Media-to-Acquire-IDT-Entertainment-Starzs-Top-Premium-Television-Service-to-Join-With-IDTs-Animation-and-Live-Action-Production-and-Home-Entertainment-Distribution-Business|title=Liberty Media to Acquire IDT Entertainment; Starz's Top Premium Television Service to Join With IDT's Animation and Live Action Production and Home Entertainment Distribution Business|date=May 16, 2006|website=www.businesswire.com|access-date=September 19, 2020|archive-date=February 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228130317/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20060516005627/en/Liberty-Media-to-Acquire-IDT-Entertainment-Starzs-Top-Premium-Television-Service-to-Join-With-IDTs-Animation-and-Live-Action-Production-and-Home-Entertainment-Distribution-Business|url-status=live}}</ref> and would be renamed as [[Starz Distribution|Starz Media]].
One of the company's early video releases was [[Katsuhiro Otomo]]'s masterpiece ''[[Akira (1988 film)|Akira]]'', (licensed from the ICA and released on the Island World label). Akira became a critical and commercial success, and this encouraged Frain to make his first trip to Tokyo to negotiate licensing deals directly with Japanese producers, distributors and publishers. The company's next anime titles, which included ''[[Fist of the North Star]]'', ''[[Venus Wars]]'', ''[[Project A-ko]]'', and ''[[Dominion (manga)|New Dominion Tank Police]]'' were all released on the new Manga Video label, and by the end of 1992 the label's identity was firmly established, with many of the UK's retailers including Virgin and HMV having created dedicated Manga Video sections. By this time the Island World Group had divided into John Heyman's World Films and Chris Blackwell's Island Pictures, and it was agreed that Island World Communications would be part of Blackwell's Island Group. Blackwell also agreed with Frain's idea that the company should now focus its business activities primarily on Japanese animation, and in March 1993 the company's name was consequently changed to Manga Entertainment Ltd.


In 2011, Manga U.S. ceased licensing new products after the release of ''[[Redline (2009 film)|Redline]]'' and was absorbed into Starz Media. On August 8, 2012, Liberty Media announced that it would spin-off Starz Media into a separate publicly traded company.<ref>"New York Deadline" [https://deadline.com/2012/08/liberty-media-starz-spin-off-315388/ Liberty Media Says It Will Spin Off Starz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228130256/https://deadline.com/2012/08/liberty-media-starz-spin-off-315388/ |date=February 28, 2023 }} deadline.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2012</ref> The spin-off of [[Starz Inc.]] was completed on January 15, 2013<ref>"Yahoo Finance" [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/liberty-media-spins-off-starz-135852048.html Liberty Media Spins-off Starz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814112906/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/liberty-media-spins-off-starz-135852048.html |date=August 14, 2021 }} finance.yahoo.com Zacks Equity Research, Retrieved on January 24, 2013</ref> which included all subsidiaries.
Over the next few years, Frain licensed over 100 anime titles (mostly features and high quality OVAs) including ''[[Appleseed (1988 film)|Appleseed]]'', ''[[Patlabor]]'', ''[[Macross]]'', ''[[Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie]]'', ''[[Space Adventure Cobra: The Movie]]'', ''[[Battle Angel (OVA)|Battle Angel Alita]]'', ''[[A.D. Police Files]]'', ''[[3×3 Eyes]]'', ''[[Angel Cop]]'', ''[[Vampire Hunter D (1985 film)|Vampire Hunter D]]'', ''[[Ninja Scroll]]'', ''[[Crying Freeman]]'', ''[[Golgo 13: The Professional]]'', ''[[Wicked City (1987 film)|Wicked City]]'', ''[[Cyber City Oedo 808]]'', ''[[Goku Midnight Eye]]'', ''[[Grave of the Fireflies]]'', ''[[Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise]]'', ''[[Roujin Z]]'', ''[[The Castle of Cagliostro]]'' and the controversial ''[[Legend of the Overfiend]]''. Initially rights were mostly acquired for Europe and Australasia with John O'Donnell's Central Park Media acquiring North American rights, and with CPM and Manga Entertainment sharing the cost of the English language dubs. Frain and Blackwell discussed a purchase of CPM with O'Donnell but when negotiations broke down, Frain successfully negotiated the acquisition of L.A. Hero, the US home video division of Japanese anime producer, Hero Communications. This provided the company with the catalogue to launch in the US in 1994. Marvin Gleicher, a former record company exec who worked for Blackwell was then hired as the CEO of the newly formed Manga Entertainment Inc., with the sales and marketing division in Chicago, and creative services in Los Angeles under former L.A. Hero boss Ken Iyadomi. In 1995, Iyadomi decided to return to work for Bandai and all the US company activities were consolidated in Chicago.


=== 2015–present ===
Throughout 1994 and 1995, Frain acquired more feature and OVA titles now with a global (excluding Asia) market in mind. He also purchased the UK division of [[Dark Horse Comics]] to start Manga Publishing and a small UK based CGI studio Manga Studios, and with his UK team, established sub-licensing deals in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy, and Spain. Frain also embarked on the company's first co-productions; [[Buichi Terasawa]]'s ''[[Cobra (manga)|Cobra]]'' and ''[[Ghost in the Shell (1995 film)|Ghost in the Shell]]'' directed by [[Mamoru Oshii]]. At the end of 1995, Frain left Manga Entertainment but retained a minority interest in the company. Marvin Gleicher then took over from Frain as worldwide CEO and UK sales and marketing director Mike Preece was promoted to managing director and Laurence Guinness became vice president.
On February 26, 2015, the UK branch was acquired from Starz Media, alongside its parent Anchor Bay UK, by managing director Colin Lomax.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-02-26/starz-sells-manga-entertainment/.85400 | title=Starz Sells Manga Entertainment | publisher=[[Anime News Network]] | date=February 26, 2015 | access-date=February 28, 2019 | archive-date=February 28, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228130256/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-02-26/starz-sells-manga-entertainment/.85400 | url-status=live }}</ref> Anchor Bay UK was renamed to Platform Entertainment and went on to have exclusive rights to the Manga Entertainment branding and catalog in the UK and Ireland.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/colin-lomax-former-anchor-bay-uk-chief-dies-aged-56/5125270.article|title=Colin Lomax, former Anchor Bay UK chief, dies aged 56|work=Screen|access-date=February 10, 2018|language=en|archive-date=February 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209024014/https://www.screendaily.com/news/colin-lomax-former-anchor-bay-uk-chief-dies-aged-56/5125270.article|url-status=live}}</ref>


In June 2016, [[Lionsgate]] announced they would acquire [[Starz Inc.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/lionsgate-buys-starz-1201781609/|title=Lionsgate Agrees To Buy Starz For $4.4 Billion In Cash And Stock|last=Lieberman|first=David|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 30, 2016|access-date=June 30, 2016|archive-date=July 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701135434/https://deadline.com/2016/06/lionsgate-buys-starz-1201781609/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Acquisition2">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/starz-lionsgate-close-acquisition-1201937471/|title=Lionsgate, Starz Close $4.4 Billion Acquisition|last=Schwindt|first=Oriana|work=Variety|date=December 8, 2016|access-date=December 8, 2016|archive-date=February 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228130256/https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/starz-lionsgate-close-acquisition-1201937471/|url-status=live}}</ref> which would eventually be completed in December 2016, placing Manga U.S. under [[Lionsgate Home Entertainment]]. In the same month, Kaleidoscope Film Distribution announced they had purchased Platform Entertainment and confirmed that they would split Manga UK off to become separately operated. After Platform Entertainment stopped distributing Manga titles, they went on to having their titles released in the UK by Spirit Entertainment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/distribution/kaleidoscope-buys-distributor-platform-entertainment/5111952.article|title=Kaleidoscope buys distributor Platform Entertainment|website=Screen|access-date=July 4, 2019|archive-date=February 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212025640/https://www.screendaily.com/distribution/kaleidoscope-buys-distributor-platform-entertainment/5111952.article|url-status=live}}</ref>
On May 13, 2004, [[Starz Distribution|IDT Entertainment]] announced they would purchase Manga Entertainment.<ref>https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040513005288/en/IDT-Entertainment-Acquires-Manga-Entertainment-Company-Gains</ref> Afterwards, the purchase was complete and both Manga UK and Manga US became subsidiaries of IDT Entertainment. In 2005, Manga UK and Manga US began to operate independently from each other, but still remaining under the same ownership.


In 2017, [[Lionsgate Home Entertainment]] relaunched Manga U.S.' website and [[Facebook]] and [[Twitter|X (Twitter)]] page, and confirmed a re-launch in the near future. Lionsgate currently licenses the Manga Entertainment brand-name from [[Crunchyroll UK and Ireland|Crunchyroll]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.manga.com/|title=Manga|website=www.manga.com|access-date=May 1, 2020|archive-date=September 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926154234/https://www.manga.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the following year, the CEO Colin Lomax had died, during between the Christmas 2017 and New Year 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-01-03/manga-entertainment-ceo-colin-lomax-passes-away/.126015|title=Manga Entertainment CEO Colin Lomax Passes Away|website=Anime News Network|date=January 3, 2018|access-date=January 3, 2024|archive-date=January 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103033302/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-01-03/manga-entertainment-ceo-colin-lomax-passes-away/.126015|url-status=live}}</ref> As of September 2023, the relaunch did not happen as of yet, with some of Manga's titles like ''Ghost in the Shell'' being rereleased under the main Lionsgate banner.
[[Liberty Media]] would then purchase IDT Entertainment in 2006<ref>https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20060516005627/en/Liberty-Media-Acquire-IDT-Entertainment-Starzs-Top</ref> and would be renamed to [[Starz Distribution|Starz Media]].


== See also ==
In 2011, Manga US ceased licensing new products after the release of ''[[Redline (2009 film)|Redline]]'' and went dormant.
* [[Entertainment One]]

* ''[[Manga Force: The Ultimate Collection]]''
On August 8, 2012, Liberty Media announced that it would spin-off Starz Media into a separate publicly traded company.<ref>"New York Deadline" [http://www.deadline.com/2012/08/liberty-media-starz-spin-off/ Liberty Media Says It Will Spin Off Starz] deadline.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2012</ref> The spin-off of '''[[Starz Inc.]]''' was completed on January 15, 2013<ref>"Yahoo Finance" [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/liberty-media-spins-off-starz-135852048.html Liberty Media Spins-off Starz] finance.yahoo.com Zacks Equity Research, Retrieved on January 24, 2013</ref> which included all subsidiaries, including Manga.

In February 26, 2015, the UK branch would be bought from Starz Media alongside its parent Anchor Bay UK to managing director Colin Lomax.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-02-26/starz-sells-manga-entertainment/.85400|title=Starz Sells Manga Entertainment | publisher=[[Anime News Network]] | date=February 26, 2015 | accessdate=February 28, 2019}}</ref> Anchor Bay UK was renamed to Platform Entertainment and went on to have exclusive rights to the Manga Entertainment branding and catalog in the UK and Ireland.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/colin-lomax-former-anchor-bay-uk-chief-dies-aged-56/5125270.article|title=Colin Lomax, former Anchor Bay UK chief, dies aged 56|work=Screen|access-date=2018-02-10|language=en}}</ref>

In June 2016, [[Lionsgate]] announced they would acquire [[Starz Inc.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deadline.com/2016/06/lionsgate-buys-starz-1201781609/|title=Lionsgate Agrees To Buy Starz For $4.4 Billion In Cash And Stock|last=Lieberman|first=David|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 30, 2016|accessdate=June 30, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Acquisition2">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/starz-lionsgate-close-acquisition-1201937471/|title=Lionsgate, Starz Close $4.4 Billion Acquisition|last=Schwindt|first=Oriana|work=Variety|date=December 8, 2016|accessdate=December 8, 2016}}</ref> which would eventually be completed in December 2016, placing Manga US under [[Lionsgate Home Entertainment]]. In the same month, Kaleidoscope Film Distribution announced they had purchased Platform Entertainment and confirmed that they would split Manga UK off to become separately operated.<ref>https://www.screendaily.com/distribution/kaleidoscope-buys-distributor-platform-entertainment/5111952.article</ref>

In 2017, [[Lionsgate Home Entertainment]] relaunched Manga US' website and [[Facebook]] and [[Twitter]] page, and confirmed a re-launch in the near future. Lionsgate currently licenses the Manga Entertainment brand-name from the now non-related UK branch.

=== Manga Entertainment UK ===
{{see also|Manga Force: The Ultimate Collection}}

On May 29, 2019, [[Funimation]] announced that they had acquired Manga Entertainment UK, merging Funimation's UK business with Manga Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.funimation.com/blog/2019/05/29/funimation-acquires-uk-anime-distributor-manga-entertainment-limited/|title=FUNIMATION ACQUIRES UK ANIME DISTRIBUTOR MANGA ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED|date=May 29, 2019|last=Wright|first=Marshall|publisher=Funimation|accessdate=May 29, 2019}}</ref> Manga UK also announced that they were co-producing the anime television series ''[[Cannon Busters]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.licensingmagazine.com/2019/05/30/reemsborko-to-handle-netflix-original-cannon-busters/?lang=en|title=Reemsborko to Handle Netflix Original Cannon Busters|website=Licensing Magazine|date=May 30, 2019|accessdate=August 15, 2019}}</ref>

On September 24, 2019, Sony Pictures Television and [[Aniplex]] announced that they were consolidating their international anime streaming businesses (SPT's Funimation and Aniplex's [[Madman Entertainment|Madman Anime Group]] and Wakanim) under a new joint venture, with Funimation as the leading company for the group and its general manager Colin Decker leading the joint venture. Manga UK is a part of the joint venture due to Funimation's ownership of the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/asia/sony-anime-funimation-aniplex-joint-venture-1203346579/|title=Sony Merges Anime Streaming Businesses Under Funimation-Led Joint Venture (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=September 24, 2019|publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|accessdate=September 24, 2019}}</ref>

Currently, Manga Entertainment UK have licensing and distribution deals with [[Funimation]], [[Sentai Filmworks]] and [[Viz Media]]. Unlike previous licensing agreements, however, they do not bring titles from Funimation, Sentai, and Viz to Australia under their brand as Manga's Australian distributor; [[Madman Entertainment]] has the licenses from these companies.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/answerman/2015-09-16/.92992|title=Answerman - What Ever Happened to Manga Entertainment? (PART TWO: UK Edition)|work=Anime News Network|access-date=2018-02-10|language=en}}</ref>

=== Manga Entertainment in Australia ===
Manga Entertainment expanded into Australia in 1993 via a license deal with [[Siren Visual|Siren Entertainment]]. In late 1996, Manga Entertainment UK gave the sub-distribution license to the newly founded [[Madman Entertainment]] who in turn were distributed by Siren. This meant that both Siren and Madman has equal rights to Manga's properties.

In 1997, PolyGram Australia gained the rights to some of Manga's more recent additions to its catalogue. This included ''[[Lupin the Third]]'' properties, except ''[[The Castle of Cagliostro]]'', and ''[[Violence Jack]]''. ''Violence Jack: Evil Town'' was banned in Australia, even when PolyGram submitted the UK cut to the Australian Government for classification. The other two OVAs in the series submitted were the uncut dubbed versions that were released in the US by [[Right Stuf Inc.|Critical Mass]], however due to ''Evil Town''{{-'}}s banning, PolyGram scrapped the release of ''Violence Jack'' in Australia. PolyGram already had the UK cut of ''Evil Town'' in circulation despite its banning.

In late 1996, [[Madman Entertainment]] was founded by former employees of Siren. They were given exclusive sub-license rights to Manga UK's catalogue, including Part 4 of ''[[Macross Plus]]'', which was released in 1997. Despite this, Madman did not take on some titles, e.g. ''[[RG Veda]]'' and ''[[Shadow Skill]]'', and let PolyGram Australia distribute them.

Siren decided to license ''[[Street Fighter II V]]'' from Manga USA in 1997 and released the series without input from Madman, as Madman also had an exclusive licensing deal with [[ADV Films]], who had licensed ''Street Fighter II V'' in the UK and re-dubbed it. This property was taken over by Madman in 1999. In this same time period Manga Entertainment had licensed ''[[Voltron (1984 TV series)|Voltron]]'' exclusively for the Australian market and was released by Siren instead of Polygram Australia.

In 1998, [[Madman Entertainment]] was given the rights to the entire Manga catalogue from Manga's UK and USA subsidiaries except ''Street Fighter II V'', which was still licensed by Siren. Manga Entertainment has since had a special relationship with [[Madman Entertainment]] and Manga was credited by many as the major force behind turning anime into mainstream entertainment in Australia during the 1990s and early 2000s. Manga's latest DVD and Blu-ray masters are encoded and provided by Madman Entertainment because of Madman's extremely large and modern DVD and Blu-ray authoring division.

In 1999, Siren relinquished its licensing deal with Manga UK and its separate deal for ''Street Fighter II V'' from Manga USA as Madman had become big enough for Siren to make the same amount of profit distributing for them as it was when it was the sole distributor of Manga products in Australia.

In 2001, Siren Entertainment restructured itself and split the company into 2 separate entities: Siren Visual and The AV Channel. Madman's founders who were former employees of the company and owned shares of Siren decided to take The AV Channel and turn it into Madman's distribution arm which was absorbed into Madman in 2008.

Madman Entertainment in the mid-2000s decided to align itself with Manga USA, but since the dawn of Blu-ray and Manga USA turning into an online and television distributor of anime, Madman has re-aligned itself with Manga UK. Both companies funded and co-produced the PAL region dub of ''[[Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence]]'' and co-produce DVDs and Blu-rays. Madman provides Manga UK with PAL DVD and some Blu-ray masters due to Madman's larger and more sophisticated authoring division. Manga and Madman co-license properties such as the ''[[Rebuild of Evangelion]]'' movies, ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood]]'' & the ''[[Ghost in the Shell]]'' franchise among others.

==US broadcast on Xbox TV==
It was announced in October 2011 that [[Microsoft]] formed partnerships with over 50 content providers worldwide, including Manga Entertainment. This feature was to be available at no extra cost to US subscribers after the new Xbox dashboard update due sometime in December 2011.


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
== External links ==
* {{anime News Network|company|10|Manga Entertainment US}}
*{{Official website|www.mangauk.com/homepage|Manga UK official website}}
*{{ann|company|10|Manga Entertainment US}}
*{{ann|company|1106|Manga Entertainment UK}}


{{Lionsgate}}
{{Lionsgate}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Sony}}


[[Category:Manga Entertainment| ]]
[[Category:1987 establishments in England]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in California]]
[[Category:2011 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:2021 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 2011]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1991]]
[[Category:Anime companies]]
[[Category:Anime companies]]
[[Category:British companies disestablished in 2021]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1987]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1987]]
[[Category:Companies based in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Defunct entertainment companies]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1991]]
[[Category:Defunct mass media companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Dubbing (filmmaking)]]
[[Category:Former Liberty Media subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Former Liberty Media subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Lionsgate subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1987]]
[[Category:Funimation]]
[[Category:Mass media companies established in 1991]]
[[Category:Starz Entertainment Group]]
[[Category:Starz Entertainment Group]]
[[Category:Media companies established in 1987]]
[[Category:Media companies established in 1991]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in California]]
[[Category:1987 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2019 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Manga Entertainment| ]]

Revision as of 03:33, 18 May 2024

For the UK company formerly known as Manga Entertainment and also currently known as Crunchyroll Ltd., see Crunchyroll UK and Ireland.

Manga Entertainment, LLC
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryEntertainment (anime)
FoundedJanuary 17, 1991; 33 years ago (1991-01-17) (UK branch)
1993; 31 years ago (1993) (U.S. branch)
Defunct2017; 7 years ago (2017) (U.S. branch)
April 19, 2021; 3 years ago (2021-04-19) (UK branch)
FateAbsorbed into Starz Inc. (later Lionsgate Home Entertainment) (U.S. branch)
Acquired by Funimation (now known as Crunchyroll, LLC) (UK branch)
SuccessorsStarz Inc./Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2011–present, U.S. branch)
Crunchyroll UK and Ireland (2021–present, UK branch)
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, United States
ProductsAnime
OwnerLionsgate
ParentLionsgate Home Entertainment
Websitewww.manga.com

Manga Entertainment was a producer, licensee, and distributor of anime in the United States and the United Kingdom. Originally founded in the UK in 1987, the UK branch became Funimation UK and Ireland in 2021, also currently known as Crunchyroll Ltd. since 2022, while its U.S. branch was absorbed into Starz Inc. (now owned by Lionsgate).[1]

Despite its name, the company's principal business was the distribution of anime rather than manga, although they have published some manga (such as Crying Freeman) under the Manga Books imprint.[2]

History

Manga Entertainment's original logo and initial imprint

Manga Entertainment (formerly Island World Communications) was founded in London in 1991 by Chris Blackwell and Laurence Guinness [3] as a subsidiary of Island Records' Island World Group. IWC took over the company number for Golden Square Music, but had no relationship to IWC or Manga.[4][5][6][7] Manga Entertainment expanded into North America in 1993 with the purchase of L.A. Hero, forming Manga U.S. while Manga UK entered the Australian market in late 1993 and began releasing titles in January 1994 in conjunction with the Australian division of Island's parent company, PolyGram and local independent distributor Siren Entertainment.

On May 13, 2004, IDT Entertainment announced they would purchase Manga U.S., becoming a subsidiary of IDT Entertainment.[8] In 2005, Manga UK and Manga U.S. began to operate independently from each other, but still remain under the same ownership.[5] Liberty Media would then purchase IDT Entertainment in 2006[9] and would be renamed as Starz Media.

In 2011, Manga U.S. ceased licensing new products after the release of Redline and was absorbed into Starz Media. On August 8, 2012, Liberty Media announced that it would spin-off Starz Media into a separate publicly traded company.[10] The spin-off of Starz Inc. was completed on January 15, 2013[11] which included all subsidiaries.

2015–present

On February 26, 2015, the UK branch was acquired from Starz Media, alongside its parent Anchor Bay UK, by managing director Colin Lomax.[12] Anchor Bay UK was renamed to Platform Entertainment and went on to have exclusive rights to the Manga Entertainment branding and catalog in the UK and Ireland.[13]

In June 2016, Lionsgate announced they would acquire Starz Inc.[14][15] which would eventually be completed in December 2016, placing Manga U.S. under Lionsgate Home Entertainment. In the same month, Kaleidoscope Film Distribution announced they had purchased Platform Entertainment and confirmed that they would split Manga UK off to become separately operated. After Platform Entertainment stopped distributing Manga titles, they went on to having their titles released in the UK by Spirit Entertainment.[16]

In 2017, Lionsgate Home Entertainment relaunched Manga U.S.' website and Facebook and X (Twitter) page, and confirmed a re-launch in the near future. Lionsgate currently licenses the Manga Entertainment brand-name from Crunchyroll.[17] In the following year, the CEO Colin Lomax had died, during between the Christmas 2017 and New Year 2018.[18] As of September 2023, the relaunch did not happen as of yet, with some of Manga's titles like Ghost in the Shell being rereleased under the main Lionsgate banner.

See also

References

  1. ^ "About Us". Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  2. ^ Shirow, Masamune (1995) [1985]. Appleseed Volume One: The Promethean Challenge. trans. Studio Proteus (UK ed.). London: Manga Publishing. ISBN 1-900097-01-X.
  3. ^ "Anime History - Manga Entertainment".[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "MANGA ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Archived from the original on July 4, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Answerman - What Ever Happened to Manga Entertainment?". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  6. ^ "Akira: The story behind the film". Empire Online. Archived from the original on September 9, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  7. ^ Lent, John A. (2001). "Chapter 4: The Development of the Japanese Animation Audience in the UK and France by Helen McCarthy". Amazon Books Online. ISBN 0253340357.
  8. ^ "IDT Entertainment Acquires Manga Entertainment; Company Gains Extensive Library of Japanese Animation Programming". www.businesswire.com. May 13, 2004. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  9. ^ "Liberty Media to Acquire IDT Entertainment; Starz's Top Premium Television Service to Join With IDT's Animation and Live Action Production and Home Entertainment Distribution Business". www.businesswire.com. May 16, 2006. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  10. ^ "New York Deadline" Liberty Media Says It Will Spin Off Starz Archived February 28, 2023, at the Wayback Machine deadline.com, Retrieved on August 8, 2012
  11. ^ "Yahoo Finance" Liberty Media Spins-off Starz Archived August 14, 2021, at the Wayback Machine finance.yahoo.com Zacks Equity Research, Retrieved on January 24, 2013
  12. ^ "Starz Sells Manga Entertainment". Anime News Network. February 26, 2015. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  13. ^ "Colin Lomax, former Anchor Bay UK chief, dies aged 56". Screen. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  14. ^ Lieberman, David (June 30, 2016). "Lionsgate Agrees To Buy Starz For $4.4 Billion In Cash And Stock". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  15. ^ Schwindt, Oriana (December 8, 2016). "Lionsgate, Starz Close $4.4 Billion Acquisition". Variety. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  16. ^ "Kaleidoscope buys distributor Platform Entertainment". Screen. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  17. ^ "Manga". www.manga.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  18. ^ "Manga Entertainment CEO Colin Lomax Passes Away". Anime News Network. January 3, 2018. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Manga_Entertainment&oldid=1224393075"