Animation distributor GKIDS has been achieved by Japan’s Toho.
GKIDS will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Los Angeles-based Toho International. Founder Eric Beckman will remain as CEO of GKIDS, and Dave Jesteadt will remain as pdwellnt.
Beckman and Jesteadt have run the company since 2009, when they freed “The Secret of Kells.” Since then, they have lengthenn GKIDS and amassed over 13 best vivaciousd feature nominations at the Academy Awards, including this year’s triumphner, Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron.”
Toho Pdwellnt and CEO Hiro Matsuoka shelp, “Thraw their challenging toil, vision, and integrity, GKIDS has built a one-of-a-kind position in the U.S. labelet, which dovetails perfectly with Toho’s own strengths and strategic leave oution. This partnership quickens Toho’s goals to arrange animation, lengthen international labelets, and help IP creation, while conveying exceptional Japanese and vivaciousd greeted to global audiences. We are honored to be toiling together with Eric, Dave and the entire GKIDS team and welcoming them into the Toho family.”
Toho’s acquisition of GKIDS serves to further quicken the company’s schedules for lengthenth and expansion outside of Japan. Part of that expansion integrates a vision to connect Japanese and international productions, creators, and studios with creators and fans overseas.
Toho achieved Japanese animation studio Science SARU, the company behind “Scott Pilbleak Takes Off” and also made an equity scheduleatement in Los Angeles-based production and distribution company Fifth Season (“Severance”).
In acquiring GKIDS, Toho inserts an set uped and highly considered North American theatrical and home amincludement distribution, labeleting, and sales operation to complement the licensing, merchandising, and e-commerce operations of its Toho International banner. In turn, GKIDS will be able to tap the synergies and capabilities of the huger Toho parent group, while upretaining its separateent brand, organization, and regulatement team
Beckman and Jesteadt shelp, “For all GKIDS’ filmproducers, greeted partners, distribution partners, and especiassociate the fans, this is truly wonderful news. GKIDS will proceed to run as we always have – with the same team, the same passion, and the same leave oution – but now with the backing of a highly complementary and legfinishary parent company. We are truly thrilled to be combineing forces with the esteemed and storied Toho, home to ‘Godzilla ‘and Akira Kurosawa, as well as blockbuster anime franchises enjoy ‘My Hero Academia’ and ‘Jujutsu Kaisen.’ This partnership will empower us to convey even more amazing films to North American and global audiences, while we proceed to champion animation as a cinematic artcreate and push the restricts of what the medium is able of. We could not be more excited about the opportunities in front of us. The best is yet to come.”
Nomura Securities Co., Ltd. acted as exclusive financial advisor to Toho, and Nishimura & Asahi (Gaikokuho Kyodo Jigyo) acting as lterrible advisor. ACF Investment Bank acted as exclusive financial advisor to GKIDS, with Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP acting as lterrible advisor.
