Skybound Launches Skybound Japan
It's not unusual for successful media companies to establish arms in other countries. Skybound Entertainment, the multi-platform entertainment company behind Invincible, The Walking Dead and Impact Winter have announced the opening of Skybound Japan. This is their second international expansion this year and represents a significant new chapter representing and producing new Japanese content.
The studio will produce anime and live-action features and series, focussing on Japanese IP and Skybound titles. Skybound Japan will foster creative collaborations within the Japanese entertainment industry. The creative minds at Skybound will combine with the rich artistic history of Japan and could result in some very exciting collaborations. A potential Walking Dead or Invincible anime is only the begining.
Skybound has this year made an investment in Remow, a global distributor of anime founded by leading Japanese studio Shueisha and entered into a partnership with major Japanese broadcaster Fuji TV. The first Skybound Japan project to be announced in collaboration with Fuji TV is Heart Attack. The series is based on the Skybound original graphic novel by Shawn Kittelsen ( Injustice 2, Mortal Kombat), and illustrated by Eric Zawadzki (House of El). It explores a post-pandemic world where gene therapy has saved humanity, only to give birth to Variants, people with powers so unique that the government denies them their human rights. It's not specified if the series is animated or live-action.
"We are incredibly excited to launch Skybound Japan and partner with some of the greatest creators in the world," said Rick Jacobs, Managing Partner of Linear Content at Skybound Entertainment. "As lifelong fans of Japanese content, the opportunity to help bring these stories to life in live action and anime is a dream come true. The adaptation of Heart Attack is just the beginning of what we hope to achieve in the Japanese market."
Skybound Japan will be led by Ash Nukui producer of The Sniffer and Memoir of A Teenage Amnesiac, and formerly of Namco Bandai Group. Nukui will bring a detailed knowledge of the Japanese and international entertainment landscapes. The division will actively seek partnerships with local talent, creators and studios to foster a collaborative environment that will nurture innovative storytelling and help bring diverse and culturally relevant TV and film to audiences worldwide.
