At Anime Japan in Tokyo, MBC Group — the largest media company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) — announced the formation of MBC Anime, a brand-new hub dedicated to the licensing, promotion and production of anime content in the region. The venture is led by anime and manga expert Stu Levy, founder & CEO of international anime/manga distributor, licensor and publisher Tokyopop.
Through this venture, MBC Group plans to heavily invest in anime commission, production and investment over the next several years, with an ambition to expand further after this time frame. During the first investment period, MBC Anime aims to forge substantive relationships with key anime studios in Japan, supporting and investing in multiple projects.
“Anime and manga are incredibly popular in the Middle East and North Africa, with Saudi Arabia being the leader in terms of viewership in the region. In recent years, there has been a huge increase in events and activities related to this art form,” noted Sam Barnett, CEO of MBC Group. “We are thrilled to announce that Stu Levy has joined us to head up MBC Anime. Stu is a renowned figure in the anime industry, known for his expertise in distribution, licensing and publishing. We’re very excited about the prospects for this cooperation.”
Levy added, “Having worked with the talented team at MBC Group over the past couple of years, I’ve been impressed by their licensing approach and dedication to the space. Their commitment to not only anime, but building long-term relationships in Japan, made me confident of the real potential for exciting growth opportunities working together.”
